Is your shower not working as it used to? It’s possible that the shower head is clogged with limescale buildup. Over time, mineral deposits—contained in the water itself—can cause the water to spray in all directions or completely block the shower head.
For that reason, we’ve put together some tips to help get your shower back to peak performance.
Clean the external nozzles
Some shower heads have flexible rubber nozzles. Cleaning the outside of the shower head, specifically these holes, will help prevent clogging from limescale or other debris. Gently scrubbing the nozzles regularly with a toothbrush will suffice.
Soak the shower in vinegar
There are two ways to do this:
If you have a shower head that doesn’t allow you to remove it, or if you simply prefer to leave it connected, you can fill a plastic bag with vinegar and wrap it around the shower head. Secure the bag around the shower head with a rubber band or adhesive tape.
Leave the bag around the shower for a few hours. Remove the bag and run the water for a few minutes to rinse the vinegar out of the shower.
But if you can remove the shower head, it’s best to do so (when removing the shower head, be careful not to damage its parts with a sudden movement). In a sufficiently large container, submerge the shower head in vinegar, preferably 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water. Let the shower head soak for a few hours. Reattach the shower head to the shower hose and run the water for a few minutes to rinse out the vinegar.
One last piece of advice: Harsh cleaning chemicals can damage your shower head, so we don’t recommend using them.