We can agree that washing off the grime and stress of your daily activities in the shower is always a great thing. But what do you do when your shower is not spraying as forcefully as it used to? If your showerhead nozzle clogs over time, this could be due to mineral deposits caused by hard water. In this article, you will find the best tips on how to clean shower head holes. From household solutions that cost you nothing, to great limescale removing products, such as the CLR Pro, you can get from Amazon right now!
What Causes the Showerhead to Clog?
For those having hard water in their homes, it means your water supply contains large amounts of minerals such as calcium, limestone, and magnesium. Although it’s safe to use, hard water can cause severe consequences in your home over time. The most troubling aspect is limestone building up in the kitchen plumbing, toilet plumbing and reducing water flow, primarily through the shower head.
Most people are not aware of the signs of a blocked shower. They include uneven spray, reduced water pressure, or water that streams sideways. Do not despair if you’ve noticed these signs, as most shower heads are easy to clean if you follow these steps.
How to Clean Showerhead Holes?
Cleaning a shower head can be quite tricky. However, you can reduce stress by following these steps:
- You can unscrew the shower head by using a wrench.
- Carefully remove the debris and sediments by using a toothbrush to brush it, and rinse the residues.
- Some of the mineral deposits from hard water will require thorough cleaning, and you can accomplish this by using vinegar or any recommended product to remove the limescale, calcium, mold, and mildew. For those using vinegar, an overnight soak in the liquid will do the trick. Remember to read the manufacturer’s instruction if you are using a recommended product.
- Lastly, rinse the shower head with water after cleaning. Gently push a paper clip or a piece of wire through each showerhead hole.
- After cleaning the holes, reattach the unclogged shower head and tighten it with a wrench.
Commercial Hard Water Stains Removers For Showerheads
Most washing liquids or powders can’t handle hard water stains caused by deposits of hard minerals like calcium and limestone. Hard water stains are difficult to clean without the use of special calcium/limestone stain removers. Here is our choice:
Bio-Clean: Eco-Friendly Hard Water Stain Remover
image source: bio-cleanproducts.com
This product offers a safe and clean way of removing hard water stains without damaging the metal of the shower head. The Bio-Clean stain remover uses an abrasive based compound that’s biodegradable to scrub away any permanent deposit of limestone, calcium, and phosphorus.
This product is one of the best you can get out there. It has been proven to clear away stubborn hard water stains from tiles as well as the shower heads. Mix about two tablespoons of Bio-Clean with scouring powder, and you will have them looking great.
Features
- Safe and environmentally-friendly
- Professional hard stain remover.
- It removes rust stains as well.
Click here to check the current price on Amazon!
CLR Pro CL-4Pro Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover
image source: clrbrands.com
The CLR stain remover offers better limescale removing power than most of the products out there. It belongs to the US S.E.P.A’s choice for safe chemistry, and its components are eco-friendly.
This stain remover is suitable for daily cleaning. It can clean multiple surfaces such as glass, ceramic, stainless steel, porcelain, chrome, and brick. Also, it cuts through hard water stains and mildew in the house. It’s safe for use on coffee makers, washing machines, dishwashers, sinks and toilets since it doesn’t damage the faucets or the appliance.
Features
- The potent, non-toxic formulation that’s effective on lime and calcium buildup
- Great for cleaning humidifiers, pots, shower doors, shower heads, and vinyl siding
- Effective rust remover
- It is biodegradable and not harmful to nearby vegetation, grass, and shrubs
- It is safe on plumbing and light-grout
Click here to check the current price on Amazon!
How to Clean a Shower Head Without Removing It?
- Find a medium-sized plastic bag, big enough to fit the shower head.
- Mix about 1 cup of white vinegar with 1/3 cup of baking soda. We recommend mixing it in the sink since the baking powder reacts vigorously with the vinegar. This solution is very efficient since the mixture produces carbonic acid, which is an active cleaning agent.
- Fill the plastic bag with the mixture and place the shower head inside. Make sure to immerse the whole head in the solution. Tie the top of the plastic bag.
- Leave the shower head in the mixture overnight.
- In the morning, rinse the shower head with water until you completely remove the cleaning solution. Let the water run for a minute before you step into the shower.
