How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (2024)

Is your shower head clogged or spraying unevenly? Learn how to easily clean your shower head using simple household ingredients, following step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips.

How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (1)

How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (2)

In This Article:

Why Clean a Shower Head?
How To Clean Shower Head Easily
Cleaning a Shower Head’s Filter Screen
FAQs for Cleaning Shower Heads

Highlights

  • Mineral build up in a shower head reduces the spray.
  • Dirty shower heads can give rise to mold and bacteria.
  • Deep cleaning shower heads once a month prevents mineral buildup.

If your once-powerful shower head has been reduced to a sputtering trickle, the problem is likely that it needs a good cleaning. When water flows through a shower head day after day, minerals in the water—like calcium and magnesium—collect and build up inside the shower head’s nozzle and spray holes, and on the surfaces, causing scaly deposits known as “limescale.” This buildup looks messy and significantly impedes the flow of water. In this article, we’ll show you how to deal with this problem.

Why Clean a Shower Head?

Here are 3 good reasons for cleaning your shower head:

  • Revive your shower’s power. Mineral buildup reduces water flow, leading to a weaker, less satisfying shower. Cleaning removes these blockages, restoring the full, invigorating spray.
  • Eliminate erratic spray. Limescale can clog some nozzles while leaving others open, resulting in an uneven spray pattern. Cleaning ensures a consistent flow of water.
  • Protect your health. A neglected shower head can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold that can cause skin irritation, allergies, or even respiratory issues, particularly for those with compromised immune systems. Regular cleaning helps prevents shower mildew, mold & bacteria as it keeps your shower head hygienic and safe.

When should you clean your shower head? Right away if you notice a significant decrease in water pressure or an uneven spray pattern. A weekly wipe-down with a vinegar solution or spray cleaner can help prevent mineral buildup on the surface. Monthly, a more thorough cleaning is a good idea, as discussed below. To know more about showers, refer to: How a shower works.

How To Clean Shower Head Easily

In most cases, it’s easy to remove a shower head for a thorough cleaning—it just takes a pair of locking jaw pliers or a wrench to unscrew the head from the shower arm (the pipe that holds it). If this sounds like too much hassle or you don’t have the right tools, see the Pro Tip that follows the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: To avoid scratching the finish on the shower head, wrap the jaws of locking-jaw (“ChannelLock®”) pliers with strips of duct tape.

Step 2: Use the pliers to grip the top of the shower head and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew it from the shower arm.

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Step 3: Finish unscrewing the shower head by hand, and drain any water out of it.

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How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (8)

Step 4: Put the shower head into a bowl that’s partially filled with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Note: Prolonged or frequent use of undiluted vinegar can dull or damage a chrome, brass, or gold-plated finish over time. It’s best to limit soaking time to 30 minutes or less when cleaning one of these.

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Step 5: Pour additional vinegar into the shower head for extra strength to dissolve minerals inside it.

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Step 6: Replace the shower head. For a snug seal, first wrap the shower arm threads with Teflon pipe-wrap tape, and then screw the head onto it, turning clockwise. Use the pliers to snug it tight with ¼ turn. Turn on the water and enjoy the spray!

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How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (14)

Note: If your shower head is still clogged, remove it and unclog the nozzles using a toothpick. or use an old toothbrush to scrub baking soda on the nozzle. Then flush again.

HomeTips Pro Tip: How to Clean a Shower Head Without Tools

If you don’t have the necessary tools to remove your shower head for cleaning, you can just fill a plastic bag with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar and rubber-band the bag to the shower arm. Allow it to soak overnight or, for a chrome, brass, or gold-plated shower head, to soak for 30 minutes.

Cleaning a Shower Head’s Filter Screen

If your shower head is sputtering or clogged even after trying these deep cleaning methods, it may have a filter screen that needs cleaning (but not all shower heads have these).

If your shower head has a filter screen, you can find it between the shower head and the shower arm (the water pipe sticking out from your shower wall). Here’s how you can clean it yourself:

Step 1: Remove the shower head. Unscrew the shower head as discussed above.

Step 2: Remove debris. Run the shower head under running tap water. Then, flush some warm water into it to remove loose debris.

Step 3: Remove the filter screen. If possible, use needle-nose pliers to remove the filter screen from the nozzle.

Step 4: Clean the screen. Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 2 tablespoons of water. Dip an old toothbrush in the mixture you created and scrub the filter screen until any buildup or dirt is gone.

Step 5: Rinse and return. Rinse the filter screen under running water for 15 to 20 seconds. Then, dry it, reassemble, and screw the shower head back in place.

This was all about cleaning the filter screen of shower heads. If your shower is still not working well or you don’t have enough time for deep cleaning, you can replace it. You can always refer to our guide How to replace shower heads for this purpose.

FAQs for Cleaning Shower Heads

Can I use bleach to clean my shower head?

It’s not recommended to use bleach on your shower head, as it can corrode metal finishes and damage plastic components. Stick to natural cleaning solutions or commercial shower head cleaners.

How do I clean a shower head with hard water buildup?

For hard water buildup, soaking the shower head in a vinegar solution or using a commercial cleaner specifically designed for hard water stains is most effective. You can also try scrubbing with a baking soda paste.

What’s the best way to remove rust from a shower head?

To remove rust, try soaking the shower head in a mixture of equal parts water and lemon juice. If that doesn’t work, you can try a commercial rust remover, but be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

What can I do if my shower head still has low pressure after cleaning?

