If the water pressure in your shower leaves a lot to be desired, the time may be nigh to clean — or outright replace — your shower head.
Plumbing jobs can be intimidating, even to the most confident at-home DIYer. But removing a shower head, either to clean it or to replace it outright, is a simple and straightforward job that most people will be able to successfully take on. And, if the idea of fooling around with plumbing is more than you’re willing to do, that’s A-OK: You can clean a shower head to remove mineral deposits and other buildup while it’s still attached, no tools required!
To create this guide to cleaning, installing, removing or replacing a shower head, we consulted plumbing experts and shower head manufacturers to learn the tricks of the trade. If you need a new shower head, check out our review of the best shower heads for the model that is best for your home and lifestyle.
Essential products and tools for cleaning a shower head
Distilled white vinegar breaks down mineral deposits that are commonly found on showerheads, and will eliminate any mold and mildew growth.
When it comes to shower heads, routine cleaning doesn't require a lot of fancy tools or products — items you have in the house, like rubber bands and sandwich bags, are all you need.
Using a rubber band to secure a sandwich bag filled with vinegar solution around the showerhead will descale it with minimal effort on your part.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the shower head clean after descaling it by soaking it in vinegar solution. Microfiber is ideal for this job because its microfibers pick up more buildup than cotton rags, terrycloth towels or sponges.
How often to clean a shower head
Danielle Radic, a senior product manager, showering, at Moen, says, “People should clean their shower head at least once a month to reduce mineral and bacteria buildup, and prevent mold growth.”
Regular maintenance is especially important in areas with hard water. Thomas Dougherty, the vice president of operations at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, explains the effects of hard water on your home’s plumbing, “Over time, particles and minerals build up on the inside of your shower head. This will especially be a problem if your water is hard. Over time, these particles will make the water coming from your shower head coarser and harder on your skin and the walls of your shower.”
Signs a shower head needs to be cleaned
While regular maintenance is ideal, cleaning a shower head isn’t part of every household’s cleaning routine and you may find yourself doing so on more of an ad-hoc basis. When you notice a decline in the quality of your shower experience, it could be a sign the shower head needs attention.
“Some signs that signal your shower head needs cleaning,” Radic says, “are when you notice your shower failing to provide strong, constant water pressure, plus the exterior of the showerhead showing mold or limescale build-up.”
How to clean a shower head without removing it
Radic recommends the following method for cleaning a shower head without removing it.
- Step 1: Mix a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a sandwich bag. The bag should be about halfway full with the vinegar solution.
- Step 2: Attach the bag to the showerhead, ensuring the shower head is submerged in the vinegar solution, and secure the top of the bag to the neck of the shower head with a rubber band.
- Step 3: Allow the shower head to soak in the vinegar solution for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bag and cleaning solution, and dry the shower head with a microfiber cloth, using firm pressure to wipe away buildup.
- Step 4: Clean buildup on the nozzle with a toothpick, pushpin, paper clip or toothbrush.
“While it might sound like an old school method to unclogging and cleaning your shower head,” Dougherty says, “many people still rely on toothpicks and toothbrushes to get into the nitty-gritty that can’t be easily removed with a sponge. This method might require removing your shower head so you can get in between the holes.”
If there are still issues with water flow after descaling a shower head using this method, the problem may be that the filter needs to be cleaned. “Every shower head has a filter screen,” Dougherty says, “and cleaning it can dramatically improve the flow of water and efficiency of your fixture as a whole.” The filter, which will be connected to the pipe, should be removed, flushed with water to dislodge buildup, and returned to the shower head. “You should notice an immediate difference in the water pressure of your shower,” he says.
Essential products and tools for installing, removing and/or replacing a shower head
Dougherty provided this helpful guide to plumbing tools; while you will not need all of these tools to install a shower head, knowing what they are and what they do is helpful before attempting any type of DIY plumbing projects.
