How to Maintain Your Bridge Kitchen Faucet

This style of faucet features two handles — hot and cold — joined by a horizontal pipe that feeds a single faucet above. That horizontal piece is the “bridge,” and it’s what makes this type of faucet so gorgeous and unique.

But how do you ensure that this classic faucet doesn’t age like bread? Here are some simple maintenance tips to keep a bridge kitchen faucet in fine condition.

1. Avoid Harsh Chemicals

While it’s important to keep your faucet clean, using harsh cleaners and tools (think bleach, stainless steel wool sponges, and scouring pads) can cause irreversible damage. For instance, you should never use bleach on a bridge kitchen faucet — chlorine and faucets do not make a happy pair.

The best cleaning solution you can use is a soft washcloth and a mix of warm water and hand or dish soap. Scrub your faucet clean with the rag and then rinse it to get any soap residue off.

To get buildup out of those annoying, hard-to-reach joints, take a couple of cotton swabs and get to work. Simply dip the cotton swab in your soapy water mix to clean more effectively.

2. Use Vinegar for Stubborn Buildup

It could be minerals, it could be algae — but whatever type of buildup you notice on your faucet, it’s important to remove it as soon as possible.

If step #1 doesn’t fix it, try mixing white vinegar with warm water, soaking a washcloth in it, and laying it over the area on the faucet for several hours. This will loosen up the buildup so you can wipe it away more easily.

3. Keep Your Bridge Kitchen Faucet Dry

Don’t let water stick around too long on the surface of your faucet. Wipe off water drops, and be sure to dry your faucet after you’ve cleaned it.

Water spots show up on many finishes like stainless steel, chrome, and polished brass. The spots are more noticeable the harder your water is — when the water evaporates, those minerals stick to the surface and can cause deposits to form. With deposits come tarnishing and potential long-term damage.

4. Keep Your Faucet’s Lifespan in Mind

Most high-quality kitchen faucets can serve you for 20 years or more. If you take care of your bridge kitchen faucet properly, it will repay you in lifespan.

5. Remember That Small, Regular Cleanups Are Best

You shouldn’t have to put on a hazmat suit once every two months to clean your kitchen. The best way is to clean it once a week or so. This prevents any problems like buildup from, well, building up.

Shop Bridge Kitchen Faucets at Kingston Brass

Check out our bridge kitchen faucet collection to find the perfect addition to your kitchen. Kingston Brass offers a variety of finishes and styles — so whether you love matte black, shiny chrome, polished brass, or another finish, you’ll find it here. With the tips above, you can keep your faucet looking its best for many years to come.