How to Clean a CLOGGED Faucet Aerator - WITHOUT TOOLS

Clogged FAUCET AERATORS will rob you of water flow & give you low water pressure & spray water everywhere. See how to clean NOT REPLACE your faucet aerator in minutes without tools for great water pressure & good flow again for years!
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thanks for watching - this is the most comment faucet type but if you have an aerator that is INSIDE the faucet check my other video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppC5p4R4rcyoZqM

[@timszon]

Do you mean common instead of comment

[@jimbohnenkamp5082]

I just did this about a month ago at my son's house. He passed away in August, and I had to prepare his house for sale. I considered whether to replace the aerator, but I couldn't figure out the right size. I did exactly what you demonstrated in the video.

[@SilverCymbal]

So sorry to hear about your son. Thank you for sharing this.

[@fretworkband3204]

Terribly sorry for your loss.

[@larslan1975]

Glad this worked out for you,always hard to lose a loved one ,especially one of your children ❤

[@carak4356]

Oh Jim I’m so sorry for your heart break.

[@parispoet]

So sorry for your loss. 🙏

[@xbrandi12345x]

A few years back I learned about aerators and now I clean or check mine every time I wash my sink. It's crazy that we didn't all grow up knowing about these and how dirty they can get. Great video as always!

[@KMG6O3]

I think the same thing because we used to use the water coming out of those to swish out our mouth after brushing our teeth. Thinking what was probably built up in there, ewww but this is probably why we have strong immune systems to this day 😂

[@rik8809]

I’ll add that it’s a good idea to cover the drain in case something is accidentally dropped.

[@SilverCymbal]

That is really good advice. No fun if stuff ends up there!

[@scottharris6423]

I've always used a rag to remove the aerators, but I like your silicone jar pad better. Pickin up one today. Thxs

[@B.Dizzler93]

What a great, simple video. I strive to be the home owner this man is. Thanks for the content.

[@SilverCymbal]

I really appreciate it thank you

[@curly-hairedassassin5233]

Thanks boss, saved me a call to my local plumber. My low pressure from my kitchen faucet was due to a clogged aerator.

[@user-em6ie2be7x]

Quick & Easy, Thanks for the details on cleaning & adjusting the water. 💧

[@SilverCymbal]

Any time!

[@chrischristoferson1191]

I just followed this and fixed my own sink. I feel so accomplished. Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@Duke_of_Prunes]

Cool project! I have numerous faucets to deal with at my apartment building, and the money has been tight during 2022.

[@jmichael6504]

This worked like a charm on my kitchen faucet. Many thanks for posting!

[@onecrazywheel]

I work at a hospital now as an electrician. We literally have to remove ALL aerators in the hospital. They are not allowed. The cause too much bacteria 🦠 build up and are an infection control risk. The hospital also tests many sinks for Legionnaires Disease and ironically sinks which are not in use can have it as well. I don't prefer to wash my hands in sinks with an aerator but if it stops bacteria from forming I thinks it is good. Great video!

[@SilverCymbal]

These are really good points! People forget about Legionnaires Disease unitl the next outbreak. It happened in Disney, scary stuff all from hot water!

[@onecrazywheel]

@@SilverCymbal Yes and in recent weeks it was actually discovered in our Cooling Tower for the air conditioning! Maybe the can control it with more chlorine or chemicals? I have even heard 20% of cases of the disease can come from standing water in a vehicles windshield washer fluid once it is sprayed and then breathed in. I've heard that's why it is important to mix a windshield fluid chemical with water to kill bacteria in that reservoir as well. Interesting stuff.

[@therascals8237]

Also helps to have water softener working well. SC has videos on this as well 👍

[@LumberjackPa]

An interesting video might be how to get to the aerator on a retractable kitchen faucet. Thanks for sharing.

[@jeffgreenwaldJLG]

If for some reason you can’t get the aerator off you can fill up a ziplock with vinegar and soak it that way. Just use a rubber band to secure it.

[@rickytorres9089]

Then you can probably try again to see if that helps with the removal.

[@hunterlynn1111]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I couldn't find the right tool to use, but I have plenty of jar openers. It worked like a charm.

