How to clean faucet aerators and showerheads
To clean a faucet aerator, unscrew it, soak it in a cup of white vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes, scrub it gently with a toothbrush, rinse and screw it back on. Treat a showerhead the same way. EPA says to clean aerators regularly, because sediment and lead particles can collect in the screen.
How often to clean faucet aerators and showerheads
Weak flow is the reason most people do this, but there's a health reason too. EPA warns that lead particles can collect in the aerator screen and get back into your water. New Jersey's health department adds that sediment and scale can let bacteria grow there, including the kind that causes Legionnaires' disease.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Once a year, as a baseline | Clean every aerator and showerhead |
| Hard water or visible scale | Clean more often, whenever flow drops |
| After a water main break or service shutoff | Clean them, per New Jersey's guidance. Debris can shake loose |
| Older home or known lead service line | Clean regularly and ask your water utility about flushing times |
| Moving in | Do them all. You don't know the last time anyone did |
New Jersey says to clean aerators routinely and doesn't set a number of months. Your faucet maker may give its own schedule, and theirs comes first.
What you need to clean faucet aerators
- Distilled white vinegar and a cup
- Old toothbrush
- Masking tape and pliers or a small wrench for a stuck aerator
- A faucet aerator key if yours is recessed inside the spout
- A plastic bag and a rubber band or twist tie for fixed showerheads
- A towel for the sink drain, so small parts can't fall in
You don't need to shut off the water, according to Delta. Just leave the faucet closed. Take a phone photo before you take the aerator apart so the washers go back in the right order.
Soak times vary by source. New Jersey says 20 to 30 minutes is usually enough. Peerless suggests overnight for an aerator you've removed. Start short and go longer only for heavy scale. Keep vinegar off the rest of the fixture for long periods, and rinse and dry anything it touches. Check your maker's care sheet first for specialty finishes.
How to clean a faucet aerator and showerhead
- Cover the drain
Plug the sink or lay a towel over the drain before you loosen anything.
- Unscrew the aerator
Turn it counterclockwise by hand. If you need pliers, wrap the aerator in masking tape first.
- Loosen a stuck one
Tie a bag of white vinegar around the spout so the aerator is submerged for 10 to 20 minutes, then try again.
- Photograph and take apart
Snap a picture of the parts in order, and check inside the spout for a washer that stayed behind.
- Soak and scrub
Soak the parts in a cup of vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes. Brush gently, because stiff bristles can damage the screen.
- Rinse and refit
Hold the screen upside down under running water, reassemble it and tighten by hand. Run the tap and check for leaks.
- Do the showerhead
Unscrew it to soak it in a bowl, or tie a vinegar bag over a fixed head. Then rub the nozzles to break off loose scale and run the shower for a minute.
Signs a clogged aerator isn't the whole problem
After cleaning, run a quick flow test. Hold a one-gallon bucket under the tap at full flow and time it. Then do the math.
| Fixture | Reference flow | Time to fill 1 gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Standard showerhead | 2.5 gallons per minute | 24 seconds |
| WaterSense showerhead | 2.0 gallons per minute | 30 seconds |
| Standard bathroom faucet | 2.2 gallons per minute | About 27 seconds |
| WaterSense bathroom faucet | 1.5 gallons per minute | 40 seconds |
A fixture that takes far longer than its reference time still has a problem. Look for these signs:
- Low flow at one fixture only. The aerator or a fixture valve is usually the cause. Try a new aerator.
- Low flow at every fixture. That's a house-wide issue, so call a licensed plumber or your water utility.
- Rust-colored flakes or grit that return after cleaning. Ask a plumber to look at the pipes.
- Water spraying from the joint. The gasket is missing or out of place.
Clean a showerhead or aerator yourself, or call a plumber?
This is a DIY job on nearly every fixture. Stop if the aerator won't budge after a vinegar soak. New Jersey's guidance warns that forcing an old aerator can damage the faucet, and suggests a licensed plumber in that case.
New Jersey also says people at higher risk of infection should avoid the splashes that happen during this job. That includes anyone 50 or older, smokers and people with a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease. Ask someone else to do it, or hire it out.
If an aerator is worn, replace it. WaterSense aerators can cost as little as a few dollars. EPA says the average family could save about 700 gallons a year by replacing old faucets and aerators. A WaterSense showerhead could save about 2,700 gallons a year.
Faucet aerator questions
How long should I soak an aerator in vinegar?
New Jersey's health department says 20 to 30 minutes is usually enough, longer for tough residue. Peerless suggests overnight for heavy deposits on an aerator you've removed from the faucet.
Why did my water pressure drop at just one faucet?
A clogged aerator is a common cause, especially after a plumbing repair or a water main break. If the flow stays low with the aerator removed, call a plumber.
Can a dirty faucet aerator affect drinking water?
EPA says sediment, debris and lead particles can collect in the aerator, and lead caught there can get into your water. Clean it regularly, and ask your water utility if you have concerns about lead.
Sources: nj.gov, EPA, deltafaucet.com, peerlessfaucet.com
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.