Shower Head Cleaning

You wake up early in the morning to get ready for work or school. You've always wanted to start your day a bit earlier than usual, to get all the chores at home finished, so that nothing is pending once you return. You step into the shower, turn on the shower and find out that the water pressure has reduced a bit. The nozzle is open till the far end but not enough water is coming through the shower head. What could be the problem causing such an odd thing? There could be many possible reasons, but one simple thing that many of us can overlook is shower head cleaning. The head of the shower can get clogged after few years due to mineral deposits in the water. The tiny holes get congested due to lime deposits and reduce the flow of water. Hence, cleaning a shower head becomes very important, and that too, as soon as possible. Before the shower head finds a way to get more clogged and pose as a major issue, let's start cleaning the shower head without the use of harsh chemicals.

Tips to Clean Shower Heads

If the area you live in provides you with hard water, this problem will occur more so than often. Sometimes, instead of the water coming straight out and down on you, it will start to spray in every direction. Whether you are cleaning shower head as per a normal household cleaning job or trying to get rid of the clogs, here's a sure shot solution on how to clean shower heads.

Cleaning Plastic Shower Heads
For a regular shower head (no matter what shape or size it is), unscrew it before cleaning. To loosen the shower head, place a cloth on top of any chrome or plastic parts, so that it doesn't get scratch marks. Heat some vinegar, don't boil it, and pour it in a clean, deep container with equal parts of hot water (size of the container will depend on how big or small the shower head is). Wear rubber hand gloves and open the bathroom door and windows for good ventilation. Now keep the head in the warm vinegar and let it soak for at least 12 hours. Vinegar is one of the best cleaning solution. After the allotted time has passed, check the holes on the head. If you still find that it's clogged, use a thin wire to poke inside each hole. Rinse the shower head with hot water. You can also use an old toothbrush to scrub the mildew from the inside.

Cleaning Gold or Brass Shower Heads
Many shower heads are now made of gold or brass finishing and are coated so that they are protected from getting oxidized. Any kind of abrasion or scrub will ruin the finish of the shower head. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar. Wear rubber gloves and open the bathroom door and windows for good ventilation. To begin, spray the vinegar directly on the holes and let it sit for about 15 minutes. If the clog still remains, repeat the same method again. Make sure that the soaking time for the gold or brass shower heads does not exceed 30 minutes at a time. If the time does exceed, the finish might get ruined.

If you don't wish to remove the shower head for cleaning, pour equal parts of vinegar and water in a plastic bag and tie it around the head. Let it soak overnight and follow the same cleaning process as mentioned above. Cleaning the shower heads does not demand too much hassle, but will require some patience and time.