[@daddyshart999]

Man this guy never disappoints. Just noticed this morning mine was clogged. Gonna fix it tonight now.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you so much for the nice words

[@AnnaMarieBoothSF]

Thanks! I was able too unscrew it using the jar opener! No damage. Thanks!!!!!

[@hangdogit]

Good video. A slightly different issue: If the faucet doesn’t leak and the aerator is clean, the problem could be a low-flow aerator designed to conserve water (in areas where water is scarce.) I replaced a low-flow aerator with a high-flow one from Amazon around $10 following the procedure shown except installing the new aerator rather than cleaning the old one. The result is that hot water reaches the sink much faster! You still control flow as usual.

[@justwatching2006]

Worked like a champ! 👑

[@Gimpy9587]

You could also use an ultrasonic cleaner (if you have one)

[@RicardoNevarez-y2g]

Thanks pal you save the Christmas.

[@MrCardeso]

Also, look at the manual for your faucet if it's a pull-down head type. There may be additional filters that must be cleaned to resume normal water flow. In my case, there were very explicit instructions for cleaning the aerator. However, the internal filter was severely restricting my water flow and there was only a passing mention about that filter, and none about how to remove and clean it.

[@rasm0225]

Does anyone keep the manual to their faucet?

[@MrCardeso]

@@rasm0225 I do.

[@mguerramd]

Before reinstalling you can lube the threads and the o-ring with food safe lube. Makes it super easy to remove the aerator next time. Like Haynes Lubri-Film Plus. Which you should also use on your swimming pool fittings. You can prevent a lot of that problem in the first place with a whole house water filter system.

[@jameelhafeez9796]

A big Thanks.Very helpful.

[@apex007]

There are new aerators that are internal to the faucet and require a special tool to remove. Makes the faucet look more sleek, but tool is definitely required.

[@TheStringBreaker]

*Just discovered this channel. Awesome content! Subbed!*

[@dhawthorne1634]

While not strictly required for this job, it is nice to have a pair of soft jaw pliers around. They run anywhere from $20-$60 and even the cheap ones will likely last you a couple of generations. I'm using my grandfathers and I don't think I'll ever have to buy another pair.

[@JB50713]

Doesn't have to be a "left over" toothbrush, just use the wife's. 😃

[@getliquified]

Thanks for the tip. I'll be sleeping on the couch for the next 2 weeks 😆

[@Sedona8]

Vinegar is helpful for calcium and rust. You could have put the piece of stainless steel in there anyway. It wouldn't hurt it.

[@Sylvan_dB]

I like to put vaseline on the threads. Comes apart a lot easier next time. And if you do need to use pliers to get it off, put a dishrag between the pliers and the aerator or wrap several layers of masking tape around each plier jaw.

[@dpvng.dpvng.]

metal nets can also be pushed out of the plastic case to better rinse and then reassemble, so vinegar is not needed

[@Barbarra63297]

Where we live the calcium in the water is horrendous, I usually heat the vinegar up no hotter than the hot water that comes out of the tap, usually takes about 30 mins for the parts to be clean.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thats a great idea about the heat! I like that a lot

[@Barbarra63297]

@@SilverCymbal It really speeds up the process! :)

[@sirgjw3928]

CLR works much better than vinegar

[@tudorcosmin-andrei4203]

Thanks for the tips ! Valuable content ! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@6AlphaMikeCharlie9]

Ha great video, My Faucet was the same so I got myself a new Aerator where I can direct the water without having to move the faucet. Peace ✌🏼

[@Ammpermeter]

Without tools its a: Lemon acid toothbrush LUL

[@peterrudy9207]

You can imagine if you have hard water . How clogged up your faucets will be over time as well any shut off valves for any appliances , water heater ,etc . And of course outside faucets for garden hoses . And if you happen to have a water supply line to the back of your refrigerator / freezer for automatic ice machine / water dispenser .

[@gpclipner]

I clean mine with CLR after it was run through the coffee maker.

[@simplyvictoriaj]

Thank you. Going to do this.

[@hawktop1594]

thank you, Now I am a Miss Fix it. thank you so very very much.!

[@lls3676]

It worked! Thanks! 😀

[@SilverCymbal]

Glad it helped!

[@franksmall1313]

Makes you think? Should I even be drinking this water?

