Living in a hard water area, I find I’m in a constant battle against lime scale, which especially likes my shower head. If you can relate and are looking for an easy way to get rid of it – without scrubbing all day – you’ve come to the right place.
Limescale build-up can be particularly stubborn if it has been there for a long time, as the deposits harden over time. With that in mind, it’s important to stay on top of this chore—otherwise, you could be left with a blocked nozzle, permanent staining, and low water pressure.
While investing in Water softener A good long-term solution is also a simple solution that can get rid of limescale quickly, which our cleaning expert shares below. Keep reading to see my before and after shower results and find out which £4 product solved it all.
How do I remove limescale from my shower head?
Removing limescale from a shower head doesn’t have to be complicated. According to Kelly Moore, Founder Cleaning with meaningAll you need is a bottle of white vinegar, some warm water and a reusable bag.
Simply fill a plastic bag with a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water, secure it around your shower head, and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. When the time is up, scrub it gently with an old toothbrush and rinse it off.
Alternatively, citric acid works just as well (and won’t have such a strong smell!).
I swear by white vinegar for cleaning my house – no matter what Removing mold from my washing machine Drums or polishing glass and mirrored surfaces – so I was very hopeful to get this going. And, amazingly, it worked a treat: my shower head was free of limescale within five hours of soaking.
Image credit: Future/Megan Milstead
Before using the white vinegar solution…
Image credit: Future/Megan Milstead
What will you need?
Priced at just £3.99 for a huge bottle, I recommend this white vinegar for budget-friendly cleaning.
Compostable Zip Lock Bags
Biodegradable and BPA-free, these Ziploc bags are always handy to have in the cupboard and for this cleaning hack.
Kelly Moore is the founder of Cleaning with Meaning, a Kent-based eco-cleaning business committed to providing exceptional cleaning services without toxic chemicals or single-use plastics.
What Causes Limescale on a Showerhead?
If you have hard water, minerals like calcium and magnesium will be left behind on your shower head as the water dries. Although it’s not harmful, it creates an unsightly, chalky build-up, explains Kelly.
How can a water softener help with limescale on the shower head?
As mentioned earlier, while regular cleaning is a good idea, a water softener is the best solution for long-term results.
“Water softeners can help by removing the minerals that cause lime scale before they reach your shower head,” explains Lucinda Smalley, founder of Hard water home.
“They fit into your main water supply and remove calcium and magnesium, so your shower is no longer supplied with hard water. Harder water means little or no new lime scale, which helps the shower head stay cleaner and work properly for longer.”
BWT WS355 Standard Electronic Water Softener
Make limescale a thing of the past with this cupboard-friendly water softener, suitable for households of up to six people.
Through her work at Hard Water Home, Lucinda helps UK households understand hard water and practical ways to manage it. He also runs an award-winning plumbing company, giving him real-world insight into common hard water problems, household trends and how hard water affects our homes.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about living in a hard water area, but regular shower head cleaning and investing in a water softener can help avoid this common problem.
For more cleaning tips and tricks, read our guide How to clean a shower screen or how many a Cost of water softener.
