2 Simple Methods on How to Clean Shower Heads

Make Sure to Shower with a Clean Shower Head!

If your shower head is not performing like it used to, chances are your shower head could use a thorough cleaning. It is common to see nozzles spraying water in odd directions and failing to deliver consistent water pressure.

It is likely that this is all caused by mineral buildup disrupting the water flow and even plugging the small holes of the shower head. Removing these mineral deposits should be all you need to return your shower to its former glory.

In addition, a dirty shower is bad for your health. Even though you clean your body there, the shower is not necessarily the cleanest place in your home. The moist environment of your shower (and more specifically, your shower head) is a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. You definitely do not want to be showering yourself with bacteria!

Not surprisingly, it's imperative to clean your showers often. If you don’t know how to clean shower heads, this is the article for you.

Give the Nozzles a thorough Scrub

The first thing you should do when cleaning your shower head is to clean what you can. Most shower heads have flexible nozzles which makes it easy to dislodge mineral buildup when you rub a finger or cloth through them. Scrubbing with an old toothbrush works just as well.

Clean Showerhead with Vinegar

If you are at the point where your showerhead performance is being affected, you’ll probably want to opt for a more thorough cleaning. The safe and environmentally friendly way to clean your shower head is with white vinegar.

Soaking the showerhead in vinegar can get your showerhead to return to its past glory of producing strong water pressure and aim. There are two ways to approach this clean: removing the shower head from the shower pipe or leaving it attached to the wall.

Method 1:

Leaving the shower head attached to the pipe that comes out of the wall, you can still soak the shower head in vinegar by using a plastic bag. Simply fill the plastic bag with vinegar and secure it to the base of the shower head by attaching a rubber band to the end of the bag.

Leave the bag on the shower head for a couple of hours to let the vinegar do its job. When you do remove the bag and the vinegar, run the water for a few minutes to clear the rest of the vinegar out of the shower head.

Method 2:

If you can detach the shower head from the shower pipe that sticks out of the wall, your job is a bit easier. Find a container large enough to fully submerge the shower head and fill it up with white vinegar. Let the shower head soak in the vinegar for a few hours before reattaching it to the shower pipe.

Run water through the shower head for a few minutes to clear out the rest of the vinegar and ensure you don’t bathe yourself in vinegar next time!

For a Deeper Cleaning

If you are still not satisfied with your shower’s cleanliness or performance, you have a few more options. Follow these additional steps for a more in-depth lesson on how to clean shower heads.

Step 1: Pick off the debris. If your showerhead has plastic nozzles, then you can move them around with your fingers to dislodge any additional debris. Alternatively, you can use a toothpick or similar object to poke out any additional deposits.

Step 2: Soak overnight. Scoop a few tablespoons of baking soda into a container filled with white vinegar and submerge the showerhead overnight. The addition of baking soda adds extra cleaning power with its abrasive nature.

What Not to Do

For the future, you are going to want to keep your shower head clean and keep the bacterial growth at bay. To do this, you will need to give your shower head a thorough cleaning at least once a month.

When cleaning, there are a few things you should avoid. First, do not use bleach to clean your showerhead, as it actually leads to more bacterial buildup. Second, using a hard-bristled brush could damage the finishing of your showerhead by scuffing the surface.

If you avoid doing those two things, cleaning your shower head should be easy!

Final Thoughts

Maintaining a clean showerhead with vinegar is important for your health and enjoyment. Take the extra time to keep your shower area tidy and you’ll start your day off with a great shower every day. Have fun cleaning and be sure to clean your shower head at least once a month.

Thanks for reading about how to clean shower heads!