As the first blog in our new Pro Cleaning Tips series, we bring you – Cleaning Showerheads! Yes, that’s right. We’re willing to bet you didn’t see that one coming! First we’ll talk about why it’s important to clean your shower head, then get on with the super simple way we recommend you clean them, and how often.
There’s nothing better than stepping into a shower to help you feel clean and refreshed. Except.. it might not be quite as clean as you think, especially if you haven’t taken the time to clean that shower head. Cleaning a shower head is an often forgotten household task, that homeowners sometimes get to when the shower head is crusting over with hard water and mineral deposits. By this point, it’s really too late. We don’t talk about it and therefore we don’t think about it, but hiding in your shower head which sits around in a moist environment day in day out is bacteria. It accumulates and grows and most people do nothing to clean it out. Maybe you’ll think twice before you stand under that bacterial stream again?
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to removing the bacteria AND minerals and hard water stains from shower heads. You don’t even have to remove the fixture! You need a bottle of white vinegar, a plastic bag, and a piece of string, and you’re set.
Easy-peasy showerhead cleaning
First partially fill a plastic bag with white vinegar (bleach works as well, so you can substitute if you need to), don’t overfill the bag, or it might overflow when you add the shower head. place the bag over the showerhead until the whole thing is immersed in vinegar. If you need to add more vinegar, this is the time!. Fasten the bag with string, twist ties, or maybe tape, wrapped around the neck of the shower head. You’ll need it to be secure on there… since once you’re done with this, you’re out of there!
The showerhead should soak in it’s vinegar bath for several hours. If your shower head is especially grimy, leave it overnight.
**SOME SHOWER HEAD FINISHES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ACID IN THE VINEGAR**
If your shower head is brass, gold, or nickel coated, take the showerhead out of the vinegar after 30 mins to avoid any corrosion or damage to your finish. Let the vinegar run down the shower drain. Run hot water through the shower to clear out any mineral deposits. If your showerhead still seems dirty, tackle it with an old toothbrush or scrubbing brush. Focus on the water holes. Rinse through with the hot water again.
Polish, buff and dry the showerhead to remove water spots. You’re done! We recommend cleaning your shower head MONTHLY this way to avoid bacterial build up, let alone mineral deposits that stop your shower working efficiently.
On another note… it’s always a squeegee to clean water spots from your shower walls.