How To Clean Your Shower Head And How Often You Should Do It?

 

Think back to the last time that you cleaned your bathroom. You probably scrubbed the toilet, wiped down the tile, mopped the floors, and cleaned the sinks. Did you touch your shower head? For the majority of us, that answer is no. But here's why that needs to change.  

Why You Should Regularly Clean Your Shower Head

 

It's easy to see how cleaning your shower head can become an afterthought. Mostly because, unlike dirty bathtubs, shower heads do not readily show you just how filthy they are on the inside. Mineral deposits and organic matter build up over time and can clog the holes preventing an even flow of water. If you are noticing a sudden decrease in water pressure or irregular spray patterns, then it is likely your shower head could use a good cleaning. 

 

 

If that’s not enough reason for you, then consider the health factors. Being in a hot, humid environment, shower heads are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and other germs. Slime from an uncleaned shower head protects irritants from getting flushed out by the chlorine in the water.

A study by the University of Colorado Boulder discovered that an alarming 30% of shower heads showed significant levels of Mycobacterium Avium, a pathogen linked with pulmonary disease. It was also found that Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia favors the black gunk that can gather around shower heads and taps, a bacillus causing infections in growing frequency. Turning on your hot shower disperses these microbes into the air and makes them more easily inhaled.

Suggested Research: Buy Metal over Plastic Shower Heads

The lead study author goes on to say, since plastic showerheads appear to "load up" with more pathogen-enriched biofilms, metal showerheads may be a good alternative.

At The Shower Head Store, we have an entire category of Solid Metal Shower Heads to choose from.

Here's our Best Selling Metal Shower Heads:

 

 

How Do Shower Heads Get Dirty? 

To fix the problem, it is often best to try and understand its genesis. Shower heads get dirty through a number of methods: 

• An accumulation of tiny amounts of various organic matter that is found in our water
• An accumulation of tiny bits of debris that is found in our water
• An accumulation of mineral and slime that is found in our water 

The common factor in all of these are the water. Unfortunately, there is no getting around it. Whether you are using city water or well water, there are going to be small things on the microscopic level that get through. And for the most part it is harmless, as long as we are making sure that we regularly clean our shower heads.

 

What Not to Do

Vinegar Soaks

You may have seen vinegar recommended for cleaning shower heads — we no longer advise it. Vinegar is acidic, and soaking your shower head in it can dull or damage the finish over time. Stick to the gentle, finish-safe steps below.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is abrasive enough to scratch your shower head's finish, especially our coated finishes. It's fine on tile and grout, but keep it off the shower head itself.

Bleach

While your first reaction may to reach for the bleach, resist. Scientists found that using a bleach solution to clean shower heads actually increased certain bacteria’s percentage in shower heads three-fold! There are safer, non-toxic methods to clean with that will ultimately prove more effective.

Commercial Products

It may be equally as tempting to scour the supermarket for a chemical remedy, but that may not be in your best interest. Harsh chemicals may damage your shower head and are not recommended for cleaning by most manufacturers.

Coarse Brushes & Toothbrushes

Often brute strength seems like the answer — a rough nylon brush or an old toothbrush and some elbow grease. Resist the urge. Brushes vary in coarseness and can scratch or wear down a finish, and our coated finishes (like Oil-Rubbed Bronze and Matte Black) are especially vulnerable. Keep brushes off the finish entirely — a toothpick or small nozzle brush on the silicone nozzles is the only exception.

 

How to Clean Your Shower Head 

The procedure to clean your shower heads will greatly depend on the kind of shower head you have installed as well as the amount of debris that has accumulated. So, how do you clean your shower head? 

 

1. Rub the Nozzles Clean 

Our shower heads use soft, flexible silicone nozzles, so the quickest fix is to massage each nozzle with your fingertip under running water. That's usually enough to dislodge mineral buildup and restore an even spray. If it isn't quite enough, don't reach for a toothbrush — the next step covers a finish-safe way to clear a deeper clog.

 

2. Clear Stubborn Buildup

If massaging the nozzles by hand doesn't fully restore the spray, you've likely got a deeper clog. Because our nozzles are soft, flexible silicone, you can clear them without any harsh chemicals:

Use a toothpick: Gently work a toothpick into any clogged nozzle to push out the mineral buildup. This is the easiest fix for a single stubborn hole.

Use a small nozzle brush: For several clogged nozzles, a small cleaning brush sized to fit the holes (they're roughly 0.9–1.2 mm across) works well. Brushes in this size are easy to find on Amazon. Keep the brush to the nozzles only — never use a brush on the finish.

Soak in plain warm water: For widespread buildup, soak the shower head in plain warm water for an hour to loosen deposits, then massage the nozzles again. Plain water only — never anything acidic.

3. Wipe Down the Finish

Cleaning the nozzles keeps your spray strong; wiping the finish keeps it looking its best. About once a month, wipe the shower head with a soft microfiber cloth and warm water — a single drop of mild dish soap is fine if you need it. A few notes by finish:

• Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, Oil-Rubbed Bronze and HammerHead Gray (Gun Metal) have a proprietary surface coating that resists water spotting, so they need even less attention. Skip chemical or degreasing cleaners, which can strip that coating over time.
• Chrome, Polished Brass and Brushed Gold are uncoated, so they show water spots more easily — just dry them with the microfiber after wiping. (Polished brass also develops a natural patina over time, which is normal.)
• On any brushed finish, wipe in the direction of the grain.

How Often Should You Clean Your Shower Head?

Experts advise giving your shower head a thorough cleaning about once a month. Beyond that, just massage the nozzles whenever you notice the spray weakening or going crooked — there's no need to scrub every week.

 

 

For hassle-free upkeep, give the shower head a quick wipe with a towel or microfiber cloth as you get out of the shower. This keeps water spots and mineral buildup from forming, so deeper cleanings stay few and far between.

 

How to Reduce Mineral Build Up In Your Water

Some areas of the United States have harder water than others - meaning there are high levels of minerals and dissolved solids. These minerals cause the build-up in your shower head that lower your shower head pressure.

An easy fix is adding an inline shower head filter. These filters are designed to reduce the number of mineral deposits, scale, and chlorine in your water. Not only will they make your shower head last longer but the filtered water will leave you with healthier skin and hair. 

Try the HammerHead Showers Solid Metal Shower Head Filter for an easy way to add the benefits of a Shower Head Filter without having to replace your existing shower head.

That said, you'll still want to follow a shower head cleaning routine to remove the other types of bacteria that an inline filter can't help with.