How to Clean Inside Shower Head: A Complete Guide

Do you want to improve your shower experience and hygiene? Do you want to save water and money by increasing your water pressure? Do you want to remove those unsightly white spots and stains on your shower head?

You must learn to clean the inside showerhead if you answered yes. Cleaning inside the shower head is not only important for aesthetic reasons but also for health and environmental reasons.

Over time, mineral deposits, soap scum, and bacteria can build up inside your shower head, clogging the holes and reducing the water flow.

This can affect the quality of your shower and your health. Clogged shower heads can harbor harmful germs that can cause infections, allergies, and respiratory problems.

They can also waste water and energy by making you take longer showers.

Cleaning inside the showerhead is a simple task. You can do it yourself with simple tools and natural ingredients you already have at home.

This article will show you how to clean the inside shower head with vinegar, baking soda, water, and a toothbrush. It will also give you some tips on how to prevent clogging and staining in the future.

Following these steps, you can enjoy a cleaner, healthier, and more satisfying daily shower.

Preparation and Safety Measures

Before you start cleaning inside the showerhead, you need to gather some tools and materials. Here is what you will need:

Vinegar: Vinegar is a natural cleaner that can dissolve mineral deposits and kill bacteria. You can use distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this purpose.

Baking soda: Baking soda is a natural abrasive that can help scrub away soap scum and residue. You can use it alone or mix it with water to make a paste.

Water: Water is essential for rinsing and flushing out the debris from your shower head. You can use tap water or distilled water for this purpose.

Spray bottle: A spray bottle is useful for applying the vinegar solution or the commercial cleaner to your shower head.

Plastic bag: A plastic bag is useful for soaking your shower head in vinegar or a commercial cleaner without removing it from the wall.

Toothbrush: A toothbrush is useful for scrubbing the nozzle openings and the surface of your shower head.

Needle or straightened paper clip: A needle or a straightened paper clip is useful for poking through any blocked holes in your shower head.

Soft cloth: A soft cloth is useful for wiping and polishing your shower head after cleaning it. You can use a microfiber cloth or a piece of flannel for this purpose.

You must also take some safety precautions when handling cleaning agents, especially vinegar.

Vinegar is acidic and can irritate your eyes and skin if you come into contact with it. It can also damage some finishes on your shower head if you leave it on too long.

Safety measures you should follow:

• Wear gloves when handling vinegar or a commercial cleaner.
• Avoid contact with your eyes and skin when spraying or soaking your shower head in vinegar or a commercial cleaner.
• Ventilate the area well when using vinegar or a commercial cleaner.
• If you have a brass, gold, or nickel finish on your shower head, do not soak it in vinegar for over 30 minutes.
• If you have a chrome, stainless steel, or plastic finish on your shower head, you can soak it in vinegar overnight.

Step-by-Step Cleaning Methods for Different Types of Shower Heads

There are two main ways to clean the inside shower head: without or removing it. The method you choose depends on your preference and the type of showerhead you have.

How to Clean Inside Shower Head Without Removing It

If you want to clean the inside shower head without removing it from the wall, you can use one of these methods:

Method 1: Soaking It in a Vinegar-Filled Bag

This method is suitable for most shower heads except those with brass, gold, or nickel finishes. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Fill a plastic bag with enough vinegar to cover the shower head. You can use a quart-size bag for faucets and a gallon-size bag for shower heads.
2. Wrap the vinegar-filled bag around the shower head to submerge all the holes in the vinegar. Secure the bag with a zip tie or a rubber band.
3. Let the shower head soak in the vinegar for at least 15 to 20 minutes or up to an hour if it is very dirty. If you have a brass, gold, or nickel finish, do not soak it for 30 minutes.
4. Remove the bag and discard the vinegar. Rinse the shower head with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
5. Use a toothbrush to scrub the nozzle openings and the surface of the shower head. Rinse again with water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
6. Use a needle or a straightened paper clip to poke through any blocked holes in the shower head. Run the shower at full water pressure to flush out any remaining debris.

