How To Clean Your Shower Head

The bathroom is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house, and the shower takes the most abuse. After a few months you may notice a chalky crust around the shower head, or spray that comes out sideways, in thin streams, or not at all from some of the holes. That buildup looks bad, and it can also cut down your water pressure and make the whole fixture work harder than it should.

What that crust really is

Water carries dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. Each time the shower runs, a little water is left behind on the face of the head, it dries, and the minerals stay. Layer after layer builds up until the tiny spray nozzles narrow or close. Homes with hard water see it faster, and a shower that gets used every day sees it faster still. The good news is that the same minerals dissolve in mild acid, which is why plain vinegar works so well without any scrubbing.

The bag and vinegar method

This is the easiest deep clean in the house, because the vinegar does the work while you do something else. You will need a plastic bag large enough to hold the shower head, white vinegar, warm water, and a rubber band or twist tie.

• Fill the plastic bag partway with warm water and vinegar, using roughly half of each.
• Lift the bag so the shower head sits completely under the liquid, then tie it in place with a rubber band so the head stays covered.
• Let it soak for about an hour or two, depending on how much buildup there is. Heavy crust may need the longer end of that range.
• Remove the bag and wipe away any mineral deposits that remain, using a soft cloth or an old toothbrush on the nozzles.

Turn the water on for a minute afterward and let it run hot to flush out loosened sediment. That soak removes the minerals that were clogging your spray and leaves the head looking close to new. If you see a few stubborn nozzles, poke them gently with a toothpick rather than a pin or a needle, which can scratch the opening.

A few cautions before you start

Some finishes, such as brass, brushed nickel, and oil-rubbed bronze, can dull if they sit in vinegar for too long. If you are not sure what your fixture is made of, check the maker's care instructions, and keep the soak on the shorter end. Do not mix vinegar with bleach or another cleaner in the bag. Also keep the bag from pulling on the arm of the shower head; if it feels heavy, support it with your hand or tie it off to the pipe so nothing bends or cracks.

If the pressure is still weak

A clean shower head should bring the spray back. If it does not, the cause may be somewhere else. A shutoff valve that is only partly open, a clogged aerator at a nearby sink, or sediment moving through the lines can all reduce flow. Sediment that settles in a tank water heater can also show up as cloudy water or a rumbling noise when it heats. Allied offers a $99 Tank Water Heater Flush and/or Inspection, and the flush is limited by the age and health of the water heater.

If you have cleaned the head and pressure is still poor, or you notice leaks, stains, or a change in how your water looks, call Allied Plumbing Air & Electric in Springdale on (479) 278-4508 and describe what you are seeing.