How to Clean a Shower Head
If you’re experiencing low water pressure or notice build-up in your shower’s nozzle, it’s time to clean your shower head. Over time, small sediments collect in the nozzles, preventing proper water flow.
You can bring your shower head back to new by soaking it in a cleaning solution for a few hours. Doing so will break down mineral deposits without much scrubbing.
Here are the two most effective methods to clean a shower head.
How to Clean a Shower Head with Vinegar (All-Natural Method)
Gather up vinegar, a plastic sandwich bag, and an old toothbrush. Then, follow these steps to clean your shower head without removing it.
Step 1: Fill a Bag with White Distilled Vinegar and Place it on the Shower Head
Fill a sandwich bag with white distilled vinegar and place it on the shower head, ensuring it’s covered. Attach the bag using a bread tie or a rubber band.
Allow the shower head to soak for a minimum of three hours.
Step 2: Scrub Away Mineral Deposits
After at least three hours, remove the sandwich bag and use a toothbrush to scrub away mineral deposits. Rinse afterward.
Tip: Use a Magic Eraser to clean around the head and where the shower head attaches to the plumbing.
Step 3: Rinse the Filter
Every showerhead has a filter. It’s most often where the shower head connects to the plumbing. If you can’t locate yours, resort to your user’s manual.
Clean the filter by scrubbing away mineral deposits with an old toothbrush and rinsing under water. If needed, remove the filter with pliers, rinse it under water, and place it back in the shower head. If it doesn’t come clean, allow it to soak in vinegar for a couple of hours.
Descale Your Shower Head with CLR
Sometimes you need more than vinegar to descale a shower head. You can use a descaling product or try CLR’s foaming bathroom spray. It removes calcium, limestone, and rust buildup and doesn’t require soaking.
You can clean your shower head without removing it using this method.
Note: CLR is not safe for all finishes. You can use it on chrome and plastic shower heads. You’ll need another descaling product if your showerhead is a different material.
Step 1: Remove the Shower Head and Spray with CLR
Remove the shower head. (Most shower heads unscrew from the pipe fitting. Resort to your user’s manual if necessary.) If you prefer to leave your shower head in place, spray it with the foam, coating all pieces.
Place the shower head in the bathroom sink and spray it with CLR foaming bathroom spray.
Step 2: Wait 3 Minutes and Wipe Clean
After three minutes, wipe the shower clean. Next, use an old toothbrush to scrub the nozzle, clearing mineral deposits from spray holes. Then, rinse well.
If the shower head didn’t come clean, repeat steps 1 and 2.
Step 3: Rinse the Filter
Find your showerhead’s filter – it’s often where the showerhead screws onto the plumbing and looks like a mesh or metal screen.
Scrub the filter with a toothbrush and run under water. Next, remove the filter with tweezers or pliers and soak it in a descaling solution to remove mineral deposits. Once the filter is clean, place it back in the shower head.
How to Keep Your Shower Head Clean
A clogged-up shower head looks grimy and lowers water pressure. So keep it clean by following these tips:
- Spray your shower head with your tub and tile cleaner, and wipe with a microfiber cloth each time you clean the bathroom.
- If you have hard water, add a filter to the shower head to cut down on mineral deposits.
- Slow down mold and mildew growth by using the exhaust fan when taking a shower or bath.