How To Clean A Shower Head
Limescale in the nozzles weakens the spray but a vinegar soak and a cocktail stick sort it out.
The short answer
To clean a shower head, unscrew it from the hose, scrub the face with an old toothbrush and white vinegar, poke limescale out of the nozzles with a cocktail stick and soak the head in white vinegar overnight. If the head won't come off, tie a bag of vinegar over it with a rubber band for an hour, then run the shower to flush it through.
A spray that splutters off to one side, a few jets that have stopped altogether or a crust of white deposits around the nozzles are all signs that a shower head needs cleaning. The featured photo shows a typical example, with deposits built up around the nozzles.
That build up is limescale left behind as hard water dries in the head. As it narrows the nozzles the spray goes uneven and the flow drops, and it leaves the chrome looking dull as well.
The fix costs next to nothing. A fixed head on a mixer shower and a handset on a riser rail both clean up the same way, and you don't need any special tools.
What You Need To Clean A Shower Head
- White vinegar, enough to cover the head
- An old toothbrush
- A cocktail stick or a pin
- Bicarbonate of soda for heavy limescale (optional)
- A bucket or a deep bowl
- A plastic bag and a rubber band if the head stays in place
- A dry microfibre cloth
How To Clean A Shower Head
Taking the head off the hose gives the best result, because you can soak it fully and flush it from both directions.
- Unscrew the shower head from the hose by hand. Keep hold of the rubber washer inside the connection, as the hose will drip without it.
- Hold the head under a tap with the face pointing up, so water runs backwards through the nozzles and flushes loose debris out of the inside.
- Scrub the face with an old toothbrush dipped in white vinegar to loosen the deposits on the surface.
- Work a cocktail stick into any blocked nozzles to break up the limescale inside them. Rubber nozzles can be rubbed with a fingertip instead, which flexes the scale out.
- Put the head in a bucket of white vinegar and leave it to soak overnight.
- Rinse it under the tap in the morning, refit it with the washer in place and run the shower for a minute to clear any vinegar.
A spoonful of bicarbonate of soda stirred into the vinegar gives it more bite on a heavily scaled head. It fizzes up when you add it, so use a bucket with room to spare.
How To Clean A Shower Head Without Removing It
Some fixed heads are hard to get off, and an old connection that's seized with limescale can be awkward to undo without marking the chrome. A bag of vinegar does the job with the head left where it is:
- Fill a sturdy plastic bag with enough white vinegar to cover the face of the shower head.
- Lift the bag up so the head sits in the vinegar.
- Wrap a rubber band around the bag and the top of the head to hold it in place.
- Leave it for an hour to soften the limescale.
- Take the bag off and run the shower to flush the loosened scale out.
- Brush any remaining deposits off the nozzles and polish the head with a dry microfibre cloth.
Check The Finish Before A Long Soak
Plain chrome and plastic heads handle an overnight soak in vinegar without trouble. Brass, black, gold and brushed finishes need more thought, because acid can mark the coating. Check the maker's care instructions for these, and stick to a short soak or a mild cleaner if they say to avoid acids.
Bleach and harsh abrasive powders aren't worth the risk on any finish. A dedicated limescale remover made for bathroom fittings is the alternative if you'd rather not use vinegar, along with a brush to clear the nozzles.
Stopping Limescale Coming Back
Hard water areas get limescale in shower heads far faster than soft water areas. Wiping the head dry after each shower slows it down, but few people keep that up for long. A water softener deals with it at the source and protects the rest of the bathroom too.
The design of the head makes a difference as well. Some of the best-rated shower heads are designed to resist limescale, and heads with soft rubber nozzles let you rub the scale away with a thumb. Look out for those if you're replacing a head that keeps blocking. And before you blame the shower itself for weak pressure, clear the head first, whether it's fitted to an electric shower or a pumped power shower.
Limescale on the head means it's on the glass and tiles too, so our guide to cleaning cloudy shower glass is a good next job while the vinegar's out.
Your Questions Answered
How long should you soak a shower head in vinegar?
An overnight soak in white vinegar clears most limescale from a chrome or plastic shower head that's been taken off the hose. If you're using a bag of vinegar with the head left in place, an hour softens the scale enough to flush and brush it out. Coated finishes like black or brass need a shorter soak or a non-acidic cleaner.
Why is my shower head spraying in all directions?
A shower head that sprays sideways or in odd directions has limescale partly blocking some of its nozzles. The water takes the path of least resistance and squirts out at an angle. Soaking the head in white vinegar and clearing each nozzle with a cocktail stick restores a straight, even spray unless the head itself is damaged.
Can you clean a shower head with bicarbonate of soda?
Bicarbonate of soda works best mixed into white vinegar rather than on its own. Stir a spoonful into the vinegar before soaking the shower head and the fizzing reaction helps break up thick limescale. On its own, a paste of bicarbonate and water is handy for gently scrubbing the face of the head without scratching the chrome.
Does cleaning a shower head improve water pressure?
Cleaning a blocked shower head improves the flow you feel, because limescale narrows the nozzles and stops water getting through. Once the nozzles are clear, the spray is fuller and more even. If the flow is still weak after a thorough clean, the problem lies elsewhere, such as a kinked hose, a blocked filter in the shower unit or low supply pressure.
Does the bag of vinegar method work as well as taking the shower head off?
Not quite. With the head off you can soak it right through and flush it from both ends. The bag is for a fixed head or a connection that's seized solid, where forcing it could mark the chrome. Give it an hour in the bag, then a flush and a brush over the nozzles finishes the job.
What do I need to watch when unscrewing a shower head?
Watch for the little rubber washer inside the connection. The hose will drip without it, so put it somewhere safe and refit it before the head goes back on. Undo the head by hand, and if it won't budge, clean it in place with the bag of vinegar instead of forcing it.
How do I clean a shower head with soft rubber nozzles?
Rub the nozzles with a fingertip, which flexes the limescale out without any tools. You can still soak the head in white vinegar to loosen what's on the face. Soft rubber nozzles are worth looking for if you're replacing a head that keeps blocking, because they make regular clearing a quick job.
Is a water softener worth it to stop limescale coming back in the shower head?
In a hard water area, yes. Shower heads scale up far faster there, and a softener stops the limescale at the source so your taps, glass and tiles benefit too. Drying the head after every shower slows things down, though it's a hard habit to keep.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.