"Adjustable wrenches do most of the work for basic DIY plumbing tasks such as replacing faucets or showerheads," Dougherty says. "They are inexpensive, so it’s handy to have a few in multiple sizes."
Dougherty recommends investing in a set of two pipe wrenches for anything more than the most basic plumbing projects. "These wrenches are used for tasks where you need leverage, such as removing rusted old fittings," he explains. "Use one wrench to stabilize your work and the other to turn. You might also consider keeping a few old rags with these wrenches to use for wrapping pipes and fixtures before you begin, protecting them from scratches."
Another type of wrench that is helpful for plumbing tasks is the basin wrench. "The spring-loaded clamping jaw of a basin wrench," Dougherty says, "makes it the perfect tool for gripping and turning bolts and fasteners in tight places such as underneath a kitchen sink."
Tongue and groove pliers can be purchased on their own, or as part of a set with adjustable wrenches, which will be the best choice for people who are building their plumbing tool arsenal from the ground up. "The slip-joint design of these pliers allows the jaw to grab wider things and they usually have long handles that make them useful for turning, tightening and loosening," Dougherty says, adding, this is another tool where you might want to protect your fixtures before using to prevent scratching.
Plumbers putty is used to set fixtures and faucets, creating a seal around them. "Plumber’s putty forms a watertight seal, avoiding leaks and holding parts into place," Dougherty says.
"A common, but frustrating plumbing problem is a leaky, threaded joint, such as that which connects a showerhead to a pipe. Wrap a few layers of plumber’s tape, clockwise, around clean, dry threads. When you screw your fixture on, the tape will help form a watertight seal," Dougherty says.
How to install, remove and/or replace a shower head
While routine cleaning doesn’t require that you remove a shower head, there are times when you may want to take the fixture down for cleaning. “Removing and dismantling your shower head will allow you to get in between the pieces of the fixture to remove anything that could be disrupting the flow,” Dougherty says. “Additionally, you’ll get a better look at the device and be able to determine if any damage has been done to it over time.” Dougherty provided the following instructions for installing, removing or replacing a shower head.
How to install fixed head and ceiling-mounted shower heads
“Fixed head showers are the simplest to work with but offer fewer options for upgrades,” Dougherty explains. “In this configuration, the supply water pipe is simply sticking out of the shower wall, covered by a flange for cosmetics. The shower head is attached directly to the pipe.”
When it comes to ceiling-mount shower heads, like the popular rain-shower-style shower heads, Dougherty says to follow the same steps for removing and cleaning a fixed-head shower. However, he says, “be aware that converting a wall mount shower to a ceiling mount shower is a task best left to the professionals. It requires rerouting the supply pipe, so most homeowners only make this upgrade during a complete renovation.”
- Step 1: Ensure water is turned off at the tap.
- Step 2: Unscrew existing head counterclockwise until freed and remove it.
- Step 3: Clean soap scum or limescale from threads of the supply pipe.
- Step 4: Wrap threads with plumber’s tape to ensure a tight seal.
- Step 5: Attach the new shower head by screwing it on clockwise until hand-tight.
- Step 6: Turn on water to test.
- Step 7: Hand-tighten as necessary to prevent leaks.
How to install handheld shower heads
“Handheld shower heads are extremely convenient,” Dougherty says. “Not only do they help you reach all the spots you need to clean, they’re also handy for washing kids, dogs, and the shower itself.” And, he says, “they don’t take any special tools or skills to install.”
- Step 1: Turn water off at the tap.
- Step 2: Remove the old shower head by unscrewing counterclockwise.
- Step 3: Clean supply pipe threads of dirt, soap scum or limescale.
- Step 4: Wrap threads on the supply pipe with plumber’s tape.
- Step 5: Screw new handheld shower mount onto the water supply pipe and hand-tighten.
- Step 6: Connect the shower head hose to the mount and to the shower head if not already connected.
- Step 7: Place handheld shower head into the cradle on the mount.
- Step 8: Turn on water and check for leaks.
- Step 9: Hand-tighten as necessary to stop leakage.