How to Unclog a Shower Head

Does your showerhead appear grimy or have reduced water pressure? If so, you should probably learn how to unclog a shower head. Showerheads are prone to mineral, grime, and mold buildup like any pipe or fixture exposed to water. Minerals such as calcium in your faucet water crystallize inside the showerhead, blocking the nozzle and leading to poor water pressure.

A dirty showerhead gives you a poor-quality shower with unclean water. Luckily there’s no need to throw away your showerhead if you suspect it’s clogged. There’s a wide range of DIY methods for how to clean a blocked shower nozzle to save you money on an expensive replacement.

A showerhead is a vital part of the showering experience, and keeping it clean ensures you get the best flow of water and prolongs its life. Use simple hacks for unclogging a shower head and restore your shower equipment to optimum condition using everyday products.

Tips for How to Clean a Blocked Shower Nozzle

Don’t agonize over how to unclog a shower head. The massive array of products meant to clean and clear your showerhead overwhelms the task. Commercial showerhead cleaners typically contain toxic substances and come with many safety precautions.

Instead, use home remedies to keep unclogging a shower head safe and cost-efficient. Use baking soda to unclog a shower head or appliance; mix it with distilled white vinegar, a mixed cleaner, lemon juice, Dr. Bronner soap, or apple cider vinegar.

Why a Clean Shower Head Matters

Whether your showerhead is attached to a flexible hose or fixed on the shower arm, it must be clear of hard water deposits, limescale, or grime.

Any buildup inside the showerhead narrows the opening through which the water comes out, reducing the water flow and giving lower water pressure. Showering in water containing excess minerals or mold particles could result in breakouts and other skin issues.

You may notice a musty smell when mold is growing in the line. Follow our easy ways to fix a smelly shower drain and faucet when you suspect mildew in your bathroom.

If you have a flexible showerhead, unscrew it from the shower arm and put it in a bucket to soak in your chosen cleaning solution. For fixed showerheads that are not removable from the shower arm, transfer the cleaning mixture to a plastic bag and secure it over the showerhead with tape to clean it.

How to Unclog a Shower Head With Baking Soda

If you have a carton of baking soda in your pantry, you have everything you need to clean the inside and exterior of your showerhead to restore flow.

Baking soda is excellent for cleaning the rubber nozzles on your showerhead and any stainless steel parts, such as the flow restrictor. Baking soda cleans, deodorizes, and destroys mold spores due to its alkalinity.

Mix equal parts baking soda powder and hot water to craft a paste. Use an old toothbrush to smear this paste on the exterior of the showerhead, allow it to sit for an hour, then scrub and rinse it away. To clean the interior of your showerhead with baking soda, mix one cup of the baking soda powder with three cups of hot water and use it as a soak.

How to Clean a Blocked Shower Nozzle

Distilled white vinegar is the perfect ingredient to clear out a clogged shower hose. White vinegar contains acetic acid, a mild acid to destroy mold and break down grease and gunk inside the showerhead.

It’s vital to dilute distilled white vinegar before using it to avoid the acid corroding your showerhead as you clean. Mix vinegar and water to create a basic showerhead soaking liquid.

Depending on whether you have a removable or fixed showerhead, measure and add the vinegar and water to your bucket or plastic bag. Place the showerhead in the bucket, secure the bag over it, and leave it to soak for at least an hour. Remove the showerhead from the vinegar, wipe it off, rinse it well, and reattach it to your shower hose.

Mixed Cleaner for Unclogging a Shower Head

For heavy mineral buildup, combine the cleaning potential of baking soda and white cleaning vinegar to create an efficient fizzing cleaner. Distilled white vinegar and baking soda react in a bubbling fizzing action that loosens crusted-on minerals and heavy-duty grime. Both ingredients are food-grade and safe.

Pour the white vinegar, warm water, and baking soda into a bag or bucket. Submerge your showerhead in the cleaner; it begins to fizz when the ingredients are blended. Leave your showerhead in the mixed cleaner for up to three hours before removing it, wiping away the visible dirt, rinsing it, and rehanging it.

