Commercial faucets shine brightly and do not accumulate. Explore the best cleaning solutions and technologies.
GIMILI Commercial Kitchen Faucet with Deck Plate Brushed Gold
Did you know that your shower head needs a bath of its own every so often? Your sink faucet heads need cleaning, too. Limescale, soap scum, and food debris can build up on faucet heads as you use them daily. You might even see a black slimy substance—it’s harmless bacteria feasting on the minerals in the water, but yuck nonetheless.
“As this grime builds up, it can impact the water pressure and flow of your commercial faucet,” Katie Dills, Brand President of The Cleaning Authority. “Moreover, the buildup may result in unpleasant odors and foster the growth of harmful bacteria, including mold and mildew.”
In short, it’s probably a good time to clean those shower and commercial faucet heads. Here, we’ll walk you through three easy methods.
Before Getting Started
Vinegar is among the best tools to clean shower and faucet heads, but this household cleaning staple comes with a disclaimer: It’s very acidic, so don’t let it get near natural stone surfaces like marble or certain types of faucet materials.
“It is important to note that vinegar isn’t recommended for all commercial faucets,” says Dills. “Faucets with black, bronze, or gold-colored coatings and finishes may get damaged or discolored by the vinegar’s acidity.
Vinegar also has a strong odor, though it’s not toxic. However, if you’re cleaning with it, it’s always a good idea to ventilate the space. If you’ve got sensitive skin, wear gloves to handle vinegar—it’s fine when diluted, but straight vinegar might cause skin irritation.
CLR, another cleaner on our list, is safe for some surfaces, but not others. When using this and any other household cleaner, it’s important to read the label carefully to avoid damage or personal injury—even if CLR does meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice Standard.
Method 1: How to Clean a Commercial Faucet Head with Vinegar
For this method, you’re basically preparing a vinegar bath for your commercial faucet head. “Soaking the head in this natural solution dissolves mineral buildup and eradicates bacteria, ensuring a clean and efficient flow,” says Guldeste Tursunbaeva, General Manager of Superb Maids Charlotte.
What You’ll Need:
- Distilled white vinegar
- Plastic bag
- Scrub brush or toothbrush
- Optional: Baking soda
- Alternative: Cleaning cloth
How to Do It:
- Mix equal parts water and white vinegar to partially fill the plastic bag. Optional: If it’s been a while since you’ve last cleaned your commercial faucet, Dills says to add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to it. This will cause harmless fizzing and bubbling that will really go to work on faucet build-up.
- Submerge the commercial faucet head in the solution. Tie or otherwise secure the bag around the faucet head so it stays submerged.
- Let the commercial faucet head soak for 30 minutes.
- Remove the bag and dispose of the solution.
- Scrub the faucet head with a toothbrush or scrub brush to remove any residue and remaining grime.
- Rinse the faucet head thoroughly and run water through it to remove any remaining solution.
Alternate Method:
Dills says you can also wet a cloth with the same vinegar and water mixture and secure it around the commercial faucet head or shower head. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse.
Method 2: How to Clean a Faucet Head with Baking Soda
What You’ll Need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Small bowl
- Toothbrush or scrub brush
- Alternative: Hydrogen peroxide
How to Do It:
- Pour some baking soda into a small bowl. Add enough water to mix a thick yet spreadable paste. Alternative: You could also add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to mix with the baking soda paste for extra cleaning power.
- Spread the paste on the faucet head, including the nozzles.
- Let sit for 30 minutes.
- Scrub with a wet toothbrush, then rinse thoroughly.
Method 3: How to Clean a Faucet with CLR
CLR stands for calcium, lime, and rust, and this handy household cleaner can remove it all from your faucet head. It’s easily available online or at your local supermarket or hardware store.
What You’ll Need:
- Bottle of CLR
- Water
- Bowl
- Toothbrush
How to Do It:
- Mix 50/50 solution of CLR with water in a bowl.
- Submerge the faucet or shower head in the solution for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Scrub gently with a scrub brush or toothbrush.
- Clean the bowl and fill it with cold water.
- Submerge the faucet head for another 2 minutes.
CLR can be used on chrome, fiberglass, porcelain, and stainless steel, but keep it away from natural stone, brass, copper, aluminum, and galvanized metals.
Health and Safety Concerns
It’s always a good practice to ventilate your home when you’re cleaning, but it’s vital to do so when using vinegar and cleaners like CLR. Vinegar has a strong odor that’s harmless and CLR meets the EPA’s Safer Choice Standard, but you should always open doors and windows when cleaning with either.
Note: If you feel ill after using any household cleaners, call 911 or the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
