A shower head can be a perfect place for bacteria to grow. This is especially true if you live in an area with hard water. The minerals can stick to the surface of the shower head, creating a white scale that can cause bacterial growth.
Knowing how to clean a shower head is a necessary bathroom cleaning skill, but many ignore it. So, let’s take a look at what you need to know!
5 Steps to Clean a Shower Head
Cleaning a shower head is not a challenging task, but you’ll need a few different items.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A bottle of vinegar to remove the bacteria and mineral deposits that accumulate on the shower head. Vinegar is ideal for this task as people commonly use it to disinfect and kill bacteria.
- A plastic bag that you can fill with vinegar. Ensure the bag has no holes, as the shower head needs to remain submerged for a long time.
- You can use a toothbrush to descale the head of the shower after soaking it in the vinegar. Removing the accumulated minerals will help you keep your shower nozzle clean and bacteria-free.
- You can use a soft cloth and warm water to polish the shower head once you’ve finished cleaning it.
Note: Strong cleaning products can damage your shower nozzle and filter screen. That’s why it is better to use natural products such as vinegar.
Now that you have all the necessary items, you’re ready to learn how to clean a shower head.
1. Inspect the Shower Head
The first thing you need to do is inspect the shower head closely.
Shower heads don’t require much work to clean, especially if you maintain them frequently. In this situation, you only need to rub the nozzles with a cloth and warm water.
On the other hand, if you have never cleaned your shower nozzle before, you’ll probably notice a white scale forming on the surface. It happens because there are many minerals in the water that stay on the surface.
If that’s the case, follow the next steps to perform a deep cleaning.
2. Fill a Plastic Bag with Vinegar
The next step is to find a plastic bag large enough to cover the shower head. However, you need to ensure that the bag has no holes before using it.
Now that you know the plastic bag is reliable, you can fill it with vinegar. Just ensure that you don’t fill it completely to the top, as you still need space to place the shower nozzle.
Next, you need to place the bag around the shower head, ensuring it is completely covered. Secure the bag with a zip tie, rubber band, or twist tie around the top and let the nozzle soak.
Tip: You can also remove the shower nozzle from the shower arm. That way, you can just place it in a plastic bucket filled with vinegar instead of using a plastic bag.
3. Let the Shower Head Soak
It is time to let the vinegar do its magic. However, remember that this process can take a few hours, depending on how often you clean the shower head. You must allow it to soak as long as possible for the best results.
Tip: You can leave the bag overnight so that you have a clean shower nozzle by the time you wake up.
However, if you have a gold, brass, or nickel-coated shower head, you should only leave the vinegar on for a maximum of 30 minutes. More time than that may permanently damage the finishing, and it can be expensive to repair it.
4. Remove the Vinegar-Filled Bag
Once you’ve let the plastic bag with vinegar work, it is time to remove the bag from the shower head. Do it carefully to avoid getting the contents on your skin. You might also like to wear rubber gloves for this process.
Let the vinegar drain. Then, rinse the shower head with hot water for two minutes to remove all the vinegar from inside it.
5. Scrub the Shower Head with a Toothbrush
The final step is to remove any leftover waste. All you need to do is find an old toothbrush you are not using anymore and scrub the surface of the shower head with it.
Do it carefully and try to reach every inch of the surface. Keep going until you no longer see any white-scale residue or accumulated minerals.
Once you’ve finished, you can use a soft cloth with some warm water to polish the shower head’s surface.
Replace or Remodel Your Shower with Bath Planet By Clear Choice
If you’ve had your shower for as long as you’ve had your house, you might want to replace it or do some remodeling. At Bath Planet By Clear Choice, we have the best prices in Southwest Florida and a team of bathroom renovation specialists.
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