Cleaning a Blocked Shower Nozzle

Consider using lemon juice if you prefer a completely organic DIY shower head cleaner. Lemon juice, like all citrus fruits, contains citric acid. Citric acid gently cleans without corroding or causing damage to shower components.

The citric acid disintegrates the bonds holding mineral deposits, grease, and general filth inside your showerhead, so they rinse smoothly. Blend freshly squeezed or pre-squeezed lemon juice with warm water to make an organic shower head cleaner.

Stir the juice of four lemons or two cups of pre-squeezed juice into two cups of hot water to soak your shower head. Give the citric acid at least half an hour to work, and remove your shower head from the solution.

Wipe all accessible parts of your shower head with a soft microfiber cloth to remove visible crud, and rinse it under a hot faucet. Remount the head to the shower hose, check the water flow, and repeat the lemon juice cleaning if you feel blockages are still present.

Dr Bronner Soap Fixes a Clogged Shower Head

Dr. Bronner soap is an excellent mild detergent to rinse out clogged shower heads. This soap has ample cleaning power without being harsh or damaging to your bathroom equipment. You can also use bar soap dissolved in a small amount of water instead. Pick up some liquid Dr. Bronner soap at your local cleaning or hardware store.

Dr. Bronner soap is pure Castile soap; it’s safe for the skin, harmless to pets, and suitable for various cleaning tasks. The soap is antibacterial and kills germs by removing filth from the inside of your showerhead.

Blend one part Dr. Bronner soap with three parts hot water to make a convenient showerhead soak. This liquid is also ideal for cleaning the bathroom fixtures, such as faucets, bathtub, and shower glass. Soak your showerhead in the soap solution for one hour to overnight. Remove the fixture, rinse it in warm water, and reinstall it on your shower hose.

Apple Cider Vinegar Shower Head Cleaner

Apple cider vinegar is an entirely natural showerhead cleaner that contains no harmful substances. Like other vinegar, apple cider vinegar contains natural acetic acid, which dissolves mold spores and hard water buildup to leave the interior of your showerhead clean and clear.

Raw apple cider vinegar is less caustic than white vinegar and requires no dilution to be safe for your shower hardware.

Put enough apple cider vinegar into a plastic bag or cleaning pail to submerge your showerhead fully. Allow the showerhead to rest in the vinegar for at least two hours before removing it, scrubbing the exterior gently with a soft scrub brush, and rinsing it clean.

Dry the showerhead with a clean towel and reattach it to the shower if required.

Commercial Cleaners for Your Showerhead

If you don’t have time to craft a DIY cleaning solution to remove mineral deposit buildup inside your showerhead, purchase a premade showerhead cleaning product. Visit your neighborhood hardware store and select a cleaner appropriate for the type of showerhead you use. Look for a cleaner suitable for stainless steel, plastic, or resin, as applicable.

Choose a product such as CLR Calcium Lime and Rust Remover, designed to cut through stubborn limescale and clear water passages inside your showerhead. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions while using a commercial showerhead cleaner, and heed the safety warnings.

If you are unsure about the cleaner for your showerhead, perform a small test patch to ensure no damage occurs before making a widespread application.

Do you better understand how to clean a blocked shower nozzle? A clogged showerhead leads to dirty shower water, poor pressure, and interrupted flow. Bathing in clean water is essential for personal hygiene, and a clean showerhead lasts longer and gives you a better experience.

Save money by creating your own cleaners to unclog and sanitize your showerhead without turning to toxic substances. Rely on pantry and kitchen items to eliminate hard water deposits and clear grime to restore your showerhead to optimal function.

Most people struggle with unclogging a shower head at some point, so if you enjoyed this helpful article, save your family and friends the trouble of figuring out how to unclog a shower head by sharing it with them on Pinterest and Facebook.