Shower head imescale can go unnoticed and untreated for a long time, as many homeowners tend to focus their efforts on tiles, screens, and basins. However, when not cleaned, mineral deposits start to build up and clog the shower head until it starts interfering with water flow and pressure.
Brian Toward, CEO of bathroom retailer Wholesale Domestic, said: “If you’re seeing reduced water pressure or uneven water flow, limescale is likely the culprit, and if you live in a hard water area, limescale can build up fairly quickly.” Around 60% of the UK population lives in a hard water region, meaning they’re more exposed to elevated levels of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. That’s why the bathroom specialist shared an easy and affordable way to deal with the problem without having to spend a small fortune on professional cleaning services.
In fact, this cleaning hack is so accessible that it costs only 35p and is likely already found in many British households as part of the main cleaning lineup.
Explaining the method, Brian said: “Distilled white vinegar is the answer to cleaning your shower head and addressing your limescale problems.
“Pour some white vinegar into a sandwich bag and place the showerhead in it, making sure it’s fully submerged in the vinegar.
“Tie the bag around the showerhead with a rubber band or string to keep it in place.
“Let it soak for at least an hour, and let the vinegar’s acidity work magic. After soaking, remove the bag and rinse the showerhead under hot water.”
The technique requires minimal effort and uses a product easily found in supermarkets such as Tesco and Aldi.
For those caught short without vinegar, Brian suggests another clever workaround: “If you’re in a rush and don’t have any white vinegar, cola can work as a quick fix.
“Just hang a zip-lock bag filled with cola around your showerhead and leave it to soak for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse it well to remove any sticky residue.
“The acidity in the cola helps break down the limescale just as effectively.”