25 Jul 2025
Limescale build-up will turn any shower spa retreat into more of a grimy grotto quicker than you can say ‘holy hardwater’.
And it’s not just that it looks bad. That once-refreshing rainfall effect will quickly become a stagnating drip as your shower head furs up like a kettle in a hardwater hotspot… and let’s not even talk about the bacteria that might be lurking.
But don’t worry, your shower glow-up is just one smol clean away with this step-by-step guide on the best way to clean a showerhead. Before you know it, you’ll be banishing limescale, boosting water flow and making that chrome sparkle - all with just a smol dishwasher tablet and some trusty white vinegar.
easy steps to clean & remove limescale from your showerhead.
step 1: tackle surface grime.
Before we get soaking, let’s take care of those limescale marks and water spots on the surface.
Pop on some gloves, take a smol dishwasher tablet and keep dipping it in a small bowl of warm water. Rub it gently over the chrome areas of your shower - this includes the shower head, control knobs and shower stem.
Watch as the damp tablet works its magic, dissolving hard water marks and leaving your shower chrome sparkling. You can then wipe away any residue with a clean damp cloth.
step 2: vinegar soak (if your shower head is removable).
If your shower head is detachable, allow yourself a smol smug smile because a simple soak will get rid of the limescale lurking inside the nozzle holes.
First, unscrew the shower head from the hose (keep an eye out for any rubber washers - they stop leaks and love to go missing). You can then place the shower head in a bucket and pour in enough clear white vinegar to fully submerge it.
Let the shower head soak for at least 30 minutes (an hour is better). But if your shower head is brass, keep it to 15 minutes max.
Then remove the shower head from the vinegar and rinse it with clean water. You can then grab an old toothbrush and scrub around the nozzle holes to loosen any stubborn limescale. A final quick rinse and wipe down and you can reattach your shower head and turn on the water to flush out any remaining residue.
step 3: cleaning a fixed shower head.
If your shower head is NOT detachable - no stress. A vinegar soak is still an option, you just have to get a little creative…
Fill a plastic bag (check there’s no holes) halfway with white vinegar and carefully place it over the shower head, making sure it’s fully submerged in the vinegar. Secure the bag in place with an elastic band.
Again - leave it to soak for at least 30 minutes if it’s chrome (or an hour, if you’re feeling fancy). And again, brass shower heads shouldn’t soak for longer than 15 minutes. You can then remove the bag and run the shower to rinse everything out.
If needed, repeat until all the limescale has vanished.
how often should you descale your shower head?
Hard water loves to leave its mark, so aim to descale your shower head once a month. If you live in a hard water area, you might need to do it more often. Regular cleaning keeps water pressure high, bacteria at bay and your shower looking its best.
So go on, give your shower head the smol clean it deserves - and get back to enjoying those full flow feels