How to clean a shower head
By Tom Drake | 13th June 2023 | 4 min read
A shower head that hasn’t been cleaned won’t just look unsightly, when nozzles become clogged with limescale the flow of water will be reduced, which is why cleaning your shower head regularly is so important. In this guide, we take you through how you can easily clean your shower head with household items to keep it looking great and working at its best.
Before using any of the methods below, we recommend testing the cleaner you've chosen on a small area of your shower head first.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to clean a shower head is using white vinegar. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that can work as well as manufactured bathroom cleaners.
How to clean a shower head with vinegar:
- Detach the shower head
- Place in a sandwich bag filled with vinegar
- Leave to soak for 30 minutes
- Scrub with a toothbrush
- Rinse and reattach shower head
1. Detach the shower head
Before you can start cleaning your shower head, you’ll first need to unscrew it from the shower hose or shower arm.
2. Submerge in vinegar
Next up, fill a sandwich bag with white vinegar. It’s important to use white vinegar, not the malt vinegar that you use on your fish and chips.
Place your shower head in the bag and make sure it's completely submerged in the vinegar. If you don't have a sandwich bag that's big enough, you can use a large bowl or similar container, just make sure the shower head is completely covered.
3. Leave to soak for 30 minutes
Once you’ve completely submerged your shower head, you’ll need to leave it to soak for 30 minutes to let the vinegar do its work. Make sure you don’t leave your shower head in the vinegar for too long as this could cause damage to the finish.
4. Scrub with a toothbrush
Once 30 minutes has passed, you can remove the shower head from the vinegar and rinse it with water. Next, use an old toothbrush to scrub and remove any remaining limescale or tough grime. Pay particular attention to any limescale deposits caught in the nozzles that could affect water flow.
5. Rinse and reattach shower head
Lastly, give the shower head one final rinse then re-attach it to the hose or shower arm. You should now be left with a beautifully clean shower head that works like new.
Other cleaning methods
If you don't have any white vinegar to hand, there are a number of other products you might have in your home that can be used to clean your shower head.
Cleaning a shower head with baking soda
Baking soda is another common household item that can be used to clean your shower head.
Combine baking soda with lukewarm water to create a paste. Add more baking soda if your paste is particularly runny, or add some more water if your paste is too thick.
You can then apply this paste directly to your shower head and leave it to sit for 30 minutes. Once the baking soda has had a chance to work, give your shower head a scrub with a toothbrush to remove any stubborn deposits then rinse with water.
Cleaning a shower head with cola
The majority of cola drinks contain ingredients that are found in bathroom cleaning products such as phosphoric acid, tartaric acid and citric acid. As a result, they can be used to remove limescale from your shower head.
As with using white vinegar, try soaking your shower head in a plastic bag or bowl for half an hour, rinse, then use a toothbrush to scrub away any further deposits. Any cola brand should do the trick for cleaning, but be sure to check it has the three ingredients listed above.
If you’ve tried the above methods and your shower head is still clogged with limescale or it’s not performing as it used to, it might be time to replace it. Luckily, replacing your shower head is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to improve the look of your bathroom.
