Plumber's Easy Method: How to Remove Stubborn Limescale from Your Showerhead

Written by Henrik Rothen

Dec.10 - 2023 5:15 PM CET

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How to Remove Stubborn Limescale from Your Showerhead.

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When showerheads spray unevenly or are covered in limescale deposits, it's a cry for help. While cleaning the bathroom is often on most people's cleaning tasks, removing limescale deposits on showerheads is often not included.

With this in mind, households may be surprised to discover that showerheads can harbor a lot of bacteria. Minerals like limescale in the water will build up over time and create a breeding ground for harmful organisms. Moreover, considering that the bathroom is usually a warm and humid environment, it's easy to see how bacteria and mold can multiply quickly.

Fortunately, experts at PlumbWorld have shared how to get showerheads to "shine and sparkle as long as possible" with a simple kitchen ingredient.

According to DenOffentlige, they said,

"A sign that your showerhead is dirty is when water sprays out in all directions except downwards. This is because the holes the water flows through are clogged with limescale deposits." To clean showerheads, a "simple homemade solution" is to use white vinegar. This can be done in just four easy steps.

Here's How to Do It

Start by removing the showerhead from the shower arm and placing it in a bucket, bowl, bag, or large pan. If your showerhead is attached to the wall, you may not be able to do this step.

However, there are still ways to clean your showerhead regardless. If you can remove it from the hose, make sure to keep any washers, as these will be essential to prevent leaks when you reassemble everything.

Fill the chosen container with vinegar, hot or cold will work fine, and disassemble the showerhead as much as possible – such as removing the front. If using hot vinegar, the showerhead should be soaked for 30 minutes at a time; otherwise, soak it overnight in cold vinegar.

The next day, you should have a clean showerhead, but scrub it with a toothbrush or a fine brush to make sure the limescale deposits are removed.

For those with a fixed showerhead that cannot be removed, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it securely with a rubber band around the showerhead, ensuring it is fully submerged. Then, like the previous method, let it soak overnight. The next day, turn on the shower to see if the water flows evenly and downwards.