Essential Tips To Get Your Shower Head Super Squeaky Clean

It’s winter and the weather is cold and uninviting, which means that many of us will be enjoying more warm and cosy days at home. If you want to take advantage of a wet weekend to get on top of a few household chores, the shower is a great place to start. It takes some heavy usage, yet is often neglected when it comes to the weekly clean.

Here are a few simple cleaning tips that will keep your shower head functioning optimally and looking good as new.

Shower heads should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every few months, or more often if you live in an area with hard water. This is because mineral deposits that occur naturally in the water can build up and block the openings of the shower head, reducing the power and volume of the water that passes through it. 

Not only does this make your shower experience less effective and possibly even more time-consuming, but it also means that bacteria and mould may be growing inside the shower head: not a pleasant thought and bad news for your health and hygiene. 

You can buy commercial descaling products, but unless the problem is very severe, baking soda will do the trick. Avoid bleach as this is too harsh and may damage the product. Remove the shower head from the attachment; in most cases a handheld shower head should simply unscrew, although you may need to use a spanner if it’s particularly stubborn.

Remove the washer and put it somewhere safe while you carry out the clean. Next, take a container big enough to place the shower head in, and mix the baking soda with water until it forms a creamy paste. Remove any loose debris from the shower head with an old toothbrush, then apply the paste and leave it to work for about 30 minutes.

Clean out the inside of the shower head by spraying water or white vinegar (lemon juice will also work) to combat any limescale and mould. Once the baking soda has had a chance to break up the limescale, rinse the shower head with water and check that all the nozzles are clear. 

If any blockages remain, use a paperclip or a strong needle to unclog them and rinse away any debris. Once you are satisfied with the results, polish the exterior of the shower head to a shine with a soft dry cloth and put it back in place, not forgetting to reattach the washer. Then run the unit for a minute or so to make sure it’s thoroughly clear.

If you live in an area with hard water, particularly the south and west of England, you can help to prevent limescale build up by wiping the shower head dry after each use. During your weekly clean, spray the shower head with a solution of white vinegar and water and scrub the nozzles with a scourer or old toothbrush.

You may also want to consider installing a water filter for your shower head that will remove mineral deposits.