As seen on Martha Stewart Online

The Showerhead

This is one area that is often overlooked when cleaning, and definitely needs to be added to your deep clean schedule.  Don't worry, this task isn't as difficult or time consuming as you may think!

Buildup and hard water deposits can impact your showerhead's functionality, but with a few cleaning materials you likely already have on hand, the fixture can be restored to its former glory.

While there are plenty of areas in your bathroom you likely clean regularly—your sink, toilet, and tile floors to name a few—there is one area of the space you may often overlook: your showerhead. "Showerhead cleaning is crucial because the slime that has built up over time from minerals and debris, sits inside the nozzle and will clog the shower holes if left uncleaned," say Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. "Over time this will reduce the performance and water pressure of your showerhead."

But what, exactly, is that buildup made of? Hard water deposits consist of mostly calcium and magnesium minerals that exist within all water supplies, says Brian Campbell, water quality expert at Water Filter Guru. When these minerals collect in and around your showerhead, they leave behind a chalky residue called limescale. In addition to looking dirty, this film can impact your water pressure and become a plumbing issue. "Sooner or later, buildup can clog the holes in the showerhead and eventually become a happy home for bacteria," says Gerald Carpenter, professional plumber and founder of Sanitary Review.

Beyond cleaning your showerhead for optimal performance, it's also important to do so for your health. According to Sokolowski, if you leave your showerhead uncleaned for a very long time, it can harbor hazardous bacteria. "Mycobacterium, along with other germs, thrives in hot and humid environments, meaning your showerhead is the perfect home for this bacteria to form," she says. "Once your showerhead is turned on, the pressure will release these bacteria-filled water droplets into the air, making them easy to be inhaled."

To ensure your showerhead is running to the best of its ability and to protect yourself from harmful bacteria, be sure to add this maintenance step to your regular bathroom cleaning checklist. 

How Regularly You Should Clean Your Showerhead

How frequently you clean your showerhead depends on the hardness of your water, Sokolowski says. In general, she recommends cleaning the device at least once a month, but if you have hard water, you may need to do so more regularly. "Since hard water is rich in calcium and lime, it will clog up your showerhead faster than soft water," she says. "In that case, I would check your showerhead every three weeks and clean it if necessary." 

necessary Materials 

While it may seem like a high maintenance chore, cleaning your showerhead is a simple task when you have the right equipment handy. Some of the necessary materials will vary depending on the type of showerhead you have — detachable or non-detachable. 

• Microfiber cloth

• White vinegar

• Old toothbrush or scrubber

• Toothpick or safety pin (to unclog if necessary)

• Natural Dish soap 

• Basin or bucket (for a detachable showerhead)

• Zip-tie bag (for a non-detachable showerhead)

• Hair tie or rubber band (for a non-detachable showerhead)

How to Clean a Showerhead 

Once you've gathered the appropriate materials and have determined the style of showerhead you have, it's time to get cleaning. 

1. Make a Cleaning Solution

Start by making a solution that is equal parts warm water and white vinegar. Melissa Poepping, founder of The Chemical Free Home, says she prefers using cleaning grade vinegar rather than standard food grade, since it is a bit more acidic and goes the extra mile for cleaning. You can also substitute white vinegar for lemon juice or apple cider vinegar if you're in a pinch, also mixing with equal parts water. 

2. Let It Soak

If your showerhead is detachable, unscrew it and submerge it in a bucket filled with the water-vinegar solution. "Don't worry if your showerhead is not detachable—you can also submerge the showerhead in a Ziplock bag filled with an equal solution of water and white vinegar and tie it with a rubber band or a hair tie," says Sokolowski. According to Carpenter, you should let both iterations soak for at least four hours.

3. Rinse and Scrub Clean

After soaking, Carpenter says to run hot water through the nozzles of your showerhead for a few minutes to wash away the now-softened deposits. Next, scrub the plumbing fixture with a toothbrush or scrubber until all of the limescale has been removed.

4. Deep Clean the Nozzles

If you're having a hard time getting the nozzles completely clean, Sokolowski says to make a paste using baking soda and water and scrub them with an old toothbrush. When you're satisfied, wipe the showerhead clean with a microfiber cloth. 

How to Clean a Clogged Showerhead

While the steps outlined above should be enough to remove any clogs, there are other methods that also do the trick if you're still having trouble. Poepping says a simple solution of baking soda, vinegar, and tea tree oil—which she notes is a natural degreaser that leaves surfaces spot free—should do the trick. Scrub the solution onto the showerhead nozzles using a toothbrush then clear the holes with a sewing needle. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth when you're done.

