Clean a Shower Head: How Often Should You Do It?

A bathroom only completes with a shower head. Do you remember the last time that when you cleaned your shower head? It’s always unnoticed until it begins to be defective.

We constantly clean our toilets, wipe the floor, and everything. But never clean our shower head, nor take it seriously.

We need it to take it serious.

When you don’t clean a shower head, It accumulates soap scum, bacteria, and tiny particles. And this caused reduced water pressure and clogged nozzles.

If the water pressure is not the same as it used to be. It means your shower head is clogged with soap scum or other particles.

Therefore, It is crucial to clean your showerhead to keep the performance optimal and maintain hygiene.

Let’s discuss different cleaning methods for shower heads and how often you should do it to keep them in top condition.

How Often Should You Clean A Shower Head?

It depends on several factors on how often you clean your shower head. Most commonly, the type of shower head and the water quality are those factors.

Generally, one should clean their shower head at least once every 6 months to prevent any buildup leading to low water pressure or bacterial growth.

But in case you live in an area where water is hard, you should clean your shower head more often. There is an apparent reason behind it.

Hard water usually contains more calcium and magnesium. And mineral particles vary in hard water, reducing the water flow and clogging the shower head holes.

They say that every benefit comes with a disadvantage. Similarly, a shower head with smaller spay nozzles saves water but gets blocked easily, but the soap scum, bacteria, or whatever can’t pass through the tiny nozzles.

In this case, you should clean your shower head thrice a month to keep the nozzles open and performance up to date.

You should immediately clean your shower head to prevent potential health risks if you notice any signs of bacterial growth or mold, such as a foul smell or black spots.

How to Clean Your Shower Head?

There are several ways to clean a shower head. It depends on the type of shower and the buildup that causes clogging of the shower head. Here are some popular methods that you can try:

Vinegar Procedure

Vinger is the most effective and inexpensive solution to clean a shower head. The acid is so strong that it breaks down all the deposits naturally.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Remove the head of the shower with the help of a screw. Fill the vinegar in a plastic bag, wrap it around the showerhead, and tighten it with a rubber band. If it’s divisible, then just fill it with vinegar directly.
2. Make sure you use white vinegar and it is enough to submerge the shower head completely.
3. Let the shower head soak in white vinegar for 4-5 hours or a whole night.
4. Irrigate the shower head with hot water after soaking it for a few hours. It’ll wash out the remaining residue of vinegar.
5. Reattach the shower head and run the water through the nozzles for a few minutes to wash out junk. This is how to clean a shower head easily.

Baking Soda Method

Baking soda works the same as vinegar but the results come faster. Or even you can mix both and use it. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent to remove soap scum and other particles from your shower head. Here is how to use it.

1. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water mixture. Mix both in equal quantity.
2. Spread that mixture all over the shower head and wait for 20 minutes.
3. Use an old toothbrush or any soft-bristled brush to clean the shower head. It’ll remove 80% of the buildup.
4. Flush and run the warm water through out shower head for 3 minutes. It will remove the remaining paste and garbage.

Rub The Nozzles

Rubbing/massaging the nozzles with your fingers effectively removes junk from the shower head and restores the water flow. But the rubber holes should have flexibility.

Alternatively, you can use an old toothbrush or a tiny piece of paper if it’s hard to do with your hands. However, this temporary solution works only if junk is on top. To effectively clean your shower head, baking soda or vinegar is the solution.

Commercial Cleaners

If none of the above-listed methods work, then commercial cleaners are your solution. Several commercial showerhead cleaners in the market can effectively remove mineral deposits, soap scum, and bacteria.

However, read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and see if they suit your shower. You can even test it on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t cause damage. Some chemicals can damage your showerheads.