How To Clean Your Kitchen Sink Sprayer

I don’t have a sink sprayer in my current apartment, but I sure miss the one from my last place. I loved being able to pull out the sprayer to rinse fruit. And I especially loved being able to pull it out to give one final rinse all around my sink at the end of the night. It was so satisfying!

But over time — especially if you live someplace with hard water — gunk can build up in the sprayer’s holes, clogging them up to slow down the water stream. And over time, the hose can get gummed up with bits of debris, affecting its ability to retract. “Mineral buildup is the biggest problem for sink sprayers, but debris from the water can get into the nozzles from the inside, too,” says Christine Ramos, senior product manager for kitchens at Kohler.

And while most of us think about cleaning the sink and wiping down the faucet and handles, you probably hardly ever think about cleaning your sink sprayer. You should, though! Here’s what you can do the next time you think of it and have a few minutes to spare.

• White vinegar, cut 50/50 with the warm water
• Warm water
• Two bowls
• Three microfiber cloths
• Toothbrush (optional)

1. Get your bowls ready: Fill one bowl with the vinegar solution and the other with plain warm water.
2. Pull the sprayer out: Pull it all the way out — as far as it will go. If you’re handy, you can disconnect the hose at its base to pull it out completely, but don’t attempt this if you’re afraid you won’t be able to put it back together.
3. Clean the hose: Dip your first microfiber cloth into the vinegar solution and gently rub it along the hose to remove any debris.
4. Dip a second cloth: Once the hose is clean, dip your second microfiber cloth into the water.
5. Wipe the hose: Use this second cloth to wipe down the hose and remove any remaining vinegar solution.
6. Prepare to clean the nozzle: If you’re able to, remove the spray nozzle from the hose. (If not, don’t worry — ours didn’t come off and we could still clean it!) Dip your first cloth back into the vinegar solution.
7. Clean the nozzle: Use that cloth to scrub the nozzle’s holes. Let it sit for a few minutes or add some extra power and scrub with an old toothbrush. If the sprayer is still clogged or is visibly covered in hard water spots, consider letting it sit in the bowl of vinegar solution for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Then use the water-dipped cloth to give the nozzle a final wipe.
8. Dry the hose: Use the third cloth to dry the hose before retracting it back into its resting position.
9. Rinse away: Run super-hot water through the sprayer for a few minutes to remove any remaining debris or vinegar solution from the flow holes before using the sprayer to rinse food or fill a water glass.