How to Clean a Shower Head Without Harsh Chemicals

To clean a shower head without harsh chemicals, soak it in distilled white vinegar for 30 to 60 minutes. Tie a plastic bag of vinegar around the shower head, or remove the head and place it directly into a bowl of vinegar. After soaking, scrub the individual nozzles with an old toothbrush. Then run hot water for about a minute to flush away the scale the soak loosened. If there’s a lot of buildup, leave the bag of vinegar on overnight.

A clogged shower head may look like it needs to be replaced, but in many cases the problem is mineral scale buildup inside the nozzles. When that happens, the right cleaning technique should fix it. Your choice of cleaning method depends on the type of finish on your shower head. For instance, if it has a polished chrome finish, you may be able to use a vinegar soak. On the other hand, a coated finish such as brushed nickel or matte black needs a gentler approach.

Why Does a Shower Head Clog?

Hard water is almost always the cause.

As the USGS Water Science School notes, hard water gets its calcium and magnesium from passing through soil and rock. When water dries on the spray face, the minerals in the water stay behind. After several months, the mineral deposits harden into a white, chalky coating that eventually narrows the spray holes. Signs include white or tan rings around the nozzles, jets that spray in different directions and reduced water pressure.

How fast scale forms depends on where you live. The U.S. Geological Survey states that hard water is most common in the east-central and western United States. If you live in either region, you’ll likely need to clean your shower head more often than the schedule below suggests.

Check Your Finish Before You Use Vinegar

The finish decides what is safe.

Vinegar works as a scale remover because it’s a mild acid, but that acid may also damage some coatings. Manufacturers don’t agree on whether vinegar is safe to use on their products. Delta Faucet suggests a mix of vinegar and water to clean shower heads, yet it also lists acid-containing cleaners among the products to avoid on its finishes. The Shower Head Store advises against using vinegar and baking soda on any of its shower heads.

The safest thing to do is check the manufacturer’s care guide for your model, typically found on the manufacturer’s website. If there isn’t one, go by the finish.

How to Clean a Shower Head Without Taking It Off

This is the easiest method, and it works for most shower heads.

If your shower head is fixed in place or otherwise hard to detach, you can clean it while it’s still attached by placing a plastic bag of vinegar over it.

1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with distilled white vinegar. American Standard suggests about 12 oz of vinegar, or more if your shower head is large.
2. Slide the bag over the shower head so the spray face is completely covered.
3. Attach the bag to the shower arm with a rubber band or twist tie. Before you let go, make sure it holds; a full bag can be much heavier than it looks.
4. Leave it for one hour for light buildup, or overnight for heavier scale.
5. Remove the bag and scrub the spray face with an old toothbrush.
6. Run hot water for about a minute to flush out any loosened deposits.

How to Clean a Rainfall Shower Head

Rainfall shower heads can be cleaned the same way, but they need a larger bag. According to Mira Showers, half-fill the bag with distilled white vinegar and slide it over the head until the nozzles are completely covered. Secure the bag to the pipe above the head with a piece of string or a rubber band. If the head unscrews from its base, you can take it off and place it in a plastic container of vinegar instead. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, but ideally a full hour. Then clean the front of the head with a damp sponge and gently brush out each nozzle with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Repeat if any deposits remain.

How to Clean a Shower Head With Vinegar

Removing the shower head allows for a deeper clean.

Once the shower head is off, you can get the vinegar to the mesh screen, the back of the nozzles and the threads. It’s how to descale a shower head when a bag soak isn’t enough. The following steps are based on Delta Faucet’s cleaning instructions.

1. Lay a towel in the bottom of your tub or shower, and cover the drain so small pieces don’t get lost down there.
2. Wrap a cloth around the connecting nut to avoid damaging its finish. Hold the shower arm still and turn the connecting nut counterclockwise using an adjustable wrench.
3. Remove the rubber gasket and mesh screen from inside the nut and set them aside. You’ll need both to put the head back on.
4. In a bowl, combine equal amounts of distilled white vinegar and water. Start with 1 cup of each, and keep adding until the shower head is fully submerged.
5. Soak for 30 minutes, and then clean the spray face with a soft cloth or a toothbrush. If there are still deposits, repeat.
6. Rinse the head, use a soft cloth to dry it, then remove any debris from the threads of the shower arm.
7. Turn the head clockwise by hand until it’s snug. Don’t use pliers or a wrench. Turn on the water and slightly tighten the head if you notice any leaking.

Plumber’s tape is optional. If you use it, wrap it clockwise around the threads, and apply only a small amount on metal-to-plastic connections. Too much tape can crack the nut.

