Bathrooms are places in your home where cleanliness is most important. It’s more than a place to just do your business. You shower, wash up, and spend time with your personal grooming. When you are in the bathroom, the sink gets a lot of action. That’s why you should always keep your faucets in good working order.
Performing this type of inspection will ensure your faucet is operating at its optimal level. You should be able to do most of this maintenance yourself, but a plumber can also help. If done consistently, you will get a longer life out of your faucet. Your faucets will shine like the day you bought them and you can take pride in the fact that you are the reason they look so great.
The best time to begin a regular maintenance program on your faucets is when you install them. Nonetheless, you can start now to keep them in good working order.
Here are some great tips on how to maintain your faucets:
Daily Cleaning
When you turn on and off your faucets, they can get wet and start to accumulate a buildup of dirt and soap residue. Also, makeup, hair products and even toothpaste can be left behind. You can easily clean the residue by making it part of your washing routine.
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After running the water and turning off the taps, use a damp cloth to wipe down the faucets. Mild soap works good and won’t be abrasive on the finish. After you can use a soft cloth to dry them. Even if you do regular cleaning of your faucets, any drops of water will leave marks on them. These watermarks may seem harmless, but if there is a high mineral content, then that can do damage if not wiped off.
Depending on the finish, it may be harder to get that new look, but you can use furniture polish as recommended by some manufacturers to keep them in show home condition.
Remove Buildup
Over time the minerals in your water may build up around the faucet, especially if you have hard water. These tough deposits can be hard to clean if they are left too long. Every week, have a closer look around the faucets and gently scrub off any accumulation. You can use a cloth soaked in diluted vinegar as this helps break down the minerals. Look around the drain as well and clean of any signs of debris there too.
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If a cloth doesn’t do it, use a toothbrush or plastic scrubber to remove any stubborn debris. Take your time and make sure you don’t scratch or remove any finish.
Don’t Use Harsh Cleaning Products
While some cleaning around the house requires heavy-duty chemicals to get the job done, you don’t want to use those products on your faucets. Any abrasive cleaner will quickly scratch or dull the shine and this damage is permanent. Also, don’t use rough scouring pads and stainless steel scrubbers! It is much better just to use a soft cloth, damp and soap to remove any filth on your taps. As long as you keep up on the cleaning, it won’t require any special tools or chemicals.
Apply Wax
Are you the type of person that likes to make their car shine? Some people prefer to hand wash their vehicles and apply a coat of wax after for a new car look and it looks amazing. Why not do the same with your faucets?
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Applying wax will help keep that new finish on your faucets as well as prevent minerals from accumulating. It acts as a barrier against this and other debris buildup, so you should apply wax twice a year for protection. Do a little research to buy the right kind of wax for your faucet’s exterior finish.
Do Minor Maintenance
There are some inside components that age naturally and may need to be cleaned or replaced. The aerator is a mechanism that combines water with air to produce a smooth, constant flow and is important to the operation of your faucet. Over time it may accumulate minerals or debris buildup and impact its normal operation.
You can clean the parts every 3-4 months by simply unscrewing the end of your faucet and taking out the screen and rubber washer. Wash them with soapy water or vinegar and scrub with an old toothbrush if needed. It’s also an excellent time to make sure these components and in good shape. You can put it back together or buy a new aerator and then you are good to go.
Springs can also wear out but are easily replaced and you can usually get a faucet repair kit at your local hardware store. If this is something you don’t want to tackle, call a licensed plumber to take it on for you.
