How to Clean Your Showerhead with Vinegar to Remove Hard Water Deposits and Dirt
Learn how to clean your showerhead with vinegar. Remove hard water deposits, dirt, grime and mold from shower heads in a few simple steps.
Has the water coming from your showerhead begun to slow down? If so, then the problem is likely to be caused by a mineral build-up from hard water, mold, dirt and grime.
Cleaning that showerhead may seem like a difficult task, but it is actually quite easy with the help of some white vinegar and an old toothbrush.
Vinegar is one of the best natural alternatives to those chemical laden cleaning products. It also comes in handy if you are looking for how to clean a mirror without Windex.
And the best part is, it’s inexpensive and you can easily get it from your local grocery.
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The Simple Cleaning Method
If the showerhead does not have too much build up and not many of the holes are plugged then the simple showerhead cleaning method normally will do the trick.
- Start by pouring some white vinegar into a plastic bag don’t fill the bag too full because you are going to want to slide the bag of vinegar over the shower head and then hold it in place by using twist ties or rubber band.
- Allow the showerhead to soak in the vinegar for an hour or two. (Unless the showerhead is brass, gold or nickel coated then allow the showerhead to soak no more than 30 minutes to avoid damage to the showerhead.)
- Once the showerhead has soaked for a period of time, remove the bag and allow the vinegar to go down the shower drain to help clean the drain as well.
- After removing the bag run hot water through the shower head for a minute or two to force out the dirt, grime and minerals that the vinegar has broken up. Then using an old toothbrush scrub the showerhead to remove any remaining gunk from the holes in the showerhead.
- Run the water for a minute or two again and you are done.
The More Showerhead Deep Cleaning Method
If your showerhead seems to have a more serious blockage then it takes a little more effort to clean it using vinegar since you will need to remove the showerhead in order to clean it effectively.
- You might want to start by shutting off the water (to avoid getting a wet surprise.)
- Next, you are going to want to remove the showerhead by turning it counter clockwise.
- Once removed, place the showerhead in an empty container and fill it with vinegar until the showerhead is submerged. The amount of time you will need to soak the showerhead depends on the build up from the hard water minerals, dirt and grime and mold. You may have to soak the showerhead overnight if the build up is really bad.
- After the showerhead has soaked long enough, remove it from the vinegar and rinse with warm water. Then scrub it with an old toothbrush.
- Rinse the showerhead again and examine it to ensure that all the holes are clear. If some of the holes remain blocked, place the showerhead back in the vinegar and soak it for a longer period of time. If all of the holes are clean then reinstall the shower head
- Turn the water back on and you are good to go.
Cleaning your showerhead with vinegar once a month will keep it working perfectly for a long time to come.
Cleaning a Showerhead with Vinegar – Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should You Soak Your Shower Head in Vinegar?
You can soak your shower head in vinegar for 1-2 hours. The more clogged it is, the longer you should soak. However, do not soak for more than 30 minutes if your showerhead is showerhead is brass, gold, or nickel coated.
What Kind of vinegar Do You Use to Clean a Shower Head?
The best vinegar to use for cleaning a shower head is white vinegar. In fact, white vinegar is the best for cleaning in general.
How Do You Clean a Shower Head without White Vinegar?
You can clean a shower head without vinegar by using baking soda as a substitute for vinegar. Follow the same process as with vinegar.
Pour some water into a 1-quart ziplock bag with water Don’t fill it up). Add 2 tbs of baking soda and about 5-6 drops of dawn dishwashing soap to the water and shake to mix the content.
Submerge the shower head inside the bag and hold it in place with a rubber band or twist ties.
Leave it to sit for 1-2 hours. Remove the bag, scrub with a toothbrush and rinse.
Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean Shower Head?
You can use apple cider vinegar to clean showerhead, however, white vinegar is cheaper and the clear color is a plus too.
Does Vinegar Affect Chrome Shower Head?
Vinegar is acidic, so soaking your chrome shower head in vinegar for a prolonged period of time may damage the finishes.
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Now that you know how to clean your showerhead with vinegar, it’s time to give it a try.
