How to Clean the Showerhead with Vinegar

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

Last Updated: January 24, 2024 Approved

If your showerhead is clogged with years of mineral deposit build-up, it may need a thorough cleansing. Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals which may not only damage your showerhead, but may also be harmful to your health, try using vinegar instead. Read this article to learn two simple ways of cleaning your showerhead using vinegar and water.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning Removable Showerheads

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1
Gather your supplies. One way to clean your showerhead is by taking it off the pipe and soaking it in vinegar. If you are unable to remove your showerhead, or if you simply do not want to, then click here. Here is what you will need for this method:
- Pot, bucket, or other container large enough to fit the showerhead
- Distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar^{[1]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Raymond Chiu
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
- Wrench and old rag (optional)
- An old toothbrush
- Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel
If you are having difficulties twisting it, try wrapping an old rag around the connecting nut, and then twisting it with a wrench. The rag will help protect the surface of your showerhead.^{[2]
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Research source}

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Consider using a smaller container that just about fits the showerhead; this way, you will use less vinegar. You can also use a small bucket or plastic bin.
The acids in the vinegar will help dissolve the white mineral deposits on the showerhead.
5
Let the showerhead soak in the vinegar for 1 hour or overnight.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.} The more soiled the showerhead is, the longer you will have to leave it in the vinegar.
- If you are in a hurry, and if the showerhead is made from metal, you can place the pot on the stove and simmer the vinegar for 15 minutes.
- If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel finish, take it out after 30 minutes.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} You can always give it another vinegar bath once you have rinsed it off.
You should see the mineral deposits flaking off.
^{[5]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.} Focus on the base where the holes are; this is where the most mineral buildup will be. Gently scrub the brush over any residue and rinse with cool water. Keep doing this until all of the residue is gone.
^{[6]
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Research source} You can use a microfiber cloth or even a piece of flannel. Gently wipe the showerhead with the cloth until it is completely dry and there are no water spots.^{[7]
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Wrap some plumbing tape counterclockwise around the threaded part of the wall pipe, then screw the showerhead back on.^{[8]
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This will flush out any residue that the toothbrush did not get.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cleaning Non-Removable Showerheads

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1
Gather your supplies. If you cannot remove your showerhead, you can still soak it using vinegar and a plastic bag. Here is what you will need:
- A plastic bag large enough to fit over your showerhead
- A piece of string or a twist tie
- Distilled white vinegar
- An old toothbrush
- Soft cloth, such as microfiber or flannel
Do not fill it all the way, or the vinegar will pour out when you try to put the showerhead into it.
Hold the bag under the showerhead and pull it open. Slowly bring it upwards until it is covering the showerhead and the showerhead is in the vinegar.
You can do this by holding the top of the bag tightly around the neck of the showerhead, and then tying a piece of string or a twist tie tightly around it. Carefully let go of the bag and make sure that it won't fall off before stepping away.
The dirtier your showerhead is, the longer it will have to soak. If the showerhead is made from brass, or has a gold or nickel coating, then take the bag off after 30 minutes. You can always repeat the process after you have rinsed the showerhead.
Hold the bag with one hand and carefully untie it with the other. Tip the bag over and empty out the vinegar. Be careful not to let the vinegar splash into your eyes.
This will flush out any mineral deposits that might be stuck inside the showerhead.
Focus on the base of the showerhead, where the water comes out, as this is the area that will get the most buildup. Turn the water back on again to flush more residue out. Keep scrubbing the showerhead and turning the water on until you cannot see anymore mineral residue.
You can use a microfiber cloth or a piece of flannel. Gently buff the surface of the showerhead with the cloth until it is dry and you can no longer see any water spots.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can baking soda clean a showerhead?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the owner of Maid Sailors Cleaning Service, offering affordable residential and office cleaning services. Since its founding in 2014 in New York City, Maid Sailors has expanded to several cities, including Boston, Chicago, and Austin. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and best cleaning services in the industry.

Raymond Chiu

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Try adding 1/2 cup (115 g) of baking soda to the apple cider vinegar for additional cleaning power.

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Question

This didn't work for me. I tried over and over but it just made a mess! Can you help me?

Community Answer

Don't use baking soda. Sometimes it will clump up if there's water in your showerhead. Just use the vinegar. It's the best way. If you need to, flush out the showerhead with hot water and repeat the process until it's clean. It may take a few times if you have mineral build up. It's especially bad with well water.

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Question

Can I use vinegar if the holes have a rubber cover?

1ms6

Community Answer

No, vinegar will only clean the metallic holes. What you can do is remove the shower head and then clean it with pipe cleaners dipped in a toilet cleaner.

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Tips

If there's a tough spot that plain vinegar won't remove, try scrubbing it with a paste made from 2 tablespoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar.^{[9]
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Research source} This is not recommended for showerheads with delicate finishes; the salt may scratch the finish.

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If you simply cannot stand the smell of vinegar, consider opening a window or turning a fan on. You can also mix in a little bit of lemon juice.^{[10]
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Soaking the showerhead in a bag filled with vinegar works best on showerhead made from chrome, stainless steel, and other metal surfaces.^{[11]
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Warnings

If your bath or shower has marble in it, use extreme caution when using the vinegar. Vinegar can destroy marble surfaces.^{[12]
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Be careful when using vinegar on gold, brass, or nickel finishes. Do not leave showerheads made from these metals in vinegar for longer than 30 minutes.^{[13]
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