How to clean the shower head: A simple, one-hour scientific trick to demystify

A storage bag with a zipper, a rubber band, water and a CLR cleaning solution or white vinegar and an hour no longer clog the shower heads.

Give Smith / CNET

If you've noticed that the water flow from your rain shower head has turned into a drop, it's probably because of the mineral buildup of hard water. Fortunately, you can do this with minimal effort: you only need a little over an hour and some household items.

First, assemble a zipped storage bag (like the Ziploc or Hefty brand) and a sturdy rubber band. Then look for calcium, lime, and a cleaning solution with antioxidants (such as the CLR brand) or, if necessary, a bottle of white vinegar and take about 60 minutes to let science do the work for you.

The problem with their nozzles, according to the Water Quality Association, is hard water with a high content of dissolved solids, mainly calcium and magnesium. Over time, these chemicals bind to metal and plastic in the shower, causing a build-up that appears as a crispy lump around the water jets.

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As this plumber plate builds up over time, the holes start to clog and the water has to work harder to come out. If ignored, it can completely block the peak over time. Shower filters are one way to avoid the problem. However , you can open an existing connector without calling a plumber, buying expensive replacement equipment, or reserving an entire afternoon to fix the problem .

Here we show you how to demystify your shower head.

1. Collect your cleaning equipment

First collect your supplies. If you have a small shower head, a sandwich-sized bag should be enough. For larger devices, you may need to take out a gallon bag. You need a rubber band to tie it up and the water can get heavy. Therefore, be sure to use a firm one. The type used to hold products like asparagus or broccoli together is perfect, but your regular rubber band from an office supply shop works, although you need more than one rubber band, especially for a gallon bag.

For the cleaning solution you need a 50/50 solution CLR household cleaner (available in most grocery stores, Walmart and Amazon ) or white vinegar (what you do in your closet) and normal shower water.

2. Soak the dirt

Fill the bag halfway with CLR or white vinegar and then insert the shower head into the bag. Fasten it with the rubber bands and open the shower water carefully enough to fill the bag the rest of the way and mix the solution. Whatever you do, do not let the shower run completely, as a sudden pressure could accidentally throw your plastic bag into the bathroom.

Then set a timer for 60 minutes, either on your phone or with your smart home assistant. How to set up multiple timers with Google Home and Amazon Alexa on Echo devices . Now relax with a podcast for the next hour.

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3. Clean, rinse and (hopefully) do not repeat

After switching off the timer, remove the bag from the shower head and let the cleaning solution run down the drain. Throw the bag in the trash and clean your bathing suit with a damp cloth.

Then the moment of truth: open the shower (this time completely) and see how much stronger and more even it is. If for some reason there are still clogged tips, don't hesitate to repeat this process. But a trick should work for most clogged shower heads.

If you have a lot of other cleaning jobs to do after your vacation, check out these 14 cleaning tools that make cleaning easy and fun . Don't worry when you're busy, because we also have six tips and suggestions to cut your cleaning time in half . When people are around, do not forget to clean the electronic devices they use. Just follow our guide to properly clean the touch screens so your devices are not damaged.

Originally released last year. Updated regularly.

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