How to Clean a Faucet Head With or Without Vinegar

If you turn on your sink and all you get is a trickle, not a rush of water, it’s time to clean your faucet head. 

Over time, your kitchen or bathroom faucet head can get clogged with calcium buildup and sludge, resulting in slower water flow. In this article, we walk you through how to clean a faucet head, with or without vinegar.

If you’d like to save time cleaning faucet heads and spend it on more important things, you can use Homeaglow to find an experienced, affordable cleaner near you.

How do you remove mineral deposits from faucet heads?

Mineral deposits, also known as hard water stains, are a common problem for faucet heads. 

These stains are caused by minerals, like calcium and magnesium, in the water. As they accumulate, the minerals can cause your faucet heads to develop unsightly white or brown streaks and slow the flow of water that emerges from them.

There’s good news and bad news here. The bad news is that since these deposits are caused by an accumulation of minerals left on the surface for a long time, they can be challenging to get off. 

The good news is that we’ll go over three methods to help you remove these minerals and thoroughly clean your faucet heads. 

What you’ll need to clean your faucet head 

• Apple cider vinegar, coca cola, or lemon (pick one)
• Plastic bag or Ziploc bag
• Baking soda (optional)
• Rubber band
• Toothbrush
• Toothpick
• Sponge or soft cloth

Method 1: How to clean a faucet head with apple cider vinegar

Vinegar is an effective and all-natural cleaner for many areas in your home. You can use it to remove baked-on grime from your oven glass or clean blocked drains, among other things. 

Because of its high acetic acid content, apple cider vinegar can also clean your faucet head by disinfecting it and dissolving the mineral deposits. 

Here’s how it’s done:

Fill a plastic bag with apple cider vinegar

Add apple cider vinegar to a plastic bag about halfway full. Use a quart-size bag for faucets, while a gallon size works best for shower heads.

You can also add a quarter cup of baking soda. This isn't necessary, but it speeds up the cleaning process.

Place bag around shower head 

Put the vinegar-filled bag around the shower head or faucet so that the spout is submerged completely. Place a rubber band around the bag to secure it in place. 

Let the solution sit for 30-60 minutes

Allow the vinegar to work its way through any calcium or hard water deposits for about one hour, then remove the rubber band and the bag. 

If your faucet head is plated with nickel, gold, or brass, remove the bag of vinegar after 30 minutes to avoid harming the finish.

Remove stubborn deposits

Scrub the shower head or faucet with a toothbrush to remove any stubborn mineral deposits.

If the water still flows slowly, use a toothpick to poke and unclog the spray holes in the shower head. 

Rinse and flush with water

Use a sponge or soft cloth to rinse the outside of the faucet head with clean water, removing any leftover vinegar solution. Then as a final step, run hot water through the faucet itself. 

Method 2: How to clean a faucet head with Coca Cola

You might only think of Coca Cola as a soft drink to enjoy, but its ingredients, including citric acid, tartaric acid, and phosphoric acid, can dissolve rust and mineral deposits. 

Coca Cola is perfect for unclogging blocked faucets, removing limescale, and restoring the shine in your shower. It’s an effective cleaning solution, but it isn’t overly acidic, so it doesn’t discolor or peel metallic surfaces.

Take these steps to clean your faucet head with Coca Cola:

• Fill a plastic bag with Coca-Cola and place it over the faucet head. 
• Fasten the bag with a rubber band before leaving it to soak for about an hour.
• After the hour mark, remove the plastic bag and use toothbrush to scrub away any buildup on the faucet, 
• Unclog any stubborn spray holes with a toothpick.
• Rinse the faucet with warm water and wipe it down with a sponge to remove leftover Coca Cola. 

Method 3: How to clean a faucet head with a fresh lemon

If you don’t have apple cider vinegar or coca cola on hand, you can use fresh lemons. The acidic content in a lemon is enough to break down the mineral buildup in the faucet head.

• Slice a lemon in half and press one half onto the end of the faucet, covering the spout completely.
• Wrap a plastic bag around the lemon and fasten it to the faucet with a rubber band. 
• Allow the citric acid in the lemon to do its magic for 2 to 3 hours.
• Remove the lemon and use a toothbrush or cleaning pad to remove any loosening hard water buildup.
• Wipe with a wet sponge or towel to remove any remaining lemon juice.

How to remove sediment from faucet heads

If your water still flows slowly after you’ve thoroughly cleaned your faucet head, there’s probably additional sediment clogging the aerator. 

Take these steps to remove sediment from inside a faucet head. 

• Manually unscrew the aerator at the end of the spout in a counterclockwise direction. Inspect it for debris.
• Place it in a vinegar bath, then sprinkle baking soda on it. 
• Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. 
• Scrub the aerator with a toothbrush and rinse it with warm water.
• Replace the aerator in the faucet head and you’re good to go.

Bonus tip: How to clean a shower head

When you step into the shower after a long day, the feeling of a rush of water on your head and face is next to none. But when the shower head is clogged, all you get is a frustrating trickle.

When you clean your shower, don’t forget to also clean the shower head itself. This is a vital part of maintaining your bathroom.

Rub the shower head nozzle

The nozzles on many shower heads are made of flexible rubber. Simply rubbing each of these nozzles with your finger can remove a lot of mineral buildup. Using a toothbrush to scrub the nozzles gently is another option.

Soak the shower head

Soak the shower head in a plastic bag filled with vinegar or Coca Cola. Take the same steps you’d take to clean a sink faucet, as we explained above. 

Clean the filter screen 

Carefully pull or twist to take the shower head off the pipe. Remove the filter screen. 

Next, run the filter screen under warm water to rinse away any mineral deposits or debris accumulation. Alternatively, gently scrub it with a toothbrush to remove the buildup. Finally, replace the filter screen and reattach the shower head.

Clean kitchen and bathroom faucets like a pro

Nothing is worse than turning on the faucet and being disappointed with the water's flow. Unfortunately, because of how busy our lives get, most of us only remember to clean our faucet heads after we discover a problem. 

Using the methods in this article, clean your kitchen or bathroom faucet head regularly to keep it working like new all year long.

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