If you've noticed your shower head spraying water at weird angles, you aren't along. Over time the minerals in your water build up inside your shower head resulting in clogs and reduction of spray. The calcification can even be apparent on the outside of your shower head -- leaving your once shiny bathroom fixture a dull and dingy mess.
These helpful tips will save you from replacing your shower head. There's no need when all it needs is a little cleaning. Grab a few household items and use our helpful tips to clean a shower head.
1. Bag it upSpraying a cleaner up onto the shower head is not only messy, but it also doesn't allow the cleaner time to dissolve stubborn hard water deposits. Use a plastic baggie shower cleaner technique to create a cleaning "bath" for your shower head. You simply pour in your cleaner, attach it to your shower head, and let the cleaner do the hard work for you.
2. Get the order straightOnce you are holding the bag of cleaner over your head you may wonder how to get the rubber band around everything to hold it on. Try placing the rubber band on the shower head before you place the plastic bag over it. You simply slip the rubber band down around the bag to hold it in place.
3. Skip the storeYou don't need to rush out and buy a specialty cleaner just for your shower head. Your pantry already contains an excellent product for removing limescale and rust -- plain white vinegar. This
tutorial recommends simply giving the vinegar plenty of time to dissolve deposits. While it may smell a bit like you've pickled your bathroom, the odor will disappear quickly.
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. Use a toothbrushToothbrushes are designed to get in between your teeth and in nooks and crannies. They also make an excellent cleaning tool. Their bristles can help dislodge any mineral buildup left after soaking a shower head. Try repurposing an old toothbrush and scrubbing away the grime.
5. Get a toothpickMany large shower heads feature rubber holes. These are designed to hold less build up, but they still get clogged. Use a toothpick to clear any clogs. Allow the shower head to soak all day in a vinegar and baking soda mixture before taking a toothpick to it. The cleaning mixture does the work so she doesn't have to scrub.
6. Let lemon do the workThis
recipe from Food.com uses lemon juice and vinegar to remove hard water build up from your shower head. They recommend placing the ingredients in a shower cap and securing it to the shower head. After 24 hours you will have a like new bathroom fixture. Because the cleaner is all natural, you can simply pour it down the drain.
7. Carefully twist offMethod three involves simply unscrewing the shower head by gently turning it couterclockwise. You can then let it soak overnight in a container of cleaning solution. They recommend vinegar as a popular cleaning option.
8. Rinse it wellIf you use vinegar to clean your showerhead, you will find the smell has disappeared within a few hours. But don't forget to turn it on and let it rinse from the inside for a minute before you step into the shower. If you don't, you may end up smelling like salad dressing.
9. Create an explosionChildren will tell you what happens when you mix vinegar and baking soda - things get fizzy. The chemical reaction can actually create your own homemade scrubbing bubbles for cleaning your shower head. Jeff the Plumber has his recipe
here for an explosive shower head cleaner.
10. Check the filter screenSome high-end shower heads feature an inner shower filter screen to trap particles and keep them from damaging your shower head nozzles. If you've cleaned your shower head, but see no improvement in performance, Waterpik recommends checking the filter screen. The directions for cleaning are
here.
