Easy Steps for Cleaning a Faucet Aerator

Co-authored by Bruna Coutinho and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: July 1, 2024 Fact Checked

If you’ve noticed that the water pressure at your sink faucet has gotten worse, then a dirty aerator may be the culprit. The aerator is the screen at the end of the faucet that helps make a consistent stream of water, but it can get clogged with debris from your pipes over time. Luckily, cleaning a dirty faucet aerator is really simple with common household items, and you can do it in less than an hour. Keep reading for the best way to clean and unclog your aerator so your faucet works properly again.

Things You Should Know

Unscrew the aerator from the end of your faucet by hand or with pliers. For an aerator hidden inside the faucet, use an aerator key wrench instead.
Soak your aerator in white vinegar for at least 5 minutes to break apart residue. Then, scrub the pieces with a toothbrush to clean them.
Clean your faucet aerator every 6 months. If the residue doesn’t come off or if the aerator is damaged, replace it instead.

1

Unscrew the aerator from the end of your faucet.

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You can take off the aerator by hand or by using a wrench. The aerator is usually a small cylinder on the end of your faucet. Try turning the aerator by hand to see if you can easily unscrew it. If you can’t get it off by hand, put a piece of masking tape around the aerator. Grip the aerator with a pair of pliers and turn it to loosen it.
- Masking tape keeps you from scratching the aerator with your tools.
- If you don’t see the aerator, then it’s hidden inside the end of the faucet. Push a faucet aerator key wrench into the end of the faucet and turn it to unscrew the aerator.
- Put a towel in the bottom of your sink or plug the drain so you don’t lose any pieces if they fall down.^{[1]
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2

Separate the pieces of the aerator.

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Taking apart the aerator lets you thoroughly clean each piece. Aerators usually come apart in 3 pieces: a rubber washer, a mesh screen, and a cylindrical metal housing. Take each of the individual pieces off the aerator and arrange them in the order you took them off.^{[2]
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- Snap a picture of the aerator as you take it apart so you can remember how to put it back together later on.

3

Rinse the mesh aerator screen with water.

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Removing the buildup caught in the screen improves your water pressure. Debris can get into your tap water from the pipes, but the mesh aerator screen catches it before it reaches your glass. Hold the screen upside-down under running water and tap the sides to clean out the residue.^{[3]
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- You can still use the faucet after you take the aerator off. Just avoid drinking the water until you finish cleaning the aerator since it could contain residue from your pipes.

4

Soak the aerator in vinegar for 5–20 minutes.

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White vinegar breaks down tough residue stuck in your aerator. Fill a small bowl or cup with white vinegar and set the pieces of your aerator inside. Most of the residue should loosen up after about 5 minutes, but you can leave it in for longer if the screen and pieces are really gunked up.^{[4]
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- If you can’t get the aerator off of the faucet, fill a plastic bag with vinegar. Put the end of the faucet inside the bag. Secure the bag to the faucet with a rubber band and let it sit for 20 minutes.
- If you don’t have vinegar, you can instead use a calcium, lime, and rust remover.

5

Scrub the aerator with a toothbrush.

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The bristles on a toothbrush break apart any leftover gunk in the aerator. Wet the bristles of the toothbrush and gently scrub each of the aerator pieces. Give the aerator pieces one final rinse under clean water to get rid of the residual gunk and vinegar.
- Hold the mesh screen up to a light and check for any dark spots that are still clogged with debris. Scrub the mesh a little more with your toothbrush before rinsing it again.

6

Reassemble the aerator and screw it onto your faucet.

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Assembling the pieces in order ensures your aerator works properly again. Put the pieces together in the same order that you took them apart to ensure the aerator works properly. Once you’ve got all the pieces back together, just screw it back onto the end of your faucet until it’s hand-tight. Turn on your faucet to make sure it’s working properly.^{[5]
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- If the water doesn’t come out through the aerator, take it off and try reassembling it again.

7

Clean your faucet’s aerator every 6 months.

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Checking the aerator twice a year helps stop buildup from forming. The next time you deep clean your sink, take a few minutes to unscrew the aerator from your faucet and quickly check it for debris. Give it a quick rinse and scrub before you put it back on your faucet.^{[6]
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- Clean out the aerator once a month if you’re having work done on your plumbing or water line.

8

Replace your aerator if the pieces look damaged.

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It’s easier to get a replacement aerator than trying to fix an old one. If the rubber washer looks cracked or if the mesh screen has holes, it’s time to get a new aerator. Get an aerator that’s the same size and style as the old one to make sure that it fits onto your faucet.^{[7]
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Tips

Clean your faucet regularly so buildup doesn't form around the aerator. Otherwise, it will be harder to remove.

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Use cold water from your faucet instead of hot when you can since it won’t create as much residue in your aerator.

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