How to Clean a Faucet Aerator

A Simple Fix for a Faucet Aerator that's Spitting and Sputtering

Here's a problem you may have lived with for years and never realized how easy it would be to fix.  If you have a kitchen or bathroom faucet that spits and splatters instead of delivering a nice even stream of water, the problem is, most likely, in the aerator.  It gets dirty and clogged with sand and sediment. The solution is to unscrew it from the faucet, disassemble it, rinse or pick of the debris, and put it back together.  This video shows you exactly how, step by step.

Here's another video by plumber Greg Chick who goes into the subject in detail and recommends simply replacing the aerator rather than attempting to clean it.

If your aerator is stubborn and won't unscrew easily, wrap several layers of electrician's tape around the jaws of a pair of standard or multi-groove pliers to prevent damaging the finish. As you look down on the aerator, turn it clockwise to loosen.