Have you found that the water flow of your shower head at home is getting smaller and smaller, and some of the water outlets are even completely blocked? Especially in hard water areas, scale and bacteria accumulate inside the shower head, which not only affects the bathing experience, but may also breed mold and threaten health.
Don't worry! Cleaning a plastic shower head does not require professional tools or complicated operations. Just white vinegar, a toothbrush and a little patience can make the shower head look brand new in 10 minutes!
1. Prepare tools: kitchen materials can solve it
No need to buy strong detergents, the following materials are environmentally friendly and safe:
White vinegar (or citric acid): the core ingredient for dissolving scale (1 cup).
Sealed plastic bag (or fresh-keeping bag): used to soak the shower head.
Old toothbrush/fine brush: brush the water outlet.
Rubber band/rope: fix the plastic bag.
Warm water: rinse the residual vinegar.
Optional tools: baking soda (enhanced cleaning of stubborn scale), toothpick (unblocking a single water outlet).
Safety Tips:
Avoid using steel wool or strong acid cleaners (such as toilet cleaner) to avoid scratching or corroding the plastic surface.
If the surface of the nozzle turns yellow, you can use baking soda + water to make a paste and wipe it.
II. Step-by-step cleaning guide
Step 1: Disassemble the nozzle (optional)
Turn the connection between the nozzle and the hose counterclockwise and gently unscrew the nozzle (if the interface is too tight, wrap it with a towel to prevent slipping).
Cannot disassemble? Go directly to step 2 and soak the nozzle together with the hose.
Step 2: White vinegar soaking method (core step of descaling)
Prepare cleaning solution: mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio (pure vinegar can be used directly if the scale is serious).
Soak the nozzle:
Pour the mixture into a plastic bag, cover the nozzle and tie it with a rubber band to ensure that the water outlet is completely immersed.
Let it stand for 30 minutes to 2 hours (more than 1 hour is recommended for stubborn scale).
Scrub the water outlet:
Open the plastic bag and rinse the surface of the nozzle with warm water.
Use an old toothbrush with white vinegar and carefully scrub each water outlet (especially the blocked area).
Step 3: Deal with stubborn scale (enhanced cleaning)
If there is still residual scale, try the following methods:
Baking soda paste: Mix baking soda and white vinegar into a paste, apply it to the blocked area and let it stand for 15 minutes, then scrub it clean.
Toothpick unclog: Use the tip of a toothpick to gently poke the blocked water outlet (avoid excessive force that may cause the plastic to deform).
Step 4: Rinse and install
Rinse the inside and outside of the nozzle thoroughly with warm water to ensure that there is no vinegar residue (residual vinegar smell is harmless, but it may attract scale).
Reinstall the nozzle and turn on the water flow test:
If the water flow is even, the cleaning is successful!
If there is still blockage, you can soak it again or check whether the internal filter needs to be replaced.
3. Daily maintenance: Reduce the frequency of cleaning by 80%
Prevent scale:
Shake the nozzle lightly after each shower to drain the accumulated water inside.
Spray the nozzle surface with white vinegar and wipe it every week to prevent scale accumulation.
Must-have in hard water areas:
Install a household water softener to reduce scale generation from the source.
Soak and clean regularly every 1-2 months (adjust the frequency according to water quality).
Environmental protection tips:
When soaking the nozzle, use an old towel to pad the bottom to absorb the dripping vinegar to avoid contaminating the countertop.
The used vinegar can be poured into the sewer to clean the pipes.
4. Frequently asked questions
Q1: Will white vinegar corrode plastic?
Short-term contact (within 2 hours) is harmless, but avoid soaking in high-concentration vinegar for a long time (more than 6 hours may accelerate plastic aging).
Q2: What if the water flow is still small after cleaning?
Check whether the hose is twisted or blocked inside, and disassemble the nozzle to clean the filter if necessary.
If the shower head is seriously aged, it is recommended to replace it with a new one (the price is usually less than 50 yuan).
Q3: How to restore the yellowing shower head?
Mix baking soda and water into a paste, wipe the yellowed area with a sponge, let it stand for 10 minutes and then rinse.
Or use a special plastic cleaner (such as oxygen).
Conclusion
Just a cup of white vinegar and a plastic bag can restore the shower head to the "full water" state! Regular cleaning can not only improve bathing comfort, but also extend the service life of the shower head and reduce bacterial growth.
Try it tonight! After cleaning, you may wish to wipe the shower hose and faucet at the same time to make the whole bathroom refreshed~