How to Refurbish a Kitchen Faucet

The kitchen is the most important part of any home, and everyone likes to keep it well maintained and organized. A poorly functioning kitchen faucet can cause dirty dish buildup, water waste and general discomfort in the kitchen, and a malfunctioning one certainly can't be overlooked. You can refurbish your kitchen faucet, save money and take pride in solving a simple home repair issue.

Increase Water Flow

• 1

  Turn off both the hot and cold water valves under the sink.

• 2

  Check your water flow for consistency. If it runs slower at times or slower than it previously did, the aerator may be full of debris and need cleaning.

• 3

  Remove the lower end of the faucet spout and aerator by unscrewing it in a counterclockwise motion. Mineral deposits left by the flowing water over time can make the removal process a little difficult. Wrap a towel over the lower end of the spout and twist the it counterclockwise with a pair of pliers placed over the towel. This will prevent the spout from getting scratched.

• 4

  Clean the aerator piece you removed from the faucet with a toothbrush. Dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and scrub the screen. Affix the part back on the faucet. Turn the faucet on and check the water flow for improvement.

Repair Leaky Faucet

• 1

  Turn off the water valves underneath the sink. Lay a kitchen towel in the sink basin where the drain is, so that it will catch any falling screws from the faucet.

• 2

  Remove the faucet lever by removing the screw on the underside of the handle with an Allen wrench. Pull the handle up and off.

• 3

  Remove the cap with adjusting ring with a pair of taped pliers so you don't scratch the part. Pull out the cam and then the packing ring. Remove the ball from the interior of the faucet. Insert the flat edge of a flat-blade screwdriver in the middle of each round seat and spring and pry it out. Make note of the orientation.

• 4

  Take all the parts you removed to the home improvement or hardware store and purchase replacements. Ask a specialized sales rep to help you find the parts for your faucet model. Replace with new seats and springs. Replace the ball and then replace the cam and packing ring with new ones. Screw the cap back on and replace the faucet lever and screw.

• 5

  Turn the water valves under the sink back on. The faucet shouldn't leak any longer.

Cleaning the Chrome Faucet

• 1

  Add water to a large kitchen bowl and add a squirt of dishwashing liquid to it. Dip a clean cloth in the mixture and wipe the faucet. Dip a toothbrush in a soapy water mixture to clean nooks and crannies. Dip a soft cloth in white vinegar, if soap and water are not enough to refurbish the shiny chrome finish. The vinegar helps remove tarnish, lime and soap scum from chrome faucets. Add baking soda to the vinegar to get a better cleaning effect.

• 2

  Clean a rusty faucet by crumpling a small piece of aluminum foil and dipping it in vinegar, then scrubbing the faucet with the vinegar and aluminum foil. The chemical reaction of aluminum foil and vinegar helps remove rust. Dip the crumpled aluminum in the vinegar often. Repeat the process by dipping the aluminum foil in any dark cola soda (the kind you drink), if the vinegar doesn't remove the rust spots. The chemical reaction of the aluminum and the cola soda can also remove rust spots. Avoid scrubbing too hard as this can cause scratches. Rinse the faucet with clean water. Dry the faucet with a clean lint free cloth so water spots don't appear.

• 3

  Apply chrome wax, which you can purchase in any local hardware or home improvement store. Follow the package instructions when applying the wax. Apply two coats. The first will fill protect the faucet and the second will give the faucet a lustrous shine. Buff the first coat of wax before applying the second.