For some people, there is nothing quite like taking a shower under a waterfall shower head. Traditional shower heads just don’t match up. But waterfall heads are more prone to mineral deposits and clogs due to the way they are designed. So what do you do when yours stops working properly?
All kinds of shower heads are fairly easy to clean. The key is preventative maintenance. Waiting until the majority of the discharge holes are clogged before doing something only makes cleaning harder. On the other hand, regular cleaning keeps everything functioning as it should.
Why Shower Heads Stop Working
Before discussing how to clean that waterfall shower head you love so much, let us talk about why shower heads stop working. In nearly every case, an improperly functioning shower head is suffering from mineral deposit clogs. There is usually nothing wrong with the head from a mechanical standpoint.
All tap water contains some levels of common minerals. Water with excess minerals is considered hard. But even soft water is not completely mineral free.
Minerals like calcium and magnesium have a habit of accumulating in and around the holes in a shower head. As they do, they restrict water flow. Significant accumulation ultimately prevents the water from flowing out as freely as it should. You might end up getting a trickle where you previously got a nice flow.
Vinegar Is Your Best Bet
Comfort Solutions, a Utah HVAC and plumbing contractor serving customers on the Wasatch Front, says the best bet for proactive shower head cleaning involves vinegar. White distilled vinegar is best. Mixing it with hot water should do the trick.
You can clean your beloved waterfall shower head by detaching it and soaking it in the vinegar-water mixture. Especially stubborn mineral deposits can be addressed with vinegar only. The idea is to soak the shower head for 30-60 minutes to let the vinegar really work on the mineral deposits.
Detaching and soaking the shower head on a monthly basis will keep the water flowing freely. After soaking, rinse off the exterior and then reattach the shower head. Run the shower for a few minutes to rinse out the remaining vinegar and loosened mineral deposits.
When Deposits Are Especially Stubborn
Failing to clean a waterfall showerhead proactively ultimately leads to more stubborn calcium deposits. So if you are cleaning your shower head for the first time, a simple water and vinegar soak may not do it. No worries, though.
Try adding a couple of spoonful’s of baking soda to the vinegar solution. Baking soda will react with the vinegar to create a bubbly foam that should more effectively loosen stubborn minerals. A soft toothbrush should be amazingly effective at removing exterior deposits as well as loosening minerals that may be caught around the discharge holes.
Be Wary of Harsh Chemicals
Homeowners who normally rely on harsh chemicals to attack lime and calcium deposits around the tub might be tempted to use the same product on a shower head. Comfort Solutions recommends being wary of such chemicals. They are fine for ceramic and fiberglass tub surfaces that are not bothered by them. But harsh chemicals can do a real number on fixtures and their finishes.
A waterfall showerhead that no longer produces the waterfall that makes showering so pleasant might be hindered by mineral deposits. But with some household vinegar and a little bit of time, those deposits can be addressed. The best advice is to proactively clean your shower head on a monthly basis. It’s a terrific way to keep the water flowing.
