How To Clean An Attached Showerhead Without Vinegar

Sooner or later, the same thing happens to every showerhead: The flow of water gradually slows and becomes erratic. The timeline for this decrease in performance depends primarily on the hardness of the water, or the concentration of minerals like calcium and iron, which can clog the showerhead's holes. It's usually easy to take it down and soak it in vinegar. Vinegar is a go-to product for removing hard water stains and for cleaning showerheads. But what if you don't have it or want to use it? You can use lemon juice or a paste made from baking soda and water instead.

Lemon juice and baking soda help clear mineral deposits, and baking soda can help remove rust, too. You don't even have to take the showerhead down to clean it if you're not handy with a wrench. Cleaning built-up grime takes effort, so grab a stool or ladder tall enough to reach the showerhead and get ready to scrub.

You can use either lemon juice or a lemon slice to clean a showerhead. To use lemon juice, place the juice in a bag, then tie the bag over the showerhead without taking it down. Soak the showerhead in lemon juice for 30 minutes, then rinse it with warm water. You can also use a lemon slice. Rub the cut side over the nozzle, then rinse with hot water. Lemon juice is also great to help you say goodbye to limescale and other minerals throughout the kitchen and bathroom.

To clean a showerhead with baking soda, you will need to make a paste. Mix two parts baking soda with one part water. This mixture also makes a household cleaner that does double duty. It safely removes dirt from tile grout. Spread the paste liberally on the showerhead. Wait about 15 minutes, then scrub it off. Flush the showerhead with hot water to be sure you've removed any trace of the baking soda.