Cleaning, Plumbing

How to descale a shower head: expert methods and tips

descale a shower head

You should descale your shower head regularly so the water runs strongly. What you have to consider and how this works exactly, we explain to you in this practical tip to descale a shower head so you can make the most of the water pressure and not have it reduce to a dribble just because of calcification in the shower head.

It’s not a difficult task to do, but one that will make a lot of difference to how much you can enjoy your daily shower!

Descale a shower head: what to do

Depending on the water hardness, your shower head calcifies more or less quickly. You can descale it with the following tips.

  • First, you have to unscrew your shower head from your shower hose. This varies from model to model, but is usually accomplished by simply turning the locking nut at the pause. Or yours may unclip at the back of the shower head.
  • If the thread of the screw is tight and you cannot get it undone, spray it with a little lubricant and let it sit for a couple of hours before you try again. If it has not been cleaned or serviced in a long time (such as when you move into a rental apartment or house, you may find this is the case.
  • Open the shower head and remove the perforated disc. Most showerheads have extra for a closure, which is attached only with small screws.
  • Place your calcified shower utensils in a basin of citric acid and lukewarm water. Leave everything for about an hour.
  • Now rinse all parts with water and mount your shower head with perforated disc back onto your shower hose.
  • Now let water run through the hose again, so that all lime residues disappear.
  • Caution: Using vinegar instead of citric acid may damage the seals and coating on your shower head.

gerhardt-richter Gerhardt Richter is a writer and a trainer at trade technical colleges, specializing in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and construction.