Renovations
How to: Clean your shower head
How to: Clean your shower head
Renovations
How to: Clean your shower head
Has your
bathroom shower pressure gone from surging to spitting? Your
shower head might be partially blocked by mineral deposits. Many Canadian households use hard water, which includes a significant concentration of various ions that accumulate over time to form crusts on shower heads. Follow these easy steps to restore yours.
Illustration by Emilie Simpson
Blocked shower head
1 Find a durable plastic bag that’s totally free of holes and large enough to fit over the entire shower head. Fill it about halfway with undiluted white vinegar. Feed the bag over the head and use a thick rubber band to secure it in place. Let soak overnight.
2 Carefully remove and discard the plastic bag and its contents. Using a toothbrush, give the face of the shower head a good scrub, ensuring you get into each of the holes and any nooks and crannies.
3 Turn the water on to full flow to flush out any remaining deposits. Use a wet cloth to wipe away any leftover vinegar from the fixture.
4 Test the water pressure by taking a long, relaxing shower.
Heavy duty cleaning tips
If you’re in a time crunch or have a really bad case of mineral deposit clogging, turn to a heavy hitter like CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust cleaner. It’ll loosen up that crusting in minutes. Follow the same steps as our solution but using a half-and-half mixture of CLR and hot water instead. CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust cleaner, available at mass retailers, $10.
Lead image by Getty Images.
Illustration by Emilie Simpson
Blocked shower head
1 Find a durable plastic bag that’s totally free of holes and large enough to fit over the entire shower head. Fill it about halfway with undiluted white vinegar. Feed the bag over the head and use a thick rubber band to secure it in place. Let soak overnight.
2 Carefully remove and discard the plastic bag and its contents. Using a toothbrush, give the face of the shower head a good scrub, ensuring you get into each of the holes and any nooks and crannies.
3 Turn the water on to full flow to flush out any remaining deposits. Use a wet cloth to wipe away any leftover vinegar from the fixture.
4 Test the water pressure by taking a long, relaxing shower.
Heavy duty cleaning tips
If you’re in a time crunch or have a really bad case of mineral deposit clogging, turn to a heavy hitter like CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust cleaner. It’ll loosen up that crusting in minutes. Follow the same steps as our solution but using a half-and-half mixture of CLR and hot water instead. CLR Calcium, Lime & Rust cleaner, available at mass retailers, $10.
Lead image by Getty Images.
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