[@teamline]

Me too🙄

[@solaura6218]

Heating the vinegar speeds it up. I use ZEP. It takes about a minute. No heating needed.

[@janaroth4900]

Does it work the same for bathroom sinks? That’s my trouble area

[@dlm9090]

Thanks!

[@j7ndominica051]

It gets clogged with rust when the water supply is cut and the pipes fill with air. Should be cleaned soon then. The chrome will come off the piece from pots getting banged against it. Puttin in acid won't hurt all that much. With these rubber gaskets, you don't need to tighten much. It will be easier to remove next time. You can wrap a few turns of scotch tape around it if you need to use a wrench.

[@jademau6]

the black dirt gradually falls through the faucet and it looks sooooo grooossss ... im washing my face and my hands with this faucet?? X.X

[@randydutton1]

What about sprayer nozzles that don't allow removal of the aerator?

[@dannynicart2389]

👍

[@jesusgjchuza6491]

Cool 😎

[@JaroslawPolanski]

Use boiling vinegar if you want to clean it in 2 minutes. :)

[@RobotMowerTricks]

I got a call from my aunt, her faucet was slow, turned out the shut off valve was knocked, probably by some cleaning bottles. Just had to reopen it.

[@tomking1890]

Just the new part.

[@johnzajac9849]

Try using CLR, too.

[@MariaHudanish]

You put the aerator together too fast for me to see which part goes in first

[@allset7971]

Use wife's toothbrush for even better results!

[@n9wox]

I have a whole house water filter which catches most of this small junk. Change it 2 times/year.

[@JoDo777]

I do my best to purify my water. I have found LIFE STRAW products to be the best and then I add mineral drops.

[@indyartwiz]

However theres a whole other set of issues when your aerator is hidden within the facet. I bought all kinds of keys to try to take it off and 👎 just stuck!!

[@ptech88]

Just by a new on. It never goes back together the same after you take it apart.

[@julio_daplug_4530]

I’ll add it does cost money if you don’t have vinegar or jar opener

[@TheSturling]

A part of me wants to be so disgusted, but another part of me remembers hey, we’ve survived billions of years through worse I’ll be fine lol

[@xsauce3858]

Didn't even know such a thing exist.... Always wondering why some faucets looks so foamy. I am from a third world country. Hardly will you find those things here

[@tanseygreen]

Never open a stop tap fully always give it a half turn clockwise

[@trevorritchie2575]

"No tools required"...proceeds to break out a jar opener, then a jug of vinegar, then a plastic cup...lol

[@CGXMR]

They're not tools and anyone with some low level common sense will know he is talking about plumbing tools.

[@allyrose6437]

I just can't get mine off AT ALL I've tried all tricks. I wanna rip it out so bad it's pissing me off, I'm a guest wher I live too so I'm not calling a plumber and I doubt the owners will

[@myriadcorp]

Just buy a new one for $5 at Home Depot.

[@rickytorres9089]

They probably seriously like eight or so now, at the rates everything is raising.

[@Not-tomorrow]

Vinegar costs money

[@lukepaintsworld]

I would always take these off and leave them off

[@chrishanzek8930]

Faucet not working? I can fix it with vinegar! Just give me 24 hours.

[@therascals8237]

It works pretty quickly if you scrub

[@Heve62]

Usa problems :D

[@stefanmelicha3604]

renew!

[@fijiangel801]

Central point Carl’s Jr restroom

[@z06doc86]

Buy a new aerator for a couple bucks and avoid the nasty vinegar smell.

[@johnstown2451]

Don’t buy new, this would cost $200 and fail after two years. They don’t make things to last

[@ronaldwoofer5024]

Why you should stop drinking faucet water. Go buy a proper sink drinking water solution with ur million dollar homes u cant afford a $300 unit???

[@rickytorres9089]

You want to clean air before "reasonable" city water IF that's an option to you as you obviously breathe more than you drink/cook with. $300 can get you a really good HEPA for even living areas and that's all you may need. As it's generally the particles count that matters not so much normally what they are.

[@grayrabbit2211]

Ewwe

[@iceman846]

If you bought a aerator instead of white vinegar you be ahead of the game

[@SB324]

Thanks!