How to Clean Your Shower Head Like a Pro: Simple Steps for Sparkling Results

Let’s face it, keeping your shower head clean can be a challenge. And it often slides down on our priority list. When you come to design your bathroom, you may not pay much attention to choosing a design that’s easily cleaned. However, keeping your shower head clean is really important. If you don’t keep it clean, then it can cause hygiene issues.

Over time, dirt and grime gets stuck in your shower head, particularly in hard water areas. This means the water you’re using to wash your body may not be the cleanest. Harmful bacteria (Legionella) can gather, particularly in wet and moist areas like inside a shower head. 

Limescale and minerals can also start to build up with regular use, and this can have an impact on water flow. So, if you want to restore your water flow, improve shower performance and maintain a high level of hygiene, then cleaning your shower head (once a month) regularly is a must. Plus, if you clean it regularly, this prevents too much grime building up. 

Cleaning your shower head doesn’t need to be difficult. You can also clean your shower head without removing it. In this article, we’ll cover how to clean a shower head and also tips for giving it a deeper clean. All you need is a few simple ingredients. So, let’s get started. 

Table of Contents

1. Cleaning equipment - What you’ll need to clean a shower head
2. How to clean a shower head without removing it
3. How to deep clean a shower head (if you can remove it)
4. How to clean a rainfall or fixed shower head
5. How to naturally disinfect a shower head
6. How often should you clean a shower head?
7. How to prevent limescale buildup long-term
8. FAQs

Cleaning equipment - What you’ll need to clean a shower head

First things first, let’s outline what you’ll need to be able to properly clean your shower head. It’s nothing fancy, you just need some household ingredients, some rubber gloves and a tooth brush. Here’s the full list of cleaning equipment:

• White vinegar
• An old toothbrush
• A cloth
• Plastic bag
• A rubber brand
• Baking soda (this is optional, it achieves a deeper clean and helps with mineral buildup)

How to clean a shower head without removing it

Got a shower head that’s attached? If you can’t remove your shower head, don’t fret, you can still clean it using this simple plastic bag method. 

Step 1 - Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar

Step 2 - Place the bag over the shower head

Step 3 - Secure the bag with a rubber band 

Step 4 - Leave it to soak, ideally for several hours.

Step 5 - Remove the bag, rinse your shower with water.

Step 6 - Get a cloth and give it a gentle scrub with some soap to remove any debris

How to deep clean a shower head (if you can remove it)

Got a removable shower head? Brilliant, you can give it a deeper clean. Follow the instructions below and you’ll have a shiny, clean showerhead. 

Here’s how to descale a showerhead:

Step 1 - Remove the shower head

Follow manufacturer instructions and remove your shower head. 

Step 2 - Prepare a bowl with vinegar and water 

Grab a bowl or fill your wash basin with the same amount of white vinegar and warm water (equal parts). 

Step 3 - Leave it to soak

Leave your shower head in the solution to soak for 30 minutes to a few hours depending on how much limescale buildup there is. 

Step 4 - Remove and scrub the nozzles

Next, carefully remove the shower head and give it a good rinse with water. You can then use a tooth brush or tooth pick to try and remove tough bits of residue stuck in the holes. Take care not to damage your shower head and ensure you clean carefully. 

Step 5 - Rinse to remove any dirt

Rinse the shower head with water again to remove any dirt and debris. 

Step 6 - Reattach 

Now you can enjoy cleaner, more efficient showers!

How to clean a rainfall or fixed shower head

If you’ve got a fixed shower head, you can follow the instructions mentioned above. You just need to cover it in a bag filled with white vinegar and leave it for a few hours. Rainfall showers (which often feature in walk-in showers and wet rooms) have a larger shower head surface area so there’s more to clean. 

The nozzles can also be slightly wider, so you’ll need to clean and descale them regularly with a tooth brush or tooth pick by gently clearing the holes. You can clean the surface area of the shower head by wiping it with a soft sponge or cloth to clear away any mineral buildup. Never use scourers or metal cleaning brushes as they will damage your shower. 

How to naturally disinfect a shower head

Wondering how to descale a shower head without commercial cleaning products? If you prefer a natural, eco-friendly clean, you can do this with ingredients like lemon and white vinegar. Both of these work well on shower heads and enable you to avoid using nasty, harsh chemicals. Scrub your shower head with a cloth covered in lemon juice or vinegar. Or you can leave it to soak in a bag for a few hours. 

How often should you clean a shower head?

Ideally, you should clean your shower head every single month. It doesn’t have to be a really deep clean. If you clean it regularly, there shouldn’t be too much buildup to clear away. Do a basic clean every month but wiping it down and then perform a deep clean every few months (particularly if you live in a hard water area). 

How to prevent limescale buildup long-term

The last thing you want is a big buildup of limescale as this can be difficult to clean. If you keep on top of cleaning, you’ll prevent limescale from building up too much. Here are a few handy tips to prevent this:

• Rinse your shower regularly
• Wipe down your shower after use
• Use filtered water if you can
• Do a deep clean every couple of months
• Keep up regular cleaning of the shower head including in the nozzles/holes

FAQs

Can you use commercial cleaners on shower heads?

Yes, you can use commercial cleaners on shower heads, but make sure you check manufacturer guidelines. Buy commercial products that are made specifically for shower heads and read the instructions carefully. 

What’s the fastest way to clean a shower head?

The fastest way to clean a shower head is to give it a wipe with a soft cloth or wipe it down with a commercial shower cleaning product. However, this won’t be effective long term, so it’s worth spending a bit longer on a deeper clean every few months. If you’re looking for minimal cleaning effort, then soaking in vinegar is very easy and doesn’t involve any scrubbing. 

How do I unclog shower head holes?

You may not be able to get into shower head holes with a standard cloth, some of them are far too narrow. To clean them thoroughly, you’ll need to use a cotton wool bud or a small toothbrush. Use the toothbrush bristles to get right inside the holes and clear out any debris. 

 

Thinking of getting a bathroom redesign? We can help create an accessible bathroom design. We have an extensive range of walk-in baths and walk-in showers to choose from. Contact us for more information and to discuss your specific requirements.