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Garden Hose Maintenance: What You Need to Know

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published October 14, 2024

Maintaining a clean garden hose is important for maintaining a garden. With proper care, it will give you a better experience and save you time and money while watering your plants. This guide will help you understand how to clean a water hose and common problems related to it.

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Types of Water Hose

Before we get into maintenance, it is important to know which type of hose you have. Hoses can be classified differently.

Based on Size

  • Diameter: 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4. The larger the diameter, the more water will flow. If you’re maintaining a garden at home ¾ is preferred.
  • Length: 25 feet, 50 feet, 75 feet and 100 feet

Based on material

Rubber and vinyl (PVC) are the most used hose for home gardening, while rubber hoses last longer and are more flexible, they are heavier than vinyl.

Based on Function

  • Garden hoses come in different qualities and can be used for other tasks at home besides gardening.
  • Heavy-duty hoses are heavier, but they can handle pressure better and have a lesser chance of getting punctures.
  • Coil hoses can be stored anywhere easily. They are lightweight but cannot handle much pressure.

How to Clean Water Hose

Mold and dirt can get inside the hose if it is not cleaned regularly, making it hard to use due to cracks and leaks. It can also cause skin infections if the dirt or rust gets stuck.

Cleaning the Nozzle

  • First, the pipe and nozzle should be detached from the water or other water source.
  • Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the head and take out the O-ring for cleaning. Wipe the O-ring with a cloth, apply some lubricant, and reinsert it.​
  • Place the head in a bowl or container, add baking soda, and pour vinegar over it until the head is submerged. The mixture will foam. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then add more baking soda and wait again. This process removes the top layer of dirt. 
  • Use needles for thorough cleaning. By sticking them in the holes the left-over dirt will also come out. Choose the needle according to the size of holes in the head.

Caution

Always wear gloves when handling vinegar and cleaning solutions to protect your skin. Ensure the room is well-ventilated to avoid inhaling any fumes from the cleaning process. Be cautious with tools to avoid damaging the parts.

Cleaning the Pipe

Next, we will be cleaning hose pipe. To do this, first flush out all the water from the pipe. There are two ways to do this. 

  • First, use the above mixture of baking soda and vinegar and fill the pipe with it. Let it soak for a few hours or maybe a whole night, then flush it out the next day. The time depends on how dirty the pipe is.
  • Second, this one is more eco-friendly than the above. There is no need for harsh chemicals. You will only need a sponge and some tissues. Take out the sponge and roll it. Now, place it inside one end of the pipe and after that put the tissues inside. Now, take this side and attach it to a water source. When water starts flowing, the algae or other waste that is inside will come out from the other end. Repeat this process multiple times until only clean water comes out.

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Garden Hose

Proper Storage

  • To store a hose, first take all the water out of it. It is important to keep it out of sunlight so it doesn’t get cracks.  
  • Wrap it into loops and tie them together with a band so they don’t open again. The loops should not be too tight.
  • To avoid kinks, make sure to open the pipe entirely before using it 
  • Check for leaks on the pipe and keep it away from sharp places.

Repairing Your Water Hose

Despite having a clean garden hose it is possible that it will have some problems, but these problems are minor that can be handled easily.

Leaks

Leaks are the most common problem faced with water hoses, it can be caused due to many reasons including too much pressure of water, bad material or sharp objects. If there are leaks on the pipe simply use waterproof tape on it but if the leak is on the connector side, first try tightening the connection, if that does not work you will have to change the washer.

Cracks

Most of the cracks occur due to changes in temperature. Hoses should not be left out in the sun for too long or outside in winter. They will break down since they are mostly made of plastic or rubber. They should be stored in a normal, dry place. Another reason can be the water pressure, which the hose cannot withstand and starts cracking from inside. If your hose has cracks on certain parts or ends, you can cut it and use it but if there are multiple cuts all along the hose, a new pipe will be preferable.

Connectors

If the connectors are broken, they cannot be repaired. The only solution is to buy new ones.