Clean a Clogged Faucet Aerator in 5 Minutes (No Plumber Needed)

TL;DR: Low water pressure at a single faucet is almost always a clogged aerator, the small mesh screen screwed into the tip of the spout. Unscrew it counterclockwise (use pliers wrapped in a cloth if it's stuck), soak it in white vinegar for 15 minutes, scrub the screen with an old toothbrush, and reinstall. The whole job takes 5 to 10 minutes and costs nothing.

_Last reviewed: July 2026 · 5 min read_

The water dribbles out weird, sprays sideways, or just feels weaker than it used to. Before you assume something's wrong with your plumbing, check the little screw-on piece at the tip of the faucet. Nine times out of ten, that's a clogged aerator, and it's a five-minute fix with tools you already own.

Okoniq Property Hub helps you log small fixes like this one so you have a maintenance record if a bigger plumbing issue comes up later.

What is a faucet aerator, and why does it clog?

An aerator is the small disc screwed into the very end of your faucet spout, and it mixes air into the water stream to reduce splashing and cut water use by up to 30%. Inside it sits a fine mesh screen, usually 15 to 20 threads per inch, that catches sediment before it exits the tap.

Over time, minerals in hard water, especially calcium and magnesium, build up on that screen. If your water supply runs 120 parts per million or higher in hardness (common across the Midwest and Southwest), you'll notice clogging every 6 to 12 months. Homes on well water or older galvanized pipe see it even faster because rust and grit add to the mix. This is the same mineral buildup behind bleeding a radiator when trapped air and sediment mess with flow elsewhere in the house.

How do you remove a clogged aerator without breaking it?

Turn it counterclockwise by hand first. Most aerators loosen with a quarter turn if you grip firmly and twist against the base of the spout, not the tip.

If it won't budge, wrap a rag around the aerator to protect the finish, then grip it with adjustable pliers or a channel-lock wrench. Apply steady, even pressure rather than a sharp jerk. If it still won't turn after 30 seconds of effort, a few drops of white vinegar or WD-40 around the threads and a 5-minute wait usually loosens corrosion enough to work it free. Once it's off, lay the pieces out in the order you removed them (housing, screen, rubber washer) so reassembly takes seconds.

What's the best way to clean the mineral buildup?

Soak the parts in undiluted white vinegar for 15 minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush. Vinegar's acidity (around pH 2.4) dissolves calcium deposits without damaging the metal or rubber washer.

For heavier buildup, a CLR (calcium, lime, rust remover) soak of 5 to 10 minutes works faster than vinegar alone. After soaking, hold the screen up to a light. If you can't see daylight through most of the mesh, gently poke through the holes with a straightened paper clip or toothpick, not a metal pin that could tear the screen. Rinse everything under running water to flush loose sediment before reassembly.

| Cleaning Method | Time Needed | Best For | |---|---|---| | White vinegar soak | 15 minutes | Light to moderate mineral buildup | | CLR or lime remover | 5-10 minutes | Heavy calcium deposits, hard water areas |

How do you reassemble it and check that the fix worked?

Reassemble in reverse order and hand-tighten only, since over-tightening can crack the housing or strip the threads. Run the water on full for 10 seconds before screwing the aerator back on to flush any grit still loose in the line.

Turn the faucet on and check the stream. If pressure is still weak, the clog might be further back in the supply line rather than the aerator itself, especially in homes with cast iron drain pipe or older galvanized supply lines where interior corrosion narrows the pipe diameter over decades. If only one fixture is affected, though, the aerator was almost certainly the culprit.

How often should you clean your aerators to avoid this?

Clean every faucet aerator once every 3 to 6 months if you're on hard water, or once a year on soft municipal water. Set a reminder tied to another seasonal task, like when you check your bathroom exhaust fan or swap furnace filters, so it doesn't get forgotten. A $3 replacement aerator from any hardware store is worth keeping on hand if the screen ever tears during cleaning, since a torn screen can't be cleaned back to full function.

FAQ

Why does only one faucet in my house have low pressure?

That's the clearest sign it's the aerator and not the main water line, since a whole-house pressure problem would affect every fixture at once, not just one sink or tub spout.

Can I run the faucet without an aerator installed?

Yes, temporarily. Water will spray harder and splash more without the aerator's air-mixing screen, but it won't damage the faucet, and it's a fine way to confirm the aerator was the actual blockage before you clean or replace it.

How do I know if I need a replacement instead of cleaning?

If the mesh screen is torn, the plastic housing is cracked, or vinegar and scrubbing don't restore normal flow after two attempts, replace it. Aerators cost $2 to $8 and come in standard male and female thread sizes, so bring the old one to the store to match threads.

Does a clogged aerator waste water or increase my bill?

Not directly, since it restricts flow rather than causing a leak, but a clogged aerator often makes people run the tap longer to fill a pot or rinse dishes, which does add up over a billing cycle.

Is this the same fix for a clogged showerhead?

The principle is identical since showerheads use the same mineral-clogging mechanism, but the fix usually involves soaking the whole showerhead in a vinegar-filled bag rather than unscrewing a small internal screen.

This is educational information, not plumbing advice. Call a licensed plumber if pressure problems persist after cleaning or if you notice discolored water, which can signal corrosion deeper in your supply lines.