How do I clean a shower head properly?

Soaking does the work, not scrubbing — and the bag trick for heads that will not come off.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 30 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: caution

Short answer

Unscrew it and soak it in descaler or white vinegar for a few hours, then poke the holes through. If it will not come off, tie a bag of descaler around it in place — that works nearly as well.

A blocked shower head is limescale inside the nozzles, which is a chemical problem rather than a dirt problem. Scrubbing the outside achieves very little; time in acid achieves everything.

Safety

Never mix descaler or vinegar with bleach — the combination produces toxic gas. Ventilate the bathroom, wear gloves, and check the manufacturer's guidance before soaking anything with a coated or plated finish, as acid can damage some finishes.

What you'll need

Descaler or white vinegar
Bowl or plastic bag
Elastic band
Old toothbrush (optional)
Cocktail stick (optional)

Step by step

Try to unscrew it.Most heads unscrew by hand or with a cloth for grip. Removing it means a proper soak and access to the internal filter, which is the better job.
Use the bag method if it will not come off.A plastic bag of descaler or white vinegar tied around the head with an elastic band, so the nozzles are submerged. Nearly as effective, and it is the standard approach for fixed rainfall heads.
Soak for several hours.Overnight for heavy scale. This is where the work happens — descaler dissolves limescale given time, and no amount of scrubbing substitutes for it.
Check the finish first.Acid can damage some plated, coated and matt-black finishes. Check the manufacturer's guidance, and test on an inconspicuous spot if unsure.
Clear the nozzles after soaking.Rubber nozzles can be rubbed with a thumb and the deposits pop out. Metal ones need a cocktail stick or a pin through each hole. Not a needle on a coated finish.
Clean the internal filter.Where the head meets the hose there is usually a small mesh filter washer. It clogs with grit and is the cause of poor flow at least as often as the nozzles. Rinse or replace it.
Rinse thoroughly and refit.Run the shower for a minute to flush out loosened debris and any residue. Refit with the washer seated properly — most leaks at the joint are a misplaced washer.
Do it every six months in a hard water area.Prevention takes ten minutes; a badly scaled head takes an evening and sometimes cannot be recovered.

Tips

Wiping the head dry after use dramatically slows scale buildup. Thirty seconds, and it is the difference between a six-month and a two-year interval.
Citric acid powder from a supermarket is cheaper than branded descaler and works just as well.
If flow is still poor after descaling, the problem is upstream — the hose, the filter washer or the valve. See the shower pressure guide.

Questions people ask

What is the best thing to soak a shower head in?

Descaler or white vinegar, for several hours or overnight. Citric acid powder works just as well and costs less. Never combine any of them with bleach.

How do I clean a fixed shower head?

Tie a bag of descaler around it with an elastic band so the nozzles are submerged, and leave it for several hours. It works nearly as well as removing it.