Showerhead limescale might not be a strange topic with many people, especially when you’re using hard water. Not only does it look unaesthetic but limescale also causes clogging, which results in dozens of annoyances.
If that is currently a headache to you, this post might be what you’re after. Below is a detailed guide on how to clean shower head limescale.
What Causes The Buildup Of Limescale On Showerheads?
It’s hard water!
Not only shower heads but also irons, kettles, or anything made of metal will inevitably lead to limescale if they contact regularly with hard water.
While it doesn’t cause harm to your health when you shower under the water, buildup limescale on showerheads affects its shine as well as makes it clogged, which slows down the water flow. This leads to the fact that you need to replace them many times.
But before throwing your clogged shower head away, consider trying these solutions:
How To Clean Shower Head Limescale
Chemical Limescale Cleaners
To deal with those shower heads that have heavy buildup limescale, using specialist cleaning products seems to be the most effective method.
They’re widely found in most local supermarkets and in spraying form with various price ranges.
Ask the buyer for some advice if there are various options and if you’re new to these products. During use, you should remove the showerhead so that the cleaning product doesn’t accidentally fall overhead or your eyes.
Follow their manual instructions strictly as well and remember to rinse the substance thoroughly for safety.
White Vinegar
This household product is the most popular, economical, and eco-friendly alternative to remove light buildup limescale on showerheads.
White vinegar contains a huge amount of acetic acid that can dissolve the mineral deposits building up in your shower head. During use, be careful to not accidentally get it in your eyes as well as keep your pets and young kids away from the area.
You’ll need:
- Distilled white vinegar (mix one part of white vinegar with one part of water)
- A plastic bag
- Some rubber bands
- A soft cloth
How-to:
Loop a rubber band once or twice around the top of your shower head
Pour ½ cup distilled white vinegar into a plastic bag, then slip its top edge beneath the rubber band. Make sure the bag stays in place when you’re not holding it.
Leave it for 30 minutes if the showerhead is nickel-coated or made of brass. With other types of materials – like stainless steel and chrome, soak it in distilled white vinegar for 1 to 2 hours.
Remove the bag and run cold water through your shower head for 2 minutes so that the water will flush all dissolved mineral deposits. Use a clean cloth to wipe the surface of your shower head off. Done!
For a heavy buildup limescale showerhead, you need to remove it for deep cleaning:
You’ll need:
- A wrench
- Distilled white vinegar
- An old toothbrush or a small bristle brush
- Some safety pins or toothpicks
- Rubber bands
- Plastic bags
- Baking soda (optional)
How-to:
Use a wrench to detach your shower head; be careful to not scratch its coating.
Hold it upside down beneath running tap water to get rid of loosened debris. Use an old toothbrush to remove all the mineral deposits, then use a toothpick to poke out residue.
Rinse the showerhead one more time under running water.
Repeat the above cleaning process with plastic bags and rubber bands, then leave it for several hours. You can add some teaspoons of baking soda into the distilled white vinegar bag for better cleaning results.
Next, rinse your shower head and reassemble it.
Note: Remember to wear a face mask. If you can’t stand the smell of white vinegar, clean your shower head in an airy space, or open the extractor fan/window in your bathroom.
Never use bleach or any harsh cleaning solution for showerheads.
The distilled white vinegar also works great on doors, glass shower walls, tubs, and dinks, taking back their appealing outlook.
How To Prevent Buildup Limescale
To prevent further buildup of limescale, you should weekly clean the showerhead or give it a thorough cleaning at least once per month.
Install a water softener system if the water in your area is hard. This helps get rid of excess minerals from the water.
Wipe them dry after showering, using a clean cloth or a squeegee, which takes only one or two minutes to finish.
Use a daily shower spray or a portable steam cleaner to remove the soap scum from your showerhead to prevent buildup minerals.
Conclusion
Above are the most common ways to clean shower head limescale, share with us if you have any effective cleaning tips. We also hope that our guide was helpful to you, and thanks a lot for reading!
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to let us know. Follow our blog to get more useful articles.
