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Mar 18, 2025

How To Clean A Shower Head: Step-By-Step Guide

It cleans us. Now, let's repay the favor. Here's the best way to clean your shower head. If you haven't cleaned your shower head in a while, it's time to get out the vinegar. Mineral deposits like

It cleans us. Now, let's repay the favor. Here's the best way to clean your shower head.

If you haven't cleaned your shower head in a while, it's time to get out the vinegar. Mineral deposits like limescale can build up inside, causing all sorts of trouble, like low water pressure or water shooting in all different directions.

It is important to clean your shower head often to improve your daily bathing experience and rid of bacteria that can grow on your shower head. In fact, your bathroom has all the right conditions for bacteria to flourish, so it is necessary to routinely clean even the most forgettable spots like the shower head or your shower curtain. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to clean your shower head, plus some tips on how to keep it fresh for longer.

Your shower head should be deep cleaned once every other month.

However, if you live in an area with harder water that leaves more residue behind, you should plan on upping your frequency to once a month. To reduce buildup, make wiping down your shower head part of your weekly bathroom cleaning routine. This way, you'll cut down on having to deep clean as often, and when you do, you'll have less buildup to remove.

First, determine whether or not you should remove the shower head to clean it. To do this, turn it on, and take a good look. If the water is shooting out in all different directions, if the pressure is weak, or if the water is not coming out of some of its holes, you'll want to remove the head to clean it. But, if the situation is not quite so dire, you can leave the shower head on while cleaning.

Avoid using a course sponge or brush, as it can ruin the finish on your shower head. An old toothbrush, rag, or soft sponge makes for a fine choice of cleaning supplies.

Additionally, avoid using bleach when cleaning your shower head as it can damage its finish. It is unsafe to mix bleach and vinegar, which can create a harmful chlorine gas.

If your shower head fits any of the criteria stated above—sporadic water streams, weak pressure, or inability to spray—you might need to remove it altogether to clean it. If not, feel free to leave your shower head on. Follow these simple steps to clean your shower head.

Wipe away any surface debris with a toothbrush or sponge.

It is best to remove the shower head before cleaning if your shower head has extensive residue build-up. For a lighter clean, you can leave the shower head on. Remove the shower head by screwing it off counterclockwise. You may need some lockable pliers or a wrench for this step.

Fill a plastic bag with equal parts water and white vinegar. Add half a cup to a cup of baking soda if desired. Be sure not to overfill the bag, as it might spill over when you put the shower head inside the bag. If you take off your shower head to clean, you can also put the mixture into a bowl or the sink.

Secure the bag over the shower head with a rubber band, string, twist ties, or strong hair elastics. Secure it tightly. Make sure the shower head holes are fully immersed in the liquid. If you decide to remove the shower head before cleaning, you can simply submerge the shower head completely in the vinegar solution in a plastic bag, bowl, or sink.

Let it soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes, longer if possible for the best results.

Remove the bag and pour the remaining vinegar into the drain. You can add baking soda when pouring the remaining vinegar down the drain to quickly clean your drain.

Try to loosen and remove mineral deposits by scrubbing the inner and outer bits of the shower head with an old toothbrush and using toothpicks to clean the holes.

If you took your shower head off to clean, put it back on. Simply align it and screw it on clockwise. Make sure to tighten it well to avoid leakage.

Wipe away any loose debris or buildup. Run hot water through the shower head for a minute or two to flush out any remaining mineral deposits or leftover vinegar.

You may need to clean the filter screen if your shower head is still not operating at its best. The filter screen is located where the shower head connects to the water pipe. Follow these easy steps to clean your shower head's filter screen:

Turn the base of the shower head where it connects counterclockwise to remove it. Use lockable pliers or a wrench if needed.

Take some tweezers and carefully remove the filter screen.

Using the tweezers, place filter screen back where it was. Screw back on your shower head by turning it clockwise.