How to Clean a Shower Head with Vinegar

Shower heads that are clogged with mineral deposits over the years need to be cleaned. However, instead of using harsh chemicals that not only damage the shower head but can also harm your health, you should try vinegar. This article will show you 2 simple ways to clean your shower head with vinegar and water.

Table of Contents

Cleaning removable shower head

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Preparing instruments. One way to clean a shower head is to remove it from the hose and soak it in vinegar. If you can’t or don’t want to disassemble the shower head, you can click here. Here are the tools to prepare for this method:

Pot, bucket or container large enough to fit the shower head
Distilled white vinegar
Wrench and old rag (optional)
Old toothbrush
Soft fabrics, such as microfiber or flannel

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Remove the shower head by turning it counterclockwise. If you have trouble turning, you can wrap an old rag around the link and then use a wrench to turn it. The rag will protect the surface of the shower head. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Place the shower head in the pot. Consider using a small pot the size of a shower head to save vinegar. You can use small buckets or plastic containers instead.

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Pour white vinegar into the pot, just enough to cover the shower head. The acid in the vinegar will help dissolve the white mineral deposits on the shower head.

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Soak the shower head in vinegar for 30 minutes or overnight. The more soil in the shower head, the longer it will take to soak in the vinegar.

If you are in a hurry or for a metal shower head, you can place the pot on the stove and cook the vinegar for about 15 minutes.
If the shower head is made of brass or gold plated, nickel plated, you need to remove the shower head after soaking in vinegar for 30 minutes. ^{[2] X Source of Research} Vinegar can be soaked again after rinsing the shower head.

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Take the shower head out of the pot and wash it. You will see mineral deposits fall off.

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Use an old toothbrush to scrub away any deposits. Focus on the showerhead area as this is where mineral deposits accumulate the most. Gently scrub the residue with a brush and then rinse with cool water. Continue scrubbing until mineral deposits are removed.

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Use a soft cloth to polish the shower head. You can use a microfiber cloth or even a flannel. ^{[3] X Research Source} Gently wipe the shower head with a cloth until it is completely dry and free of standing water. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Attach the shower head back to the pipe on the wall. Wrap some Teflon tape around the threaded part of the wall hose in a counterclockwise direction and screw the shower head in. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

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Turn on the running water for a few minutes. This step helps to wash away the residue that the toothbrush cannot reach.

Cleaning non-removable shower head

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Preparing instruments. If the shower head is not removable, you can still soak the shower head using vinegar and a plastic bag. Prepare the following tools:

The plastic bag is big enough to fit the shower head
A rope or rope
Distilled white vinegar
Old toothbrush
Soft fabrics, such as microfiber or flannel

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Fill the bag with vinegar partially. Do not overfill as the vinegar will overflow when you put the shower head in the bag.

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Drape the bag over the shower head. Hold the bag under the shower head and then open the mouth of the bag. Slowly raise the bag until it is over the shower head and the nozzle is submerged in the vinegar.

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Use a lanyard to secure the mouth of the bag. You hold the mouth of the bag tightly around the shower head, then wrap the cord around the mouth of the bag. Gently release the bag of vinegar and make sure the bag does not fall when you let go.

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Soak the shower head for about 30 minutes or overnight. The dirtier the shower head, the longer it will take to soak. If the shower head is made of brass or gold plated, nickel plated, you need to remove the shower head after soaking in vinegar for 30 minutes. The vinegar can be soaked again after rinsing the shower head.

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Take out the vinegar bag. Use one hand to support the bag of vinegar, the other hand to carefully remove the mouth of the bag. Turn the bag upside down and pour the vinegar out. Be careful not to get the vinegar in your eyes.

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Turn on the water for a few minutes and then turn it off. This step helps to flush away mineral deposits that are still stuck in the shower head.

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Scrub the shower head with an old toothbrush and then turn on the water again. Concentrate on scrubbing the water jet hole area of the shower head as this is where mineral deposits accumulate the most. Turn on the water again to flush out the mineral deposits. Continue to scrub the shower head and turn on the water until no more mineral deposits are visible.

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Turn off the water and use a soft cloth to polish the shower head. You can use a microfiber cloth or a thin felt cloth. Gently polish the shower head with a cloth until the shower head is dry and free of water.

Advice

You can dip a little vinegar to clean the faucet in the bathroom.
If you can’t stand the smell of vinegar, you can open the door or turn on the fan. Alternatively, you can try mixing vinegar with some lemon juice. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
If the stain is stubborn and pure vinegar can’t remove it, you can use a mixture of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white vinegar to scrub the stain. ^{[7] X Research Source} This is not recommended for metal-plated shower heads as salt can scratch the plating.
Soaking the shower head in a vinegar bag works best for shower heads made of chrome, stainless steel, and other metal surfaces. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Warning

If your bathtub or shower is made of marble, be very careful when using vinegar. Vinegar can destroy marble surfaces. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Be careful when using vinegar to clean gold, brass, or nickel-plated shower heads. Do not soak shower heads coated with these metals in vinegar for more than 30 minutes. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Things you need

What you need to clean your detachable shower head

Pot or bucket
Distilled white vinegar
Wrench and old rag (optional)
Old toothbrush
Soft cloth

What you need to clean your non-removable shower head

Plastic bags
Rope
Distilled white vinegar
Old toothbrush
Soft cloth

Steps