Descaling a shower head?

madvixen

Bicarb of soda works on mine. Mix it into a paste with some water, paste it on, leave for an hour and then rinse off.

wannabee_in_credit

This is one I can help with (being a chemistry teacher). Limestone is a build up of solid bases, so the best way to get rid is to use an acid. Your best options are:
vinegar (as has already been mentioned)
lemon juice
cola (nasty phosphoric acid in it, but lovely for descaling).

My first proper OS tip!

zippychick

descaling a shower head has loads of ideas

ill merge this later on

Zip

meritaten

I make a paste of bicarb (cos it bubbles and gets into all the little holes) and either vinegar or lemon juice - depending on what I have in stock! smear it thickly over the shower head and wrap in damp kitchen towel or J cloths. l leave it for a couple of hours or overnight if no-one is using the shower then rinse off.

Libretia*

Bicarb works, also i use lemons as descalers. TheEy are especially good left overnight in a boiled kettle of water.

squeaky

TBH you don't need white vinegar - cheap and cheerful brown vinegar works a treat.

Sit your shower head in a mug and pour in vinegar. Leave for a few hours (over night is fine) and Robert is your father's brother.

You can even use that vinegar for cleaning other things too, such as bunging it in the loo to remove limescale - even the er... discoloured stuff.

HTH

leonardw

I have an Aqualisa thermostatic shower. The head is chrome plated rather plastic which I've use the vinegar method on before.

Aqualisa website says says about limesacle
"The best way to do this is to remove the shower head completely and immerse it fully in a mild proprietary descalent. Substances that are not suitable for plastics and electroplated surfaces must not be used to descale your shower head."

Is vinegar method safe and won't tarnish the head?

querom44

Hi - I've got a drench (sometimes called rain) shower head, it REALLY needs cleaning, but I can't see how I can remove it to soak and a bag won't go over it and attach (it's quite wide, I've tried really large freezer bags but attaching it is a nightmare). Any suggestions, I feel I should be able to remove it, but I can't see how and I'm worried I'll damage it. Any thoughts. Thanks.

Anne_Marie_2

querom44 wrote: »

Hi - I've got a drench (sometimes called rain) shower head, it REALLY needs cleaning, but I can't see how I can remove it to soak and a bag won't go over it and attach (it's quite wide, I've tried really large freezer bags but attaching it is a nightmare). Any suggestions, I feel I should be able to remove it, but I can't see how and I'm worried I'll damage it. Any thoughts. Thanks.

What about using cling film? I'd try soaking a cloth in vinegar and wrap round the shower head, then cover with cling film as best you can. I use vinegar on my chrome shower heads and taps with no problem.