Clean the Showerhead with Vinegar

If your showerhead is clogged with years of mineral deposit build-up, it may need a thorough cleansing. Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals which may not only damage your showerhead, but may also be harmful to your health, try using vinegar instead. Read this article to learn two simple ways of cleaning your showerhead using vinegar and water.

Steps

Cleaning Removable Showerheads

  1. Gather your supplies. One way to clean your showerhead is by taking it off the pipe and soaking it in vinegar. If you are unable to remove your showerhead, or if you simply do not want to, then click here. Here is what you will need for this method:
    • Pot, bucket, or other container large enough to fit the showerhead
    • Distilled white vinegar
    • Wrench and old rag (optional)
    • An old toothbrush
    • Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel
  2. Remove the showerhead by twisting it counterclockwise. If you are having difficulties twisting it, try wrapping an old rag around the connecting nut, and then twisting it with a wrench. The rag will help protect the surface of your showerhead.[1]
  3. Put the showerhead into a pot. Consider using a smaller container that just about fits the showerhead; this way, you will use less vinegar. You can also use a small bucket or plastic bin.
  4. Fill the pot with enough white vinegar to cover the showerhead. The acids in the vinegar will help dissolve the white mineral deposits on the showerhead.
  5. Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar for 30 minutes to overnight. The more soiled the showerhead is, the longer you will have to leave it in the vinegar.
    • If you are in a hurry, and if the showerhead is made from metal, you can place the pot on the stove and simmer the vinegar for 15 minutes.
    • If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel finish, take it out after 30 minutes.[2] You can always give it another vinegar bath once you have rinsed it off.
  6. Take the showerhead out of the pot and rinse it. You should see the mineral deposits flaking off.
  7. Scrub away any residue using an old toothbrush. Focus on the base where the holes are; this is where the most mineral buildup will be. Gently scrub the brush over any residue and rinse with cool water. Keep doing this until all of the residue is gone.
  8. Use a soft cloth to polish the showerhead.[3] You can use a microfiber cloth or even a piece of flannel. Gently wipe the showerhead with the cloth until it is completely dry and there are no water spots.[3]
  9. Put the showerhead back onto the wall pipe. Wrap some plumbing tape counterclockwise around the threaded part of the wall pipe, then screw the showerhead back on.[1]
  10. Turn the water on in your shower for a few moments. This will flush out any residue that the toothbrush did not get.

Cleaning Non-Removable Showerheads

  1. Gather your supplies. If you cannot remove your showerhead, you can still soak it using vinegar and a plastic bag. Here is what you will need:
    • A plastic bag large enough to fit over your showerhead
    • A piece of string or a twist tie
    • Distilled white vinegar
    • An old toothbrush
    • Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel
  2. Fill the bag partway with vinegar. Do not fill it all the way, or the vinegar will pour out when you try to put the showerhead into it.
  3. Place the bag over the showerhead. Hold the bag under the showerhead and pull it open. Slowly bring it upwards until it is covering the showerhead and the showerhead is in the vinegar.
  4. Secure the bag to the showerhead with a piece of string or twist tie. You can do this by holding the top of the bag tightly around the neck of the showerhead, and then tying a piece of string or a twist tie tightly around it. Carefully let go of the bag and make sure that it won't fall off before stepping away.
  5. Let the showerhead soak for 30 minutes to overnight. The dirtier your showerhead is, the longer it will have to soak. If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel coating, then take the bag off after 30 minutes. You can always repeat the process after you have rinsed the showerhead.
  6. Remove the bag. Hold the bag with one hand and carefully untie it with the other. Tip the bag over and empty out the vinegar. Be careful not to let the vinegar splash into your eyes.
  7. Turn on the water for a few moments, then turn it off. This will flush out any mineral deposits that might be stuck inside the showerhead.
  8. Scrub the showerhead using an old toothbrush, then turn the water back on. Focus on the base of the showerhead, where the water comes out, as this is the area that will get the most buildup. Turn the water back on again to flush more residue out. Keep scrubbing the showerhead and turning the water on until you cannot see anymore mineral residue.
  9. Turn the water off and polish the showerhead with a soft cloth. You can use a microfiber cloth or a piece of flannel. Gently buff the surface of the showerhead with the cloth until it is dry and you can no longer see any water spots.

Tips

  • You can also dab the vinegar on the bath faucet to clean it.
  • If you simply cannot stand the smell of vinegar, consider opening a window or turning a fan on. You can also mix in a little bit of lemon juice.[4]
  • If there's a tough spot that plain vinegar won't remove, try scrubbing it with a paste made from 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar.[5] This is not recommended for showerheads with delicate finishes; the salt may scratch the finish.
  • Soaking the showerhead in a bag filled with vinegar works best on showerhead made from chrome, stainless steel, and other metal surfaces.[3]

Warnings

  • If your bath or shower has marble in it, use extreme caution when using the vinegar. Vinegar can destroy marble surfaces.[5]
  • Be careful when using vinegar on gold, brass, or nickel finishes. Do not leave showerheads made from these metals in vinegar for longer than 30 minutes.[2]

Things You'll Need

Things You'll Need for Cleaning a Removable Showerhead

  • Pot or bucket
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Wrench and old rag (optional)
  • Old toothbrush
  • Soft cloth

Things You'll Need for Cleaning a Non-Removable Showerhead

  • Plastic bag
  • Piece of string or a twist tie
  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Old toothbrush
  • Soft cloth

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 SF Gate, How to Clean a Showerhead with Vinegar
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 How to Clean Stuff, How to Clean Shower Heads
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Better Homes and Gardens, How to Clean a Showerhead
  4. ↑ She Knows, How to Clean Mineral Buildup in Your Sink and Shower
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 She Knows, Cleaning with Vinegar

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