While it may be natural for you to clean things like your toilet, countertops, sinks, and bathtubs and showers, one thing you may be overlooking when it comes to bathroom cleaning is your showerhead. Most people only think about it when the showerhead becomes clogged and sprays water every which way or at a slower flow. However, there are some good reasons to clean it regularly:
- A clogged showerhead can affect water pressure and create plumbing issues.
- Clogged showerheads can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, affecting the health of your family.
- Affects the overall cleanliness of your bathroom. Let’s face it, limescale build up on a showerhead does not look great, and that can detract from an otherwise clean room.
So how do you clean and/or unclog a showerhead? One of the simplest ways to do a deeper clean beyond routine wipe downs and/or unclog a showerhead is with vinegar as detailed below. One note of caution before you try this: Always check the manufacturer literature for your showerhead first to ensure there is no potential of damaging the finish (for example, brass showerheads can be cleaned this way but with limited exposure to the vinegar — see Let it Soak below).
Step 1: Fill a Bag with Vinegar
Grab a plastic bag that is big enough to cover and attach to the showerhead and fill it with partway with distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar. Be careful not to overfill the bag to prevent it from overflowing when you put the showerhead in it.
Step 2: Put the Bag Over the Showerhead
Place the bag over the showerhead until the entire fixture is submerged in the vinegar. Check to make sure the entire showerhead is immersed in the vinegar and adjust the level as needed.
Step 3: Secure the Bag Around the Showerhead
Using a rubber band, hair tie, or twist tie, fasten the bag around the neck of the showerhead. Before letting go, make sure it is secure enough not to slip off. Once you have it secure, it’s a good idea to close the shower door or curtain so that if it does slip off, it won’t splash vinegar outside of the shower.
Step 4: Let it Soak
Give the showerhead time to soak in the vinegar. How long is dependent on the fixture’s finish and how dirty it may be. For a brass showerhead, do not soak for more than 30 minutes – any longer could damage the finish. For most other finishes (again check the manufacturer literature before starting this), leave the showerhead soaking for a few hours. If your showerhead is particularly dirty with a lot of buildup, you can let it soak overnight for a better clean.
Step 5: Remove the Bag
Untie the bag and remove it from the showerhead. You can pour the vinegar down the drain to dispose of it. Bonus cleaning tip: Add some baking soda to the drain before pouring the vinegar in to help remove soap scum buildup in the drain.
Step 6: Run Hot Water
Run hot water through the showerhead for a minute to flush out any loose deposits still stuck in the fixture.
Step 7: Do Additional Cleaning/Unclogging as Needed
For some showerheads, you may be able to skip this step. However, if there are still clogged nozzles or any buildup remains on the showerhead, take additional steps to clean. Use a toothpick and paper clip to unclog any clogged nozzles. For buildup on the showerhead, dip an old toothbrush in dry baking soda and scrub the fixture, focusing on the areas around holes where water comes out. Turn the hot water back on to flush the residue. Repeat the process until you no longer see residue coming out.
Step 8: Polish with a Microfiber Cloth
Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the showerhead, use a microfiber cloth to polish the showerhead. Buff and dry it to remove water spots.
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