To live a healthy life devoid of diseases, it is very important to keep your bathrooms clean. A dirty and unhygienic bathroom can be the breeding ground of microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses, which can make us seriously ill. While considering cleaning our bathrooms, we often forget an important part of our bathrooms: the showerhead.
Although cleaning showerheads can be a daunting job, we must try to pay more attention to keep them clean. This is because unclean and clogged showerheads can cause minerals and bacteria to build up, which would be transmitted to our bodies when we take a shower. Children and elderly individuals with compromised immunity can get seriously ill if they are subjected to these pathogenic bacteria.
Hence, we must take special care and initiatives to keep our showerheads clean. Cleaning showerheads with the help of DIY cleaning agents are very common these days, which mostly contain acidic substances like vinegar or lemon. However, if you don’t have vinegar at your home, there are other alternatives as well.
Here are some of the ways by which you can clean showerheads without vinegar, but first let us move on to the basics. That is, why should you keep your showerhead clean, and how often to clean it.
How to Clean Shower Head Without Vinegar
There are plenty of methods of cleaning your showerhead. Moreover, there are plenty of cleaning agents available inside your homes too. Let us look at the various cleaning agents which can help you get rid of the dirt and grim, and how to use them exactly.
Baking Soda As A Cleaning Agent
Baking soda is one of the best cleaning chemicals to have in your cabinet for all kinds of heavy-duty cleaning works, from eliminating odor from your carpet to sopping up oil spills. It may also be used to clean sink fixtures and scrub toilets in the bathroom, as well as for removing bacteria and dirt from your showerhead. Baking soda can successfully eradicate the nasty odors, in addition to cleaning up apparent dirt particles. At the same time, air fresheners and scented candles can merely cover it up. The slightly basic characteristics help neutralize acids in the air and eliminate odors.
Things you will need:
- Half a cup baking soda.
- Water
- Dishcloth
- A mixing bowl
- A spoon
- Rubber gloves
Procedure:
- First, you will have to make a paste in a bowl by mixing half a cup of baking soda with warm water. Take adequate water so that the final product is a thick paste.
- You then have to put on rubber gloves and cover your entire shower head with the baking soda paste using your hands. If you don’t have enough paste to completely cover your shower head, you would have to make the paste again.
- Allow around 25 minutes for the baking soda paste to dry on your shower head. Make sure you keep track of the time because it might be tough to clean if you leave it sitting for too long.
- Remove the paste from the showerhead using your rubber gloves. Wet your dishcloth with warm water and wipe around your shower head to remove the paste and any lingering mineral deposits.
- Lastly, run water through your freshly cleaned showerhead to flush out any paste or residue that may have remained in the water holes.
- Easily available in every household.
- Budget-friendly option.
- It is safe to store in our homes.
- The process is usually very time-consuming.
- It could be ineffective for cleaning showerheads that are too dirty.
Bleach As A Cleaning Agent
Bleach is a powerful disinfectant and chemical cleanser that kills harmful bacteria. It is inexpensive, easy to find, and effective against dangerous germs. Bleach is frequently used to clean bathrooms, showerheads or wipe down routinely handled and shared surfaces such as countertops, faucets, cabinet handles, doorknobs, the trashcan lid, toilet seats, and refrigerator doors so on. Many individuals use bleach to clean their toilets and bathtubs in their bathrooms. Those are the places where germs thrive. Although bleach will not erase a stain from a sink, it will destroy any germs or viruses on the surface.
Things you will need:
- A funnel
- A bowl
- An empty spray bottle
- About two cups of water.
- A cup of diluted household bleach
Procedure to clean showerhead with bleach:
- In an empty spray container, combine one cup of diluted household bleach with two cups of water and stir thoroughly.
- Using a small funnel, pour the liquid into a spray bottle.
- Next, you have to take the showerhead outside by unscrewing it.
- Then you spray a suitable amount of the prepared solution all over the showerhead. Spray some of it inside the showerhead perforations as well. Allow it to stay like that for 25-30 minutes.
- After that, scrub it with a toilet brush with a stiff bristle and thoroughly wash it with water.
- Quite inexpensive when compared to other disinfection agents or sanitizers.
- The substance is good for killing and removing mold in addition to killing germs and viruses.
- Bleach is a very strong chemical agent and requires you to take good safety measures
- Make sure not to expose your skin to bleach. Skins can form serious infections or rashes if they come in direct contact with bleach.
- It could be ineffective for cleaning showerheads that are too dirty.
Coca-Cola As A Cleaning Agent
You may not be aware of the fact that Coca-Cola can easily dissolve mineral deposits and remove rust. Coke is an excellent cleaner for clogged and dirty showerheads. Coca-Cola contains three acids: citric acid, tartaric acid, and phosphoric acid. These acids work together to remove rust and other deposits, but phosphoric acid is particularly useful because it has a higher acidic content than other natural cleaning agents. While other cleaning chemicals may be better at restoring the gloss and luster of the showerhead, Coca-Cola can unclog it effectively.
Things you will need:
- A plastic bag
- A rubber band
- About two cups of Coke
- A dishcloth
Procedure:
- First, you will have to pour a can of Coke into your plastic bag. You would have to make sure it fits around your shower head because we’ll be soaking it in the bag.
- Then, you would have to wrap a rubber band around your showerhead and the water pipe to keep it still and in place.
- Next, you would have to wrap the top edges of the plastic bag around the showerhead and tuck the top edges beneath the rubber band. Before stepping away, double-check that the bag is securely fastened.
- Allow your shower head to soak in the Coke bag for 30 minutes without disturbance.
