How to Clean a Shower Head
When you clean your bathroom, you probably put a fair amount of elbow grease into cleaning your shower as well. However, if your shower head is not easily accessible, there’s a good chance you don’t bother cleaning it. Even if you can reach your shower head, you may simply give it a quick wipe down to remove water stains from the metal. After all, how dirty could your shower head possibly get?
You may be surprised. Even if you don’t touch your shower head on a regular basis, these small fixtures can actually accumulate a fair amount of bacteria and other buildup over time. Even when they look relatively clean, they could be harboring bacteria inside. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to deep-clean a shower head—and this project doesn’t involve a lot of time or elbow grease.
Reasons to Clean Your Shower Head
Okay, but is it really necessary to deep-clean a shower head? While it’s probably not something you need to do every time you clean your bathroom, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of doing it once or twice a year. There are a few reasons to add this little project to your list of cleaning tasks.
Improve the Flow of Water
Have you noticed that the water pressure in your shower doesn’t seem as strong as it once was? If so, then take a closer look at your shower head. If you live in an area with a hard water supply, there’s a good chance that buildup from minerals and other deposits in your water is clogging your shower head nozzles. This happens gradually over time, so you may not notice a significant difference in your water pressure until the nozzles have become significantly blocked.
By taking the time to clean your shower head, you can get rid of this buildup and enjoy a full water pressure once again.
Get Rid of Bacteria
Bacteria and even mold/mildew can accumulate inside your shower head as well. When this happens, you could be literally showering yourself with bacteria or mold spores each time you use your shower head. Keep your water as clean as possible by deep-cleaning your shower head as needed.
Save Money on a New Fixture
Perhaps a clogged shower head or other problems with your shower head has you thinking about replacing the entire fixture. Before you spend your hard-earned money on a new shower head, however, try giving your current one a deep cleaning. You may be able to restore your current fixture to a like-new condition, which will save you the time, money, and hassle of picking out and installing a brand new one. After all, shower heads aren’t cheap; they can easily cost upwards of $50.
Best Ways to Clean Your Shower Head
Now that you’ve committed to giving your hard-working shower head a deep cleaning, you may be wondering where to begin. The good news is that you don’t need to set aside a huge chunk of time to tackle this chore, nor do you need a lot of supplies. To get started, you’ll just need:
- a scrub brush or an old toothbrush you no longer use
- a plastic bag
- paper towels or a wash cloth
Consult Your Shower Head Manual
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to consult the manual that came with your original shower head. This manual will contain some tips and instructions on proper cleaning of the shower head itself. You should always defer to the instructions in the manual to avoid accidental damage to the fixture itself.
If you don’t have your shower head’s manual handy, you can likely find it online or by calling the manufacturer directly.
Scrub the Rubber Nozzles
In most cases, the majority of the buildup on a shower head occurs on the nozzles where the water comes out. To get started with cleaning these nozzles out, then, it’s usually pretty effective to use a scrub brush or tooth brush. Simply scrub in small, circular motions around the nozzles to loosen up debris and buildup.
If your shower head is up very high on the wall (or if it’s a rain shower head coming from the ceiling), you may have an easier time removing it completely before cleaning. Otherwise, using a step stool may make it easier to access.
Once you’ve scrubbed debris off the nozzles, turn the shower head on to allow water pressure to push out any loose debris. If you’ve removed the shower head prior to scrubbing, you can run it underneath your sink instead.
Soak in a Cleaning Mixture
Next, it’s time to clean out the insides of the nozzles and the shower head fixture itself. This can be done by mixing equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Pour the mixture into a plastic bag and then tie the bag around the shower head itself. The idea is that the shower head should be submerged in the mixture so it can soak for up to an hour.
If you’ve removed your shower head, this step may be easier because you can simply pour the vinegar mixture into a bowl and place the shower head in the bowl.
Clean Out the Filter/Screen
After the shower head is done soaking, rinse any remaining vinegar mixture away with water. If you wish, you can also clean out the filter that is built into your shower head. However, this will involve partially disassembling the fixture, so you’ll definitely want to refer to the manufacturer’s manual before completing this step.
Once you’re happy with the cleanliness of your shower head, re-install it (if you removed it for cleaning) and run your shower as normal to make sure the pressure is to your liking. From there, you can enjoy a shiny, like-new shower head, improved water pressure, and cleaner water!
Keeping Your Shower Head Clean
If you live in an area with hard water, mineral buildup may cause problems not only with your shower head, but with other plumbing fixtures and appliances in your home as well. You may want to consider having a water softener installed in your home, which can help remove some of the minerals and other deposits from your water before it reaches your plumbing fixtures. This may help to keep your shower head (and other fixtures) cleaner and free of buildup, which can save you the time and hassle of having to clean them as frequently.
What About the Rest of Your Home?
Looking for help keeping the rest of your home clean and tidy? Maid Sailors offers professional cleaning services to suit your needs! Call us at (212) 299-5170 or book now on our website!