How to Make a Faucet Shine Again
Wrap white limescale in a citric-acid paper towel for 30 minutes, then clean the aerator too and the flow comes back as well.
What you need
Supplies
- 1 tsp citric acid
- 200 ml (3/4 cup) water
Tools
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels
- Toothbrush
- Dry microfiber cloth
How to do it
- 01
Spray with citric acid
Dissolve 1 tsp of citric acid in 200 ml (3/4 cup) of water in a spray bottle and spray the whole faucet, especially the body and the underside of the handle where white scale builds up.
- 02
Wrap with paper towels
Wrap the faucet in paper towels and spray again so they cling. Leave for about 30 minutes to dissolve the hardened scale.
- 03
Clean the aerator
Unscrew the tip of the spout where the water comes out to find a small mesh aerator. Soak it in the citric acid solution, then brush it with a toothbrush. The flow will even out again.
- 04
Scrub the joints
Remove the paper towels and scrub the base where the faucet meets the sink and the gaps around the handle. Black grime usually hides here.
- 05
Rinse and buff
Rinse off the citric acid, then dry the faucet completely with a microfiber cloth. Leftover water creates new spots, so this final dry wipe matters most.
Be careful
- Special finishes such as gold or matte black can be sensitive to acid. Leave the solution on for no more than 10 minutes and test a hidden area first.
- Abrasives, steel wool and melamine sponges scratch chrome plating.
- Do not use bleach and citric acid on the same day.
Malkkeum tips
- Drying the faucet with a towel after each use almost prevents limescale completely.
- For a lasting shine, give the dry faucet one more rub with a microfiber cloth.
Limescale and black grime
White marks on a faucet are minerals from tap water, and they dissolve in citric acid. Black or pink grime around the base is mold and bacteria growing on the moisture. For that, scrub with dish soap first, and if it is stubborn, treat it separately with a chlorine cleaner on another day.
Kitchen faucets have grease too
Kitchen faucets often have a layer of grease on top of the limescale. Wipe the grease off with a soapy sponge before spraying citric acid, so the acid reaches the scale directly and works much faster.
FAQ
The aerator will not unscrew. If it has not been cleaned in a long time, it may be cemented in place by scale. Wrap the tip in a citric-acid paper towel for 30 minutes, then grip it with a rubber glove so your hand does not slip.
