Your showerhead is easy to overlook. Or, rather, underlook; if it’s taller than you are, you might not look up at your showerhead very often to check and see if it’s clean.
That’s why many of us are surprised when we do look up and see water stains, crusty deposits, or even mold covering the showerhead.
It’s simple enough to get your showerhead clean. But if it’s been awhile, it will take some soaking time. Here’s how to clean your showerhead, both with and without vinegar.
Cleaning Your Showerhead With Vinegar
Combine equal parts distilled white vinegar and water, enough to cover your showerhead completely. Remove your showerhead using a wrench and a cloth wrapped around it. Submerge in the solution, making sure the face of the nozzle is submerged, for two to four hours, or overnight. If your showerhead is not easily removable, fill a plastic bag with the solution and tie it around the showerhead, immersing it. Secure with a rubber band, twine, or string.
Remove the nozzle from the solution and gently brush away loosened grime and other deposits with an old toothbrush. Reattach the showerhead, if you need to, and run warm water through to remove internal deposits.
If your showerhead is still gunky, mix up a solution of baking soda, vinegar, and tea tree oil and apply to trouble spots. Scrub the solution around the nozzle with the toothbrush and use a pin, needle, or toothpick to clear holes of debris. Rinse and run warm water through the nozzle for a few moments.
Cleaning Your Showerhead Without Vinegar
To clean your showerhead without vinegar, make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water. Apply it to the showerhead, making sure to cover the stains and deposits completely.
Allow to sit for a few minutes—or longer, if the deposits are significant. Gently scrub the baking soda solution and the deposits away with an old toothbrush. Use a pin, needle, or toothpick to clear the holes of baking soda and debris.
If you still see deposits, use a commercial cleaner to remove calcium or lime deposits.
Rinse and reattach your showerhead, if you need to. Run warm water through the nozzle for a few moments to flush out any baking soda still caught in the holes.
Sources
How to Clean a Showerhead Using Basic Pantry Ingredients, bhg.com, December 17, 2024
How to Clean a Showerhead, According to Experts, marthastewart.com, November 14, 2024
How to Clean a Showerhead, nytimes.com/wirecutter, November 6, 2024
How to clean a shower head with baking soda, purdyandfigg.com