7 Easy Ways to Get a Sparkling, Rust-Free Shower Head

Co-authored by Fabricio Ferraz

Last Updated: July 9, 2024 Approved

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It’s important to clean your shower head because mineral deposits from water build up in the holes of the shower head. These minerals will clog your shower head and prevent water from flowing to its full potential. ^{[1]
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Research source} There are a few different ways to clean your shower head, but they all involve vinegar, which will free up the minerals and clean your shower head best.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Submerging the Shower Head in Vinegar

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Check the instruction manual of your shower if you do not know how to do this. Many shower heads will simply twist off, but yours may be different. If you have recently installed a new shower head, and it has a warranty, make sure you handle it according to package instructions.
2
Pour white vinegar in a tub. Find a container or tub large enough to fully submerge your disconnected shower head. Pour enough white vinegar into the tub to completely immerse your shower head.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Fabricio Ferraz
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.}
- Vinegar is a very eco-friendly cleaning option.^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Andrii Gurskyi
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 11 April 2019.}
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You should pour in about ⅓ of a cup of baking soda for every cup of vinegar that you pour into the tub. The solution should bubble.
Completely immerse your shower head in the tub of vinegar. Make sure that it will stay submerged for at least an hour.
Leave your shower head soaking in the vinegar. You can also leave your shower head there overnight, if you want more of a deep clean.^{[4]
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Research source}
Pour water from the sink onto your shower head. Rinse off the excess vinegar and wipe clean with a cloth.
Allow a strong stream of water to go through the pipe attachment into the nozzle. Let it run for 30 seconds.
Turn on your shower. Let your shower run for a few minutes to get rid of any vinegar that might still be inside the shower head.^{[5]
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Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Spot Cleaning the Shower Head

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Check the instruction manual of your shower if you do not know how to do this. Many showers will simply twist off from the neck of the shower, but some are different. If you have recently installed a new shower head, and it has a warranty, make sure you handle it according to package instructions.
2
Dip a toothbrush or a soft rag in white vinegar.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Andrii Gurskyi
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 11 April 2019.} Scrub your shower head with the toothbrush. Pay special attention to the small holes that water flows through. You can also use a rag to clean the shower head.^{[7]
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Research source}
- If you don't have white vinegar, just wet the toothbrush with water and scrub the shower head with it.^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Fabricio Ferraz
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.}
- A scrub brush can also work well for this.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Andrii Gurskyi
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 11 April 2019.}
After you’re done cleaning, douse the shower head in water to get rid of excess vinegar and minerals. Do not worry too much about the vinegar smell. It will go away with time.
Run the shower for a few minutes. Make sure that the shower head is reattached correctly. Run it until the water coming out of the shower does not smell like vinegar anymore.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Attaching a Bag of Vinegar to the Shower Head

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You should pour in enough to completely cover the shower head when you tie the bag onto the shower. Make sure that the bag is free of holes and can support the weight of the vinegar for an extended period of time.^{[10]
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Research source}
You should pour in about ⅓ of a cup of baking soda for every cup of vinegar that you pour into the tub. The solution should bubble.
Hold the plastic bag open in your hands. Raise it up to the shower head so that the shower head is completely submerged.
You can use a zip tie, a rubber band, or even a hair elastic. Make sure that the bag is tied such that you can let go without the bag falling.
You can also leave the bag of vinegar overnight for a deeper clean. The more time you leave the shower head soaking, the cleaner it will get.^{[11]
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Throw away the vinegar and the plastic bag. Run the shower for a few minutes, until it does not smell like vinegar anymore. Your shower should be cleaner and run more efficiently!^{[12]
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Research source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Trying Other Cleaning Methods

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1
Use a lime scale remover. Try brands like CLR or Simple Green. Follow the instructions on the product itself to remove mineral deposits from the shower head.
- You can use a green product like Method Daily Shower to clean the showerhead daily.^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Fabricio Ferraz
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.}
- It is not harmful even if it comes in contact with the skin.^{[14]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Fabricio Ferraz
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 16 August 2019.}
If your shower head is rusty, use a rust removing agent, such as Bar Keeper’s Friend, to wipe off rust stains. Use a toothbrush or a scouring pad for persistent rust.
Use a basic cleaning agent, such as 409 or Scrubbing Bubbles, to clean the exterior of your shower head. Spray the solution on a cloth or toothbrush (for the hard to reach places) and clean by hand.
4
Clean the filter screen. Cleaning the filter screen is another method of clearing mineral deposits. The filter screen is behind your shower head, near the pipe.
- Take the showerhead off of the wall. Every shower head is different, but many can be screwed off the wall using your hands or household tools. Find or look up the instruction manual for your particular showerhead if you are having trouble.
- Remove the filter screen. The filter screen is typically located on the part of the shower that connects to the pipe. It is usually fairly small and circular.
- Clean the filter screen. Run it under running water for a few minutes. Scrub it with a toothbrush. Make sure all debris is gone from the filter screen.
- Replace the filter screen. Put it back when you put the shower head back onto the shower. Consult the instruction manual for your shower if you are having trouble determining how to do this.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How often should you clean a shower head?

Fabricio Ferraz
House Cleaning Professional
Fabricio Ferraz is the Co-Owner and Operator of Hire a Cleaning. Hire a Cleaning is a family owned and operated business that has been serving San Francisco, California homes for over 10 years.

Fabricio Ferraz

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Try to get in the habit of wiping down the shower head with a cleaner every day.

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Question

How do you get rid of orange water stains in your shower?

Andrii Gurskyi
House Cleaning Professional
Andrii Gurskyi is the owner and founder of Rainbow Cleaning Service, a New York City cleaning company specializing in apartments, homes, and moving cleanup using non-toxic and artificial fragrance free cleaning solutions. Founded in 2010, Andrii and Rainbow Cleaning Service has served over 35,000 customers.

Andrii Gurskyi

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Scrub down the stains with a mixture of white vinegar and hot water. This won't always work 100%, but it's definitely the most eco-friendly option. You can also tackle the stains with a chlorine bleach solution—just be sure to air out the room afterward.

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