Cleaning
Bathroom Cleaning
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/download-1-933b2edd226142acabc76fb4d7f61dcd.png "You Need to Clean Your Shower Head More Often Than You Think—How to Do It Like a Pro (1)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1500352690-407d72eb046c4979bd035ce768ddf068.jpg "You Need to Clean Your Shower Head More Often Than You Think—How to Do It Like a Pro (2)")
In This Article
How to Clean
How Often to Clean
Keeping Your Shower Head Clean
FAQs
Knowing how to clean a shower head can make all the difference in the quality of your water pressure and the cleanliness of your shower.
Shower heads can get clogged over time thanks to minerals in the water and any grime that finds its way in, and a clogged shower is more than just an inconvenience—it can also harbor the growth of dangerous bacteria.
Thankfully, shower head cleaning is easy with the help of a few pantry staples. Keep reading to learn how to clean your shower head.
How to Clean a Shower Head
With the help of vinegar, baking soda, and a plastic bag, your shower head can be deep cleaned and descaled with little effort from you. Here's what to do.
Gather Your Ingredients and Supplies
To begin your shower head cleaning, gather the ingredients and supplies you'll need. You'll need white vinegar, water, baking soda, plastic bags, rubber bands, a toothbrush, and a microfiber cloth.
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Make Your Vinegar Bag
Fill a plastic bag (a sandwich or quart-sized one is fine) with one part white vinegar and one part water. Use a rubber band to tightly secure the bag over the shower head, ensuring all the nozzles are completely covered with the water and vinegar mixture.
Important
Don't use baking soda yet. Adding baking soda to your bag of vinegar will create a quick chemical reaction that, while exciting, doesn't last very long. And after the bubbling of the combo has stopped, you'll be left with an ineffective cleaning solution, as baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other.
Let the Shower Head Soak
Now it's time to let the vinegar do a little descaling magic. Let the bag sit on the shower head for at least an hour—you can even let it soak in the vinegar overnight. The bag will become cloudy over time as the vinegar cleans away debris and buildup within the shower head.
Rinse Away Vinegar
After your shower head has been sufficiently soaked, carefully remove the plastic bag from the shower head. Do this slowly and carefully—you don't want to spill dirty vinegar all over your shower floor.
Next, run hot water through the shower nozzles for a minute or two. This will ensure all the vinegar and any residue it's left behind has been washed away.
Scrub With Baking Soda
There's likely still a little buildup left on your shower head, especially if it's one with lots of nozzles, like a rain shower head. To get rid of any grime trapped in these tight spaces, break out the baking soda.
Add just enough water to a small dish of baking soda to make a thick paste, then dip a toothbrush in it. Use the baking soda toothbrush to scrub at the shower head, paying special attention to nozzles and nooks.
Give It a Final Rinse
After you've scrubbed with baking soda, rinse it away by running hot water through the shower head for a minute or two. You may need to use a cloth dipped in hot water to rinse away any baking soda the shower's water can't get to.
Finally, use a clean microfiber cloth to dry your shower head, buffing it in small circular motions to remove any watermarks.
How Often to Clean a Shower Head
Regular shower head cleaning will keep your shower's water pressure strong and prevent your shower head from building up grime and bacteria. It's best to clean your shower head every three to four months.
However, if you live in an area with hard water—you'll know this if your water leaves behind reddish stains on toilets, bathtubs, and shower grout—clean your shower head monthly.
Tips to Keep Your Shower Head Clean
- For easy routine cleaning, spray your shower head each week with equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and dry it with a microfiber cloth.
- Run the bathroom fan during and after showering to keep moisture buildup to a minimum.
- If your shower head keeps getting clogged, it may be time to replace it. Metal shower heads accumulate less buildup than plastic ones.
FAQ
How long should I soak my shower head in vinegar?
You should soak your shower head in a mixture of vinegar and water for at least an hour. For extra-dirty shower heads, let the shower head soak overnight.
Does vinegar damage shower heads?
Undiluted vinegar can damage shower heads with finishes of copper or aluminum alloy. For these types of shower heads, make sure to dilute your white vinegar with at least one part water, and don't let your shower head soak for more than an hour.
Can I use CLR on my shower head?
Yes, you can use CLR on your shower head. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the best ways to use it.
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The Bacteria in Your Shower. University of Washington Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences.
