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Aerators: They're Green and How to Keep them Clean

0714_aerator.jpg

Aerators are on our faucets to put air in the waterstream, which increases pressure with less water. They can gunk up over time and cause low pressure that's solved by simply cleaning the aerator...

 
 

At True Value, read a how-to on removing and cleaning your faucet's aerator. Then check out tiramisu_addict's photostream on Flickr for info on green low-flow aerators that use 1GPM instead of the typical 2.2. Southern California Gas Company customers can even get the aerators free!

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cleaning, GREEN IDEAS, faucets & hardware - kitchen & bath, aerator

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Comments (7)

Another wonderful use for good ol' vinegar!

posted by Monica on 2008-07-14 15:05:17
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This advice came in about a day or two late for me. Over time, the water pressure from my bathroom sink faucet dwindled to just a thin, broken trickle. I was about to spend the $$ on getting a plumber in, thinking that something was wrong with my pipes. But my dad came over to check it out and told me what the problem was. I'm glad i didn't have to pay for a plumber (though I did treat him and my mom to a bbq), but the problem now seems so obvious and simple to fix.

posted by blackdaisies on 2008-07-14 15:44:36
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if you don't feeling like waiting overnight, a quick rub with some Dr. Bronner's made mine new again in seconds! LOVE that stuff!

posted by greyrussian on 2008-07-14 16:05:10
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Same thing happens with shower heads--water pressure can decrease over time. Just unscrew, rinse out the gunk, and re-attach. You can also soak the shower-head in vinegar to help clean out some of the mineral deposits in the spray holes (an old toothbrush also can help loosen things up).

posted by burpchick on 2008-07-14 17:10:55
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Also, if you do any plumbing work on the supply lines elsewhere it may dislodge crud and thereby gunk up the aerator. This is especially true in large old buildings.

...so, for example, if you hear about plumbing work being done in your condo building, maybe check your aerators later that evening. I didn't, and nearly summoned a plumber after my water "stopped". Oops! Fortunately a wiser friend saved me from undue expense.

posted by minimalia on 2008-07-14 17:27:29
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Every few months, I soak my low flow shower head in vinegar overnight. It clears all the gunk out and requires no scrubbing.

posted by Jen (SLC) on 2008-07-14 23:30:53
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just fixed mine earlier today before i saw this. Knew it was the aerator because when i removed the aerator the water came out fine. The problem was caused by plumbing work that was done in the building that caused a lot of gunk and brown water to come out of the faucet. I only managed to clean it by taking it totally apart and then rinsing it out and scraping the chunks loose with my fingernails and then reassembling. For some people maybe its easier to just buy a new one - i saw them in the hardware store they didn't look expensive.

posted by Tiger on 2008-07-15 00:00:26
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