How Long Should You Soak a Shower Head in Vinegar?

Usually 30 minutes is enough for a shower head that’s been removed and placed in a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. If scale remains, you can put the shower head back into the same solution. A shower head still attached to the wall inside a bag of full-strength vinegar needs more soaking time: about one hour for light buildup, and overnight for heavier scale. Start with a short soak and repeat as needed.

Can You Use Vinegar and Baking Soda Together?

Yes, but not at the same time. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid, so when the two are combined, they neutralize each other. The fizzing is just the chemical reaction between the two ingredients; it doesn’t add cleaning power. Researchers writing in The Conversation, republished by Phys.org, describe it as “essentially a visual ‘placebo’.”

Used one after the other, both can be useful. To clean a shower head with vinegar and baking soda, soak it in vinegar first, then rinse it thoroughly. If there’s still some buildup on the spray face and your finish permits it, make a paste with baking soda and a little water. Gently scrub the spray face with a toothbrush and rinse again before reinstalling the shower head.

How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head

Most clogs only affect a few spray holes.

Often, mineral deposits build up in just a few nozzles rather than across the entire shower head. If the nozzles are soft rubber or silicone, gently rub them with your fingertip while the water is running. Flexing the soft material helps loosen the deposits. The Shower Head Store suggests trying this before anything else.

Use a toothpick on holes that stay clogged. It’s sturdy enough to clear the hole but gentle enough not to scratch the nozzle. If several holes are clogged, soak the shower head first in vinegar or warm water, depending on the finish, then clear the rest. Don’t use coarse brushes; they can damage the finish.

If the water pressure is low across the entire shower head, the mesh screen in the connecting nut may be clogged. Remove the head as described above and clean out the screen.

How to Clean a Shower Head Without Vinegar

Warm water is the gentler option, and it works on any finish.

This method works well on brushed nickel, matte black and oil-rubbed bronze. It’s also a good choice if you’d rather not clean your shower head with vinegar. It’s based on The Shower Head Store’s regular care routine.

1. Soak your shower head in a container of warm water for about one hour. If you can’t take your shower head off the wall, go directly to step 2 and clean it while warm water runs.
2. Rub each nozzle with your fingertip to loosen the softened scale.
3. Use a toothpick on any holes that are still blocked.
4. Wipe the finish with a soft microfiber cloth and warm water. If necessary, add a small amount of mild dish soap.
5. Dry the shower head with a towel. On brushed finishes, wipe in the same direction as the grain.

This method won’t remove thick, established buildup as well as vinegar. It’s a good option for routine monthly cleaning, to keep scale from building up.

How Often Should You Clean a Shower Head?

Once a month is a good routine for most homes.

The Shower Head Store recommends a full cleaning about once a month, whereas American Standard suggests a quick clean with its bag technique as often as once a week. If you live in a hard-water area, clean it more often. And if water starts coming out of the jets at an angle, don’t wait to clean your shower head.

Delta Faucet suggests drying your shower head after each use, so water doesn’t sit on the spray face.

While you clean your shower head, take the opportunity to wipe down the tile around it. A refillable spray made with Multi-Surface Cleaning Tablets works on tile and other hard surfaces, and save plastic by ditching the large plastic containers and jugs. The product page recommends a spot test on a small section of tile first.

Shop Bathroom Essentials

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Thing to Clean a Shower Head With?

For a standard shower head, distilled white vinegar and an old toothbrush work well on mineral scale. Vinegar softens the buildup so the toothbrush bristles can clear it from the holes. However, if your shower head has a brushed nickel, matte black or oil-rubbed bronze finish, use warm water and your fingers to gently scrub away the buildup, unless the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions say vinegar is safe on that finish.

How Long Should You Soak a Shower Head in Vinegar?

Once removed, the shower head can soak in a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water for about 30 minutes. For heads that stay on the wall, use a plastic bag filled with vinegar and let the head soak for one hour, or overnight if there’s a lot of buildup.

How Do You Clean Rubber Nozzles on a Shower Head?

While the water is flowing, rub the nozzle tips with a finger to remove scale. Usually, the scale will flake away as the flexible rubber tip moves. If some holes are still plugged after rubbing, you can use a toothpick to clear them.

How Do You Clean a Shower Head Without Vinegar or Baking Soda?

Soak the shower head in warm water for about one hour. After soaking, gently rub each nozzle with a finger. Then use a microfiber cloth and warm water to clean the outside of the shower head, adding a small amount of mild dish soap if necessary.

How Often Should You Clean a Shower Head?

Clean your shower head about once a month. If you have hard water, clean it more often. Drying the shower head after each shower may also slow down how fast minerals build up.