How to Clean the Showerhead with Vinegar

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

Last Updated: June 29, 2021 References 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

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
2
Remove the showerhead by twisting it counterclockwise. 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]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Put the showerhead into a pot. 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.
4
Fill the pot with enough white vinegar to cover the showerhead. 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]
X
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.
6
Take the showerhead out of the pot and rinse it. You should see the mineral deposits flaking off.
7
Scrub away any residue using an old toothbrush.^{[5]
X
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.
8
Use a soft cloth to polish the showerhead.^{[6]
X
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]
X
Research source}
9
Put the showerhead back onto the wall pipe. Wrap some plumbing tape counterclockwise around the threaded part of the wall pipe, then screw the showerhead back on.^{[8]
X
Research source}
10
Turn the water on in your shower for a few moments. This will flush out any residue that the toothbrush did not get.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cleaning Non-Removable Showerheads

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
2
Fill the bag partway with vinegar. Do not fill it all the way, or the vinegar will pour out when you try to put the showerhead into it.
3
Place the bag over the showerhead. 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.
4
Secure the bag to the showerhead with a piece of string or twist tie. 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.
5
Let the showerhead soak for 30 minutes to overnight. 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.
6
Remove the bag. 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.
7
Turn on the water for a few moments, then turn it off. This will flush out any mineral deposits that might be stuck inside the showerhead.
8
Scrub the showerhead using an old toothbrush, then turn the water back on. 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.
9
Turn the water off and polish the showerhead with a soft cloth. 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

Question

Can baking soda clean a showerhead?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.

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.
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.
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.

Warnings

If your bath or shower has marble in it, use extreme caution when using the vinegar. Vinegar can destroy marble surfaces.^{[12]
X
Research source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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]
X
Research source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0