If your shower head still has low pressure, the flow restrictor might be clogged or the problem could be with your plumbing. Try cleaning the flow restrictor or consult a plumber if the issue persists.

How often should I clean my shower head?

The frequency of cleaning depends on your water hardness and usage. If you have hard water, you may need to clean your shower head every few weeks. With softer water, cleaning once a month or every other month may be sufficient.

Next See:

  • 3 Quick and Easy Ways to Clean Your Oven
  • How to Unclog Your Main Sewer Line
  • Ingenious Methods to Unclog Your Toilet Without a Plunger
  • How to Clean Your Garbage Disposal to Keep It Fresh…
How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head (2024)

FAQs

How to Clean a Clogged Shower Head? ›

Soak your showerhead in 50/50 white vinegar/hot water solution. The vinegar will help dissolve mineral deposits and prevent clogging so you can enjoy that feel-good water pressure.

How do I remove buildup from my shower head? ›

Soak your showerhead in 50/50 white vinegar/hot water solution. The vinegar will help dissolve mineral deposits and prevent clogging so you can enjoy that feel-good water pressure.

What is the best thing to clean a shower head with? ›

Vinegar is the number one natural cleaning product, making it a simple and affordable way to descale your showerhead. However, malt vinegar isn't particularly effective and brown vinegar may stain, so white distilled vinegar is best.

How long does it take vinegar to unclog shower head? ›

Soak the shower head in a bowl or bucket filled with vinegar. Leave it overnight unless the fixture is coated in brass, gold, or nickel — in that case, remove it from the vinegar after 30 minutes. If the fixture is made of metal, you can simmer it in a pot of vinegar on the stove for 15 minutes.

How do I deep clean my shower head without removing it? ›

In a large bowl, make a 50/50 mixture of CLR and water. Hold the bowl so that the showerhead is completely submerged, and let it soak for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bowl and use a toothbrush to scrub away any remaining gunk. Rinse by turning on the shower and letting it run for at least a minute.

How do you clean a stuck shower head? ›

If it still doesn't budge, fill up a gallon bag with vinegar, tie it around the showerhead, and leave it soaking overnight. The vinegar will eat away rust and other minerals, making it much easier to remove your showerhead the next morning.

How do you remove hard limescale from a shower head? ›

Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it securely with a rubber band around the showerhead. Make sure it is fully immersed. Once again leave it overnight and then run the shower to see how clean it is.

How can I clean the inside of my shower head? ›

Use baking soda, vinegar, and a gallon sized bag to clean showerhead components. A zip tie is a very secure way to attach the bag around the neck of your showerhead. You can also use a rubber band if you're able to wrap it well and keep the bag in place.

How do I get rid of black gunk in my shower head? ›

White vinegar is one of the most effective cleaning agents you can use for cleaning your shower head. The acids in vinegar naturally break down limescale, rust, and other mineral deposits that have accumulated over time. Vinegar, therefore, should be your number one friend when it comes to cleaning.

How to unclog a shower head without vinegar? ›

Lemon juice – mix a cup of lemon juice with a cup of water in a plastic bag. Use a rubber band to attach the plastic bag to your shower head. Let the liquid mixture sit for 30 minutes. This allows the acid in the juice to eat away at the mineral buildup.

How do I get rid of bacteria in my shower head? ›

Soaking In Vinegar

One of the top suggestions when it comes to cleaning your shower head is to do a vinegar soak. Vinegar helps to dissolve hard water spots, kill common bacteria, and cut through the grime that has built up from leaks or hard minerals in your water.

How do you remove hard water buildup from a shower head? ›

Experts from Better Homes and Gardens recommend filling a Ziplock bag with white vinegar and wrapping it around your shower head with a rubber band, allowing it to soak in the acidic liquid for an hour. Once you remove the bag, you can turn on the shower head to quickly rinse the vinegar off.

Can you leave a shower head in vinegar overnight? ›

Leave the showerhead to soak in the vinegar solution for at least 1-2 hours or overnight for severe buildup. The vinegar will break down the mineral deposits and limescale, making them easier to remove.

Should I soak my shower head in vinegar or bleach? ›

Immerse the showerhead completely in vinegar to dissolve the remaining limescale deposits. Make sure to not soak and clean your showerhead with bleach. In the CIRES showerhead study, researchers found that chlorine bleach increased the production of harmful bacteria in one of the showerheads studied.

How do you unblock a badly blocked shower? ›

Cup of baking soda and vinegar: You can easily unclog a drain using equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Try putting the soda down the drain first before you get the cup of vinegar and 'rinse' the drain of the shower with it. You can also leave the solution in the drain for a while and check back later.

How to fix a slow flowing shower head? ›

Most low-flow showerheads have a rubber pressure-reducing valve (called a regulator) to maintain a lower pressure. You can increase the flow by simply taking it out. You could also consider enlarging the hole that allows water into your showerhead with a drill to increase the amount of water coming through.

Why is water not coming out of my shower head? ›

Usually, this is a result of a build up of calcium or lime scale. These mineral deposits build up over time, accumulating on shower heads. This often clogs the water coming from the shower head causing lower water pressure or even an entire stoppage of water altogether.

What is the black stuff coming out of my shower head? ›

That slimy black gunk on your fixtures is likely oxidized manganese, a metal often found in trace amounts alongside iron in drinking water. Water can pick up both as it travels through soil and rock, but iron can also come from corroded pipes and plumbing made from galvanized steel.

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