Why Vinegar Baths Are Effective on Mineral Deposits
White vinegar contains acetic acid which acts as a solvent. This acid helps to dissolve the hard water buildup clogging up your shower head holes. Therefore, soaking your shower head in vinegar will help dissolve the mineral build up.
Benefits and Warnings for Cleaning Showerhead Holes with Vinegar
There are so many reasons why you should use vinegar as a regular part of your housekeeping routine.
Vinegar is inexpensive, so you get to save a lot of money by not purchasing special cleaners. Additionally, vinegar is all-natural and does not emit dangerous fumes. Although it is safe, you should take precautions while using vinegar.
Firstly, make sure to avoid any contact with your mouth and eyes. In case of contact with vinegar, promptly rinse the eye with lots of water until the sting dissipates. Also, avoid using vinegar to clean when children are present.
How To Clean a Shower Head with a Cleaning Product
Many cleaning products are specially designed for clogged shower heads and work faster and better than the vinegar method. Before using the product, you only need to read the instructions on the label. Test the product on a small area before proceeding. And most importantly, ensure that you rinse the shower head before using the shower.
Can you prevent limescale in your showerhead?
Yes, it’s possible to prevent mineral deposits, and there are several methods you can follow. First of all, you can avoid the buildup of mineral deposits on the surfaces in your bathroom by using a dry towel to remove water and soap residue after every shower. Furthermore, remove any soap scum. It will allow the minerals to wash down the drain instead of sticking to the bathroom surfaces. Make sure you clean your shower regularly.
You can also prevent mineral deposits by using water softener systems. Water softener systems remove hard water minerals from the water supply through a process called “ion exchange”. This process involves the use of electrostatically charged beads (resin) which attract the excess minerals, thereby reducing the hardness of the water. Once the resins or beads are saturated with the unwanted minerals, they are rinsed with sodium to flush out the unwanted minerals down the drain.
Here are some quality Water Softener Systems you should consider:
Fleck 5600SXT 48,000 Grain Water Softener
image source: flecksystems.com
The Fleck Water Softener installation is quite simple since it comes with an entirely digital system and a USB drive that contains instructional videos. It offers digital controls with an instructive display. The package comes with a test kit for hardness and iron. You get a complete system which includes a control head, tank, brine tank, and resin. All you’ve got to do is plumb it in and add salt. This system also comes with a flow meter to measure the water levels and help you save water and salt.
Features
- 1.5 cubic feet standard 8% resin
- Complete system with USB drive instructions
- Complete brine tank with a float
- Touch-pad controls
- 48,000 maximum capacity
- 15″ x 33″ brine tank
- 10″ x 54″ tank
Click here to check the current price on Amazon!
Eddy Water Descaler Electronic Water Softener
image source: eddy.uk.com
The Eddy Water Softener is different from most softeners since it uses electromagnetic waves to disrupt the adhesion properties of the minerals to the sink, shower head, and other bathroom or kitchen surfaces. If you live in an area where there’s a high concentration of minerals in the water supply, the Eddy Water Softener will help you a lot. It is quite simple to install and comes at a lower cost than most conventional water softeners.
Features
- It reduces lime scales and other minerals in homes and offices.
- Easy to install.
- Doesn’t require salt to work.
- Acts like Softened water without altering the mineral composition.
- One year money back guarantee.
Click here to check the current price on Amazon!
iSpring RCC7 High Capacity Reverse Osmosis System and Water Softener
image source: 123filter.com
The iSpring Water Softener is one of the top-notch water systems on the market. It features a 5-stage filtration process with a focus on reverse osmosis and water softening. It also uses a technology that removes 99.9% of contaminants in the water. It offers “table-water-standard” water supply. The system has a 75-gallon capacity, enough to handle the needs of a small household. The iSpring is easy to install, and the instructional video is top-notch.
Features
- High capacity reverse-osmosis water filtration.
- Removes 99,9% of water contaminants.
- Premium quality components.
- 75-gallon water capacity.
- Simple Installation.
Click here to check the current price on Amazon!
You may also want to read: How to spring clean your house.
Hey, very informative article I have read your tips and apply it on my head and now head is just like new and working perfectly thanks for such a great information.
WOW, That’s a really helpful information. I like your tip because it’s a very helpful for me. I want to clean my shower head holes but I have no idea about it. Thank you for share very informative and helpful post.