Method 2: Spraying It with a Vinegar Solution or a Commercial Cleaner

This method suits most shower heads except those with brass, gold, or nickel finishes. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Fill a spray bottle with equal vinegar and water or a commercial cleaner designed for shower heads.
2. Spray the shower head generously with the vinegar solution or the commercial cleaner. Make sure to cover all the holes and the surface of the shower head.
3. Let the solution sit on the shower head for 10 to 15 minutes or up to an hour if it is very dirty. If you have a brass, gold, or nickel finish, do not leave it on for over 30 minutes.
4. Rinse the shower head with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
5. Use a toothbrush to scrub the nozzle openings and the surface of the shower head. Rinse again with water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
6. Use a needle or a straightened paper clip to poke through any blocked holes in the shower head. Run the shower at full water pressure to flush out any remaining debris.

How to Clean Inside Shower Head by Removing It

If you want to clean the inside shower head by removing it from the wall, you can use this method:

Method 3: Placing It in a Bowl of Vinegar or a Commercial Cleaner

This method suits most shower heads except those with brass, gold, or nickel finishes. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Remove the shower head by twisting it counterclockwise from the wall pipe. If you have difficulties twisting it, wrap an old rag around the connecting nut and use a wrench to loosen it. The rag will protect the surface of your shower head from scratches.
2. Place the shower head in a bowl that is large enough to fit it. You can also use a small bucket or a plastic bin.
3. Fill the bowl with enough vinegar or a commercial cleaner to cover the shower head completely.
4. Let the shower head soak in the vinegar or the commercial cleaner for several hours or overnight, depending on how dirty it is. If you have a brass, gold, or nickel finish, do not soak it for 30 minutes.
5. Remove the shower head from the bowl and discard the vinegar or the commercial cleaner. Rinse the shower head with water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
6. Use a toothbrush to scrub the nozzle openings and the surface of the shower head. Rinse again with water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
7. Use a needle or a straightened paper clip to poke through any blocked holes in the shower head. Run some water through it to flush out any remaining debris.
8. Wrap some plumbing tape counterclockwise around the threaded part of the wall pipe, then screw the shower head back on.

Routine Maintenance Tips

To keep your shower head clean and unclogged, you should follow some routine maintenance tips:

• Use a water softener or a filter if you have hard water in your area. Hard water contains minerals that can build up on your shower head and reduce its performance.
• Wipe your shower head with a dry cloth after each use to remove soap scum and moisture that can cause mold and bacteria growth.
• Clean inside your shower head at least once a month or more often if you notice reduced water pressure, discolored water, or unpleasant odors.

Key Takeaways

Cleaning inside your shower head is essential not only for aesthetic reasons but also for health and environmental reasons.

Following these steps, you can clean your shower head with simple methods and natural ingredients you probably already have at home.

• The shower head can be cleaned without removal by soaking it in a vinegar-filled bag or spraying it with a vinegar solution or commercial cleaner.
• Alternatively, the shower head can be removed and placed in a bowl of vinegar or commercial cleaner for cleaning.
• A toothbrush, needle, or straightened paper clip can scrub and poke through the holes to remove blockages.
• After cleaning, it is important to rinse and wipe the shower head thoroughly and run water through it to remove any debris.
• Avoid leaving vinegar or commercial cleaner on the shower head for too long, especially if it has a brass, gold, or nickel finish.
• Routine maintenance tips include using a water softener or filter, wiping the shower head after each use, and regular cleaning.
• Cleaning inside the shower head leads to a cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable shower experience.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about how to clean inside the shower head:

Conclusion

Cleaning inside your shower head is not difficult, but it can make a big difference in your shower experience and hygiene. You can easily keep your shower head sparkling and unclogged using simple methods and natural ingredients.

This article has helped you learn how to clean inside your shower head and why it is important to do so. If you have any questions or comments, please share them below.

Resources

• How to Clean the Showerhead with Vinegar – wikiHow. 
• How to Clean a Shower Head With Vinegar | Family Handyman. 
• How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom Showerhead – HGTV.