White spots on the shower head, nozzles spraying in every direction and a stream that keeps getting weaker: limescale. In large parts of the Netherlands the tap water is moderately hard to hard, so sooner or later every shower head has to deal with it. The good news: removing it is easy, and with the right approach you can stop it coming back.
Why does your shower head get limescale?
Tap water contains dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. Every time water droplets are left on your shower head and evaporate, those minerals stay behind as a thin white film. Layer upon layer, that grows into hard limescale that clogs the nozzles, lowers the water pressure and makes the spray shoot off at an angle.
Removing limescale in 4 steps
- Soak in vinegar. Fill a bucket or a sturdy plastic bag with warm (not boiling) cleaning vinegar, diluted 1:1 with water if you like. Can't get the shower head off? Tie the bag around the head with an elastic band so the nozzles are submerged.
- Leave it for 30 to 60 minutes. Thick deposits may need longer, but don't leave chrome or coated parts soaking for hours.
- Scrub afterwards. Use an old toothbrush for the nozzles. If any holes are blocked, carefully push through them with a toothpick. Does your shower head have rubber nozzles? Rub them briefly with your thumb and the limescale breaks loose by itself.
- Rinse thoroughly. Rinse the head and let the shower run warm for a minute so loose limescale and the vinegar smell disappear.
Prefer no vinegar smell in the bathroom? Citric acid works just as well: dissolve it in warm water according to the dosage on the packaging and follow the same steps.
Better not to do this
Don't use scouring pads or aggressive descaling agents on chrome: they leave scratches and attack the coating. Don't pour boiling water over plastic parts either, as they can warp. Gentle and regular works better than harsh and one-off.
How to stop limescale coming back
Wipe the shower head briefly after showering or rinse it with cold water: the fewer droplets dry on it, the less limescale is left behind. Also give the head a short vinegar bath every month before the deposits harden.
Want to tackle it structurally? Choose a shower head with silicone nozzles, like all Besjaar shower heads: you rub limescale off them with a finger. A filter does not prevent limescale build-up. The filter in the Besjaar Shower Head with Filter holds back loose particles and breaks down free chlorine, but dissolved limescale passes straight through. If you really want less limescale in all your water, you need a water softener, see water softener or shower filter?
Time for a new shower head after all?
Are the nozzles damaged, or does the pressure stay low even after descaling? Then replacing it is often the better choice. Take a look at the Besjaar shower heads: high pressure with a maximum of 8 litres per minute, with or without filter, and fitted yourself within a few minutes.