You can restore regular flow and performance to your shower head if you know how to clean it. It all starts with mineral deposits in the showerhead openings, which can either clog them completely or cause the water to spray in strange directions. How can you descale your rain shower so that it is sparkling clean again?
Photo: David Prado Perucha/ Shutterstock
Think about the last time you scrubbed the toilet. You’ve probably also cleaned the sink and floor, as well as mopped and cleaned the tiles. But have you cleaned the overhead shower? The vast majority of us would say no. However, that has to change. Below we will introduce you to some methods for removing limescale from a shower head.
Why should you descale your rain shower?
Foto: Maridav/ Shutterstock
It’s understandable that you don’t take the time to clean your shower head. The main reason for this is that, unlike an unclean bathtub, a dirty shower head does not immediately reveal its internal dirt. Over time, organic debris and minerals can build up and clog the openings, preventing water from flowing smoothly. Your shower head probably needs a thorough cleaning if the spray pattern is irregular.
Think about the impact on your health if that isn’t convincing enough. Bacteria, mold and other organisms thrive in the hot and humid conditions found in showerheads. If the showerhead is not cleaned properly, the slime will prevent the chlorine from washing away any irritants.
Also read: Cleaning a yellowed toilet seat: With these home remedies you can get it sparkling clean!
Clean a removable shower head
A common method for removing rainfall showerheads is to twist them off the base. If this is the case with your shower head, here’s how to get it clean.
Turn off the rain shower. To clean the shower head, place it in a container and fill the container with white vinegar. Then let the shower head soak for half an hour, if not a full hour. Then pour the water out of the container and briefly rinse the shower head. To remove stubborn limescale deposits, scrub the shower head and jets with an old toothbrush. After rinsing with water, polish it with a soft cloth. Before your next shower, turn on the water to rinse off vinegar and limescale residues.
Descale the shower head without unscrewing it
Foto: Fio Creative/ Shutterstock
If you don’t want to remove the shower head completely, you can also use a simple method: put vinegar in a plastic bag and tie it to the shower head. After securing the bag with the elastic band, let the shower head soak for a few hours. If you don’t have a rubber band on hand, you can also use tape, a hair tie, etc. to secure the bag. To remove the buildup, run hot water through the showerhead after removing the plastic bag.
Use a toothbrush (or a toothpick for hard-to-reach areas) to further clean the showerhead if the deposits are still there or if they are stubborn stains: adding baking soda to the vinegar will make the result even better. The vinegar quickly expands and through this reaction produces carbonic acid, a great natural cleaner that removes dirt from the shower head. You can combine the two methods described above with baking soda.
Also interesting: Removing limescale in the toilet: With the right tools and tricks, it can be done in a flash!