If you’re reading this, your showerhead has probably started to show hard water stains. While showerheads don’t tend to require daily or even weekly clean-ups, they get dirty eventually, so tackling this chore was a matter of time.
Don’t worry! The following methods will work to return your showerhead to its pristine state. Try the first one if you are looking for an easy way, or the second one for a thorough cleaning!
How to clean a showerhead with the plastic bag trick
You’ve probably heard about the plastic bag trick, and for a good reason: it works! Vinegar is excellent for dissolving mineral deposits that stain your showerhead.
While it may not be the most effective method—especially if your showerhead is filthy—this trick is an effortless way to eliminate the most superficial stains and calcium deposits that appear on your showerhead.
Step 1. Prepare the bag
Find a plastic bag—preferably thick, so it doesn’t break—fill it halfway with vinegar and attach it to the showerhead with rubber bands or ribbon.
Note: Before securing the bag, adjust the vinegar level to cover the whole fixture without spilling.
Step 2. Wait for the vinegar to work
Vinegar takes a while to work its magic, so be a little patient. Leave the showerhead soaking for a few hours before taking off the bag.
In the meantime, you can make a dent in your cleaning checklist or relax and spend time on one of your hobbies.
Step 3. Rinse the fixture
Once the needed time has passed, take off the plastic bag and pour its contents down the drain. Then, turn on the hot water and let it run for a few minutes—this will help clean off the minerals loosened up from the vinegar soak.
Step 4. Scrub the showerhead
Once you’ve finished rinsing the fixture, you’ll notice any remaining buildup easily. If that’s the case, you can use a toothbrush to scrub the holes where the water comes off.
Step 5. Polish the fixture
Now that your showerhead is clean, you can take a couple of extra minutes to make it look shiny and new. Simply grab a clean microfiber cloth and buff the showerhead!
How to thoroughly clean your showerhead
Sometimes, your showerhead is so dirty that soaking it in vinegar without taking it off is not enough.
But don’t worry! If this is your case, this method ensures your showerhead is truly clean.
Step 1. Remove the fixture
First, take off the showerhead for a more profound clean-up. All you have to do is twist the connecting nut with a wrench—you can protect the fixture from damage by covering it with a cloth before using the wrench.
Step 2. Soak the showerhead
Now, find a bucket or bowl big enough for the showerhead. Then, cover the fixture with vinegar and leave it soaking overnight.
Warning: If you have a showerhead made from brass or nickel coated, you can only leave it soaking for thirty minutes. Otherwise, you risk damaging the finish.
Step 3. Rinse and scrub the fixture
The next day, once the showerhead has soaked in vinegar, empty the bowl or bucket and rinse the fixture under a faucet. This will remove all the dirt that loosened up from the overnight soak.
Then, grab a toothbrush and scrub the showerhead holes to ensure no minerals remain trapped there. You can also use a toothpick or safety pin to poke the holes in case there’s anything stuck.
Step 4. Reinstall the showerhead
After you’ve finished rinsing and scrubbing to your heart’s content, it’s time to reinstall the showerhead—you can wrap plumbing tape around the pipe to avoid leaks.
Step 5. Give your fixture a shiny finish
All that’s left is to make your showerhead look new and shiny. Just grab a clean microfiber cloth and buff the fixture. That’s it!
Check our blog to learn more cleaning tricks!
At BlueSpring Cleaning, we offer top-notch cleaning services, so you can be sure our professional cleaners can give you the best advice! Check out our latest posts and learn to clean like a pro.