How To Clean A Shower Head With Vinegar–A Detailed Guide

Having a clogged and dirty shower head in the home is equal to receiving a bad, unhealthy, and unhygienic shower every day. This not only makes you sick but also affects your skin and hair drastically. 

There are only two ways to get out of it. Either you have to purchase a new showerhead or clean the current one to say no more to shower abuse.

Believe me; the second one is the best choice because purchasing a new one will only break your bank and nothing more. If you can make the most out of your old partner, then why not!

You just need the right guidance on how to clean a shower head with vinegar, and that’s what I bring to you here. 

Below this article, I will unveil magical cleaning hacks using vinegar that bring your shower head back to its former glory in no time. 

We have mentioned two methods for cleaning shower heads with Vinegar, i.e., plastic bag and bowl and bucket method. You can choose the one that suits you best.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

7 Easy Steps To Clean A Shower Head Using Vinegar (Plastic Bag Method)

Using a plastic bag method is simply the best and easiest way to clean the showerhead with vinegar. In this method, you won’t have to separate your shower head from a fixture, ensuring simple and hassle-free cleaning. 

Read on to learn how to do it.

How To Clean A Shower Head With Vinegar and a pic demonstrating how a vinegar looks like

Required Things

First, you have to gather some important things that will help make your task a low-hanging fruit. These things are mentioned below:

  • Plastic Bag
  • Vinegar
  • Piece of string
  • Old Toothbrush

Step 1: Fill The Plastic Bag with Vinegar

Take a plastic bag and fill it partway with vinegar. Remember not to overfill the bag, or it could split out when you submerge the showerhead in it.

Step 2: Cover the ShowerHead with Vinegar Plastic Bag

Now, you have to cover the showerhead with the Vinegar Bag carefully. Make sure each and every side of the fixture is fully immersed in the vinegar. If you need to adjust the vinegar level, do it now.

Step 3: Fasten The Bag Using The String

To make sure vinegar won’t make its way outside the bag when you leave it, you must tie it up using the string. Fasten the bag from all sides with a strong grip on the string. Remember not to do it harshly, as it can affect the showerhead material. You can use anything besides the string that you think can serve the same purpose more effectively. 

Step 4: Leave The Shower Head

Let your shower head enjoy some soaking until it doesn’t get rid of dirt, grime, and mineral deposits. You could leave it for some hours (2 to 3 hours, to be exact) or even overnight if the showerhead was extremely gross and dirty.

Remember, if you have a brass, gold, or nickel-coated shower head, don’t soak it for more than 30 minutes. Any longer than this could result in damaging the shower furnish and glossy look.

Step 5: Remove The Bag From Shower Head

After the soaking process is complete, it’s time to remove the bag from the showerhead. Untie the string carefully and let your showerhead enjoy some fresh air. You will be surprised to see your shower back in its previous glory. 

After that, run the showerhead under hot water for a minute to flush out mineral deposits stuck inside it.

Step 6: Scrub The Shower Head using a Toothbrush

For more effective cleaning results, scrub the whole fixture, especially the nozzles, with an old toothbrush. Run it again under the flow of the hot water to clean more residue. Repeat the process until you no longer see dirt particles.

Lastly, rinse the showerhead with a piece of soft cloth to make it look even more fresh and new. 

5 Best Steps To Clean Your Shower Head With Vinegar (Bowl or Bucket Method)

In the above method, you may have cleaned the shower head from the outside, but it won’t get any effective results from the inside. To make it do so, you can follow this method for a more detailed and thorough cleaning of the showerhead.

Required Things:

Obviously, you need some tools that can help make your process a piece of cake. Below are their names:

  • Bowl or Bucket
  • Wrench
  • Vinegar
  • Old ToothBrush
  • Piece of cloth

Step 1: Take Apart Your Shower Head From Fixture:

First, you’ve to remove the showerhead from the fixture. To do that, use the wrench to unscrew the connecting nut by twisting it in an anticlockwise direction. Don’t forget to cover the shower head with a piece of cloth in order to protect it from any damage. 

Step 2: Fill The Bowl Or Bucket With Vinegar:

The next step comes with filling the bowl and bucket with vinegar. Fill the bowl as much as you think can result in soaking the shower head all the way.

Step 3: Soak the Shower Head in Vinegar Bowl And Leave It: 

Place the showerhead in the vinegar bowl and let it soak for a while. Leave it for 2 or 3 hours unless the shower is brass, gold, and nickel coated. In that case, soak it for no more than 30 minutes. 

Step 4: Rinse The Shower Head With Piece Of Cloth:

Take out the showerhead from the bowl and wash it under a running stream of water. After that, scrub it with the old toothbrush to get more effective cleaning results. Once each mineral deposit is removed, rinse the showerhead with a piece of cloth for a finished and glossy look.

Step 5: Re-install The Shower Head:

Now, reinstall the shower head by following the reverse of the removing method mentioned above. Once the showerhead is installed, run the water back on it to flush out any remaining residue. Your showerhead is ready to give you a spa-like and comfortable shower experience. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should You Soak Your Shower Head In Vinegar?

How long you should soak your shower head in vinegar depends on your shower head’s material. If it’s made of steel or iron, soaking it for 2 to 3 hours or overnight will cause no damage. On the other hand, if you’ve brass, gold, or nickel-coated showerhead, then soaking them in vinegar for more than 30 minutes could damage their glossy look. So, for these types of showerheads, take extra care and remove them after half an hour from vinegar.

Will Vinegar Damage Chrome Shower Heads?

Yes, Vinegar will damage the chrome-coated shower heads if you soak them in vinegar for a long period of time. Showers made up of these materials are sensitive and can’t resist acidic material like vinegar for an extended time. So, when cleaning these showerheads with vinegar, don’t soak them for more than 30 minutes. Otherwise, they will lose their finish and glossy appearance.

How To Clean a Shower Head Without Vinegar?

There are many other methods to clean shower heads without vinegar. These include Baking Soda Method, Using CLR Method, Using Apple Cider Vinegar, etc.

Final Words:

There is no second opinion that vinegar is the best and easiest way to bring the showerhead back to its former glory. It’s a perfect method to get your showerhead rid of grime, dirt particles, or mineral deposits and a reason to bring a smile to your face to see your showerhead performing as it did when it was new.

We describe the two best methods of cleaning the showerhead using Vinegar, i.e., a plastic bag and a bowl or bucket. Choose the one you think is easy and will work best for you. If you like this article, check other interesting posts on my blog.

Read More: How to Clean A Shower Head Legionella (Do this Now Before It Gets Late)

Hey there, I'm Abdul Moeed Shahid, the DIY aficionado and experienced writer. With a wealth of knowledge gained from years of honing my craft, I bring my expertise to the world of DIY and home improvement projects.

Leave a Comment