How to Clean a Showerhead Filter Screen

If you have soaked, scrubbed, and cleaned the nozzles of your showerhead and it's still not working properly, it's possible that you need to clean the filter screen. "In order to do this, you will have to unscrew the showerhead, as [the filter screen] is located between the showerhead and the water pipe," Sokolowski says.

1. Start by carefully removing the filter screen with tweezers, then clean it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water; scrub with an old toothbrush.

2. "Run under water for one minute and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth," says Sokolowski.

3. Place the filter back—again, using your tweezers—and screw the showerhead back on.

Sokolowski notes that your shower filter screen should be replaced every 12 months to ensure it's purifying water properly.

As seen on Martha Stewart Online

the glass doors

When it comes to cleaning your bathroom, tackling the shower is typically the worst part thanks to the triple threat of moisture, residue, and hard water that builds up on the glass. The last on this list, however, is the main culprit of dingy spots on shower glass. 

"Hard water stains, also known as limescale, are high in minerals which end up leaving behind a chalky residue on surfaces," says Brad Roberson, President, Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. When the water evaporates, the limescale remains, coating surfaces and clinging onto glass, tiles, and fixtures leaving behind hard, crusty deposits that change in color from white to green." 

If you don't tackle hard water stains regularly, they can become a nightmare to remove. "The longer you wait, the more build-up occurs,"  says Melissa Poepping, founder of The Chemical Free Home. She recommends cleaning your shower every two weeks (or weekly if it sees heavy use), which you can do by making a DIY solution with common household ingredients. 

Necessary Materials 

Hard water stains won't come off with a basic glass cleaner, but luckily pantry staples, like white vinegar and baking soda, will effectively remove the unsightly spots. 

• Gloves

• White vinegar 

• Paper towels 

• Spray bottle 

• Sponge 

• Baking soda 

• Distilled water

• Microfiber towel

How to Clean Hard Water Stains 

Once you've gathered all your supplies, you're ready to begin cleaning. Start by warming up a generous amount of white vinegar over the stovetop until hot.  

1. Soak Glass in White Vinegar 

Wearing gloves, Roberson says to dip paper towels into the hot vinegar and stick them to your shower glass. "The slightly acidic nature of vinegar allows it to soak into and loosen the mineral deposits," he says. Let the vinegar sit for 30 to 60 minutes, then remove the paper towels. To keep the glass wet during this time, Roberson says to spray the paper towels occasionally with vinegar from a spray bottle. 

2. Wipe Down Shower Door 

Remove the paper towels when time is up, then sprinkle a damp rag or sponge with a generous amount of baking soda and wipe down the shower door gently. "Avoid vigorously scrubbing, which could scratch the shower door," Roberson says.

3. Rinse With Distilled Water 

Rinse away any residual vinegar and baking soda by pouring distilled water over the glass. By now, the surface should be glistening, but if any limescale remains, Roberson says to repeat the baking soda scrub until all build-up has been removed. Dry with a microfiber towel. 

What to Do If Stains Persist

According to Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean, vinegar is typically able to remove hard water stains—and should work effectively when it comes to this. "However, if your stains have been left too long and you find vinegar isn't working for you, you can also try using a lemon," she says. 

For this method, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt, and scrub the grime away. "The abrasives of the salt and the acidity of the lemon eats away the soap scum and mineral build-up, keeping your shower glass shining," says Roberson. You can also mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle, and add a capful of Thieves Liquid Dish Soap and 5 drops each of Lemon and Tea Tree Essential Oil.

How to Slow Limescale Build-Up 

If you have hard water in your home, these spots are unfortunately inevitable — but there are some ways to slow and minimize build-up.  

Check Your Water Quality 

It's possible your water has become harder than normal, which can make limescale more difficult to remove. "Our daily household water travels through layers of rocks before we use it, and the more time the water interacts with these minerals, the harder the water gets," says Roberson. If you notice cloudy spots on dishes and glasses, it may be a sign you need to check your home's water quality. If it's too hard, Sokolowski says investing in a water softener will help curb the issue. 

Wipe Down Glass After Use

The best way to prevent build-up from occurring is by wiping down your shower after every use. "Remember, hard water stains form after the water evaporates and the minerals are left behind," Poepping says. "Wiping the area clean immediately eliminates the issue altogether."