How to descale a shower head without damaging the finish

When a shower starts spraying sideways, the nozzles are usually blocked with limescale. Often a quick rub fixes it; if not, a short soak in the right descaler does. The right descaler depends on your shower's maker and finish, so check that first. Below, one example runs from a spitting shower head to clean, straight jets, with a drawing for every step.

Which descaler? Check your maker first

• hansgrohe recommends a mild citric-acid-based cleaner, and says not to use products with hydrochloric acid, formic acid, chlorine bleach or acetic acid (vinegar). It says damage may not be covered by the guarantee.
• GROHE says not to use acids, limescale removers, vinegar or acetic acid, and recommends its own cleaner.
• Mira says to use a descaling solution suitable for plastics and follow the packet.
• Aqualisa allows diluted white vinegar on its heads, but warns vinegar can affect polished finishes.
• Black, brass and coloured finishes are more delicate. Triton says to avoid vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, scrubbing and scourers on black fittings and to use warm water with a little washing-up liquid instead. Drench says to keep vinegar and citric acid off matt black and plated brushed-brass heads.

Not sure? Look up your shower's care guide on the maker's website, or test a hidden spot first.

Our example: Amira's spitting shower

Every step below follows one story, and each drawing shows that exact moment. The round chrome hand shