Besides making your showerhead look dirty, limescale buildup can clog the water holes, lowering the flow and snatching the joy of a nice shower. And, while you can scrub the nozzle to try removing the buildup, it doesn't always work.
Luckily, you can try these two easy and effective ways to descale your showerhead without problems.
Whether you don't have the tools to detach your showerhead or it isn't that dirty, you can use this method to clean your fixture.
White vinegar works great to break down limescale due to its acid properties. So, fill a bag (big enough to fit the shower nozzle) halfway with vinegar and then cover the showerhead with it.
If the vinegar amount isn't enough to cover your fixture, pour some more until reaching the desired level. Then, fasten the bag to avoid it from fallinga zip tie or a couple of rubber bands will do the trick.
Once the bag is secured, leave it there for about one hour unless the fixture is made of brass, gold, or coated with nickel30 minutes is the maximum for those materials.
Caution: Avoid using malt or brown vinegar as that won't be as effective and might even stain your showerhead.
After time's up, remove the bag and pour its dirty contents into the drain. The limestone remaining on the shower head will be loosened, so use an old toothbrush to scrub it away. Finally, rinse the fixture with hot water, and dry it with a clean cloth.
If you need a more thorough cleaning, you'll need an adjustable wrench to remove your showerhead. Once you have one handy, you can get to work!
To protect your showerhead from scratches, wrap the nut with a rag before loosening it. Avoid turning the fixture upside down after detaching it, as the water seal (the small rubber ring inside) could fall.
Pro tip: If your showerhead has a flow regulator, take this chance to scrub it with a toothbrush to remove any buildup, and rinse it with warm water.
Now, grab two bowls and place your showerhead inside the first one. In the second bowl, you'll heat vinegar (a sufficient amount to cover your fixture) until it's warm to the touch. Once the vinegar is ready, pour it into the first bowl.
Leave your showerhead submerged for one to eight hours, depending on how dirty it is. Make an exception for brass, gold, or nickel-coated showerheadsno more than 30 minutes!
Once you remove your showerhead from the vinegar, use an old toothbrush to scrub your fixture thoroughly until no more buildup remains. At this point you might ask, what about the water holes? Easy! While a toothbrush won't help you, a toothpick or a needle will.
Finally, rinse your showerhead with warm water and dry it with a clean cloth before screwing it back.
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