Signs That Your Shower Head Needs a Deep Clean

Signs That Your Shower Head Needs a Deep Clean

Are you sick and tired of your shower not working properly? Perhaps your water isn’t running smoothly. Have you looked at your shower’s water pressure, and it does not appear to be the issue? If you responded yes to both questions, stay close because we have all the tips on how to clean a shower head.

Indications that you need to Deep Clean a Shower Head

Before we go into how to clean your shower head, we’ve provided you with a list to follow. If you answered yes to one or more of the following questions, it’s time to learn how to clean your shower head:

• Does the water pressure in your shower fluctuate?
• Does your shower occasionally spray water?
• Do you have more than three faulty ducts in your shower?
• Is there an obvious limescale or buildup on the head?

Once you’re certain that the shower head is clogged, we’ve broken down different reasons why this happens and how to keep it from happening again.

So what’s next?

Don’t go out and buy a new shower head just yet. Follow our step-by-step guide with basic and straightforward steps to learn how to clean your shower. Your shower will look like new, and your water flow levels should be back to normal!

How to Deep Clean a Ceiling/Wall Mounted Shower Head Using Vinegar as a Cleaning Solution?

Ceiling/wall-mounted shower heads are more difficult to clean than handheld showers since they can often be impossible to remove from the wall or ceiling without the assistance of a plumber. But overhead showers can still be saved from the terrible limescale.

• Step #1: If your shower doesn’t have a quick-release option, you might have to remove the shower head.
• Step #2: After removing the head, get some white vinegar (distilled) and a heavy-duty plastic bag.
• Step #3: Pour some of it into the bag. Make sure it’s enough to completely submerge.
• Step #4: Soak it in white vinegar and carefully wrap it up with a rubber band or string.
• Step #5: The goal of removing limescale is nearly finished. Leave for 1–2 hours to ensure that all of the unwanted limescale has been broken down by the acidic deposits in the vinegar.
• Step #6: Untie the bag and take the shower head out. Scrub the excess dirt away with a toothbrush.
• Step #7: Rinse it with warm water to remove any dirt and vinegar residue. If you removed the head, reattach it before rinsing. 
  
• Step #8: Now that the head has been reattached, turn on the shower and let the hot water flow for 30 seconds. It will help to fully clean the ducts.
• Step #9 (Optional): Polish it with CIF cleaner for an extra shine.

How to Deep Clean a Handheld or Elbow Shower Head

Due to their flexibility, handheld and elbow shower heads are easy to clean.

1. Remove the Handheld Shower Head

These are two ways to remove a handheld shower head:

Most current shower models will enable you to simply remove the shower head from the hose with minimal effort.

If this is not what happens and you are unable to remove the head, follow the instructions below to remove the head and hose from the shower set.

• First, detach the handheld shower. They normally have a hose running from the wall to the head. Follow the hose as it connects to the wall. Grip an adjustable wrench around the point where the hose meets the wall pipe and turn anticlockwise.
• Once it’s loose, you should be able to manually loosen the rest of it. Drain the remaining water from the hose.

2. Grab a Plastic Bag and distilled white vinegar

After detaching the clogged head, put it in a plastic bag containing vinegar. Use an elastic band to secure the bag. Allow it to soak and break down the buildup for around 1-2 hours.

The longer the head stays submerged in vinegar, the more likely it is to break the blockages.

3. Allow the shower head to soak into the vinegar solution

The vinegar should have done its job and eliminated the limescale after 1 to 2 hours.

Still, it will need a quick scrub. To thoroughly clean your shower nozzles, keep an old toothbrush around to scrub away mineral buildup.

The vinegar should have done most of the cleaning work, so a little brush will remove any remaining dirt.

4. Give it a quick polish

Give your shower head one more polish with a microfibre cloth before reattaching it to your shower. Turn on the shower and let the hot water flow for 30-60 seconds to remove any remaining dirt.

Still didn’t work?

If you’ve tried and failed to remove the scale from your shower head with our straightforward directions, you might need something stronger.

White vinegar has a high success rate in the fight against limescale. So, it’s possible that your buildup has been there for some time, making the limescale more difficult to remove.

As a last resort, we recommend trying Stardrops’ ‘The Pink Stuff’. This is not a harsh chemical, but it is well-known for its ability to handle stubborn dirt. As an alternative, you can try mixing baking soda with white vinegar and see if it helps.

If you’ve tried professional cleaning chemicals to remove the dirt buildup, it’s time to admit defeat and get a new one.

How Can I Prevent Limescale Buildup?

To prevent limescale buildup, just follow these steps:

• Use a dry cloth to wipe off your shower head, ducts and the surface. This prevents water droplets from the shower/condensation from getting absorbed into the head, causing build-ups to accumulate over time.
• To stay on track, repeat this method around once a month to clean a showerhead and remove any minor bits of limescale dirt.

If you follow our instructions, your shower head should appear brand new all year round!

What Causes My Shower Head to Get Clogged?

You might be a thorough cleaner of your bathroom, therefore you could be wondering why your shower head keeps clogging. Shower heads are consistently releasing vast amounts of water, and over time, these water droplets convert into mineral deposits that build up and solidify.

This leads to the shower holes filling with dirt and debris, causing your shower to work at half capacity since water cannot pass through the hard buildup.

Sometimes, substance buildup, particularly from hard water, will be obvious on your shower head in the shape of white chalky limescale. Not only does limescale buildup appear awful but it also reduces the quality of your shower and loses its lovely shine.

Limescale may not be visible on the outside of your shower head but will have accumulated inside shower ducts. When the ducts become blocked, your shower will have inconsistent water flow, which can be terrible!

Need tips to clean your shower? Visit us today!

If your shower isn’t working in the same way it used to, it may be time for an extensive cleaning! A clogged shower head can limit water pressure, spread bacteria, and cause stains. At My Beautiful Bathroom, we do more than just build beautiful bathrooms; we also help you maintain them.

Visit one of our showrooms in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Ayr, or Stirling and speak with our skilled interior designers. They’ll give you advice on how to maintain your bathroom  and keep it clean, including how to thoroughly clean your showerhead. Arrange an appointment today!