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How to descale a shower head – quickly
Proper shower head cleaning – for a bathroom that always smells fresh
Do you live in a hard water region? If so, you’re probably familiar with the need for shower head cleaning, due to it becoming increasingly calcified and clogged over time. The main reason for this is the dissolved calcium and magnesium ions in the water, which form limescale and insoluble lime deposits over time. These deposits mainly settle in areas where a lot of water flows, for example on the shower head. Not only are these limescale deposits visually unattractive, they also gradually restrict the shower head’s nozzles, to the point that it no longer functions properly. In addition, microorganisms and bacteria can build up on rough surfaces. You should therefore remove limescale from your shower head regularly, which with our handy hints is (almost) a piece of cake. All you need are the right household remedies and a little patience.
Remove limescale with baking powder
One of the oldest household remedies to remove limescale from shower head can be found in (almost) every kitchen cupboard: Baking powder, which is normally used to make sponge cakes and pastries light and airy. The sodium bicarbonate in baking powder dissolves the limescale, ensuring a clean, hygienic and perfectly functioning shower head.
How to descale a shower head with baking powder:
Unscrew the shower head and place it in a sufficiently large plastic or ceramic bowl.
Pour enough warm water into the bowl to completely cover all the nozzles.
Next, dissolve a sachet of baking powder in a glass of warm water and add the solution to the bowl.
Swirl the shower head back and forth in the water so that the dissolved baking powder can work its way into even the smallest of nozzles.
Leave the shower head in the bowl for a few hours, or preferably overnight, to dissolve the limescale.
Rinse the showerhead thoroughly with clear water. If any deposits remain, wipe them off with a damp cloth. Reattach the showerhead and let hot water run for a few seconds to flush out any leftover residue.
Not just clean, but completely hygienic with vinegar
Vinegar removes limescale and disinfects
Another tried and tested household remedy allowing you to remove limescale stains and deposits is vinegar. Both classic table vinegar and vinegar essence contain acetic acid, which not only dissolves limescale, but also has an antibacterial and disinfectant effect.
How to descale a shower head with vinegar
-Take a sufficiently large freezer bag and place the unscrewed shower head inside.
-Then, fill the freezer bag with undiluted vinegar or a mixture of five parts water and one part vinegar essence.
-Close the bag tightly around the handle of the shower head with a rubber band or a piece of string.
-After about half an hour, most of the limescale will have dissolved. For more stubborn limescale, you can let the vinegar soak for up to two hours.
-After this, remove the shower head from the vinegar and rinse it thoroughly in clear water.
Citric acid even dissolves stubborn limescale
Remove limescale with household remedies or citric acid
Cleaning with baking powder or vinegar is very gentle on the material, but is rather time-consuming. A quicker way is to use citric acid, which you can buy as a powder from any hardware shop. Please always follow the dosage and safety instructions on the packaging when using it.
How to clean a shower head: 6 steps for using citric acid
Citric acid is corrosive, so protect your hands with gloves or wash off any residue of the cleaning agent immediately with plenty of water to prevent skin irritation.
Place the unscrewed shower head in a bowl of water. The water should completely cover the shower head.
Dissolve a level teaspoon of citric acid in a little cold water and add the mixture to the bowl.
Swirl the shower head back and forth so that the acid can reach every part of it.
As citric acid is considerably more potent than baking powder, allowing it to sit for 15 to 45 minutes will effectively descale the showerhead.
Rinse the showerhead under plenty of clear water and let enough water run through it to flush out the acid from the inside.
Caution: Citric acid can corrode materials
Keep in mind that citric acid is very potent. You should therefore first perform a spot test on an inconspicuous area to check it does not damage the material. If it does, go with baking powder or vinegar to descale your shower head.