- Separate the bag of Coca-Cola from your shower head and dump it down the drain to dispose of it.
- Dip your dishcloth in warm water and use it to remove any lingering mineral deposits and stickiness from the showerhead.
- To remove any residual Coke and deposits lodged in the perforations, wash your showerhead with water.
- Budget-friendly option.
- It is safe to store in our homes.
- They are multipurpose to use and are available in mostly all households.
- Usually a very time-consuming process.
- Ineffective for cleaning showerheads that are too dirty.
- It may mess up the showerhead and lead to damage due to lessened durability.
Can You Use Lemon Juice To Clean The Showerhead
Lemon juice’s citric acid works wonders on removing stains and grime, breaking them down to make them simpler to wash or brush away. Lemons’ inherent acidity also acts as a powerful antibacterial agent, reducing odors, mold, and mildew while also helping to keep things cleaner for longer periods.
Many bacteria, particularly those that cause salmonella and E.coli, find it difficult to survive in their acidic environment. Additionally, because some smells, such as rotting vegetables in the garbage or cooked fish, are alkaline, the acidity of the juice, combined with the strong citrus aroma, helps to neutralize odors.
Lemon and a pinch of salt are often used to polish metal surfaces. If your shower head has lost its luster and has developed water stains, lemon is an excellent way to restore some of that luster.
Why Should You Clean Your Showerhead?
Cleaning your showerhead can be a tedious job. This is because, unlike dirty bathtubs, you do not exactly understand how filthy they are on the inside. Over time, mineral deposits and organic waste can block the perforations, limiting a uniform water flow. If you notice a sudden drop in water pressure, your shower head likely needs to be cleaned. Showerheads are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and other pathogens since they are in a hot, humid environment. So it is very important to clean your showerhead to maintain proper hygiene. In a nutshell, the dirt and bacteria in your showerhead are not visible, but can still cause infections and other problems.
The Fastest Way To Clean A Showerhead
Using chemical solutions is the fastest and the most efficient way to clean showerheads. The chlorinated cleaners are made for cleaning areas that are quite difficult to clean otherwise. They are made with the strongest cleaning agents that make the cleaning process much easier.
Readily available chemical solutions and cleaners are best for cleaning shower heads if you have very little time in your hand. However, if you do not have a commercially made cleaning agent, you can team up two or more products to clean your showerheads faster. Like for instance, you could first clean up the showerhead using coca-cola or baking soda. After that, you can use lemons to make the surface shinier. By doing this you would be enhancing the entire cleaning process to a great extent.
Cleaning A Shower Head Without Removing It
Over time, hard water minerals and dirt could be building up in your shower head, which would be compromising the quality of the water. However, we often might face difficulty where we cannot remove showerhead due to its complex mechanism. In that case, you would want to clean the showerhead so that you do not have to remove it. Here is how you can do so-
Things you will need:
- Oven cleaner
- Scrubbing brush
- Wiping dishcloth
- Half a cup baking soda.
- Water
- A mixing bowl
- Rubber Glove
Procedure:
- First, you will have to spray some oven cleaner over the dirty showerhead. You will have to leave it on for some time.
- After that, you have to brush off the dirt on the surface with the help of a scrubbing brush.
- Then you will have to wash the showerhead properly with the help of water.
- After that, you will have to make a thick paste in a bowl by mixing half a cup of baking soda with warm water.
- You then have to put on rubber gloves and cover your entire shower head with the baking soda paste using your hands.
- Allow around 25 minutes for the baking soda paste to dry on your shower head. Make sure that you are keeping track of the time.
- Remove the paste from the showerhead using your rubber gloves. Wet your dishcloth with warm water and wipe around your shower head to remove the paste and any lingering mineral deposits.
- Lastly, run water through your freshly cleaned showerhead to flush out any paste or residue that may have remained in the water holes.
How Often Should I Clean My Showerhead?
How quickly dirt and mineral deposits appear determines the frequency with which you should clean your showerhead. You should clean your shower head thoroughly at least once a month, but weekly cleanings are crucial in preventing major accumulation. To maintain proper sanitary hygiene, you would have to notice how dirty your shower head usually gets carefully. Based on that, you can decide how often you would want to clean them.
There are plenty of methods of cleaning your showerhead. Moreover, there are plenty of cleaning agents available inside your homes too. Let us look at the various cleaning agents which can help you get rid of the dirt and grim, and how to use them exactly.
Preventing Clogs In Showerhead
Hard water that contains high levels of calcium, magnesium sometimes results in minerals clogging around the showerheads. You must check the quality of your water to avoid these kinds of problems. Also, sometimes white scale deposits keep on settling near the perforations, thereby clogging them even more. So you must ensure that your water is free from these kinds of dirt particles. Adding an inline shower head filter is a simple remedy. Mineral deposits scale and chlorine in your water can all be reduced by using these filters. They will not only extend the life of your shower head, but the filtered water will also give you healthier skin and hair. Also, you must make sure that you clean your showerhead once in a while to maintain proper hygiene and prevent it from getting clogged.
Conclusion
Showering is an integral part of our lives to keep ourselves clean. However, if your shower head is clogged with junk, bacteria- particularly mycobacterium and other germs that thrive in damp environments, you may be missing the point of showering altogether! Because the aerosol spray of water makes it simple for bacteria to move to your body. So, you must make it a point to clean your shower head frequently. Another reason to clean a shower head is to ensure that it is operating at its best efficiency. Mineral or dirt particles can block the openings in the showerhead, reducing water flow and pressure. Also, in accordance with your convenience, you should choose the cleaning agent suitable for you.
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