We have all experienced the time when you go to clean your kitchen, and you notice that your faucet head is not looking up to par. But, before grabbing the first cleaning supplies you can reach, there is a bit more to cleaning a kitchen faucet than you might think, and doing it incorrectly can damage the faucet.
Maintaining the cleanliness of your faucet should be done routinely, not simply when you notice how neglected it starts to look. This guide will lay out the basics of cleaning a kitchen faucet in only four steps. With just a few items needed, this task will not prove to be tedious and should help you by providing an easy way to maintain the cleanliness of a faucet in the future.
Four Steps for Cleaning a Kitchen Faucet
To prefaces, there are several important things to avoid when cleaning your faucet. First, never use abrasive cleaners. This includes items such as scrub pads and steel sponges, which will scratch the surface. In addition, make sure you do not soak the faucet in cleaning supplies as it can ruin the appearance and finish of the faucet.
Now on to the actual cleaning of the kitchen faucet.
Step 1
First, find out what type of finish the faucet is, as each type of finish can have different care instructions. Most kitchen faucets come in chrome, stainless steel, or polished brass. A huge advantage of chrome is that it is easy to make them shine like they are brand new if cleaned correctly. Stainless steel has a look that is similar to chrome but is more of a matte finish and is less shiny. Lastly, there is polished brass, which is similar to chrome in appearance, but with a gold finish. There are many other finishes available, but these are the main three.
Once you have figured out what finish you have, you will need to gather up the items that are required to clean the faucet. They are as follows:
- Cleaning cloths
- White Vinegar
- Dish Washing Soap
- Toothbrush
- Paper Towels
- Baby Oil
Step 2
Second, get the dishwashing soap and dilute it with some water. Use the cleaning cloths to wipe down the faucet. Then, use the toothbrush to scrub the places where it is difficult to reach. Also, make sure to scrub the tough-removal hard water spots as well. Many elect to use an old household toothbrush for this process as it is simply used to scrub the faucet, and a new one is not required.
Step 3
Third, get the vinegar and dip some paper towels in it. Wrap these towels around the faucet for ten minutes. This helps to make the faucet sparkle as it will remove water stains and spots. The vinegar acts as a natural disinfectant, cleaning the faucet thoroughly. This serves as a cheap alternative, as a bottle of vinegar is commonly found in most households and lasts for a long time.
Step 4
Fourth, pour a few drops of baby oil onto a cloth and wipe down the faucet. This will help to prevent water spots from easily making marks in the future. It also makes the faucet shine without much extra work. A few simple drops will be plenty to do the job. Putting too much baby oil on the faucet will have the opposite effect, as it will become quite messy. This works on most types of finishes but is recommended for chrome and stainless steel.
As important as it is to follow these cleaning steps weekly, it is also important to do a gentle cleaning of the faucet head daily to get rid of germs. The best and easiest way to maintain the faucet’s cleanliness is to wipe it daily with a Clorox wipe. These wipes will be able to kill germs instantly upon making contact with the many bacteria that the faucet harbors. Following these simple steps should get your faucet clean and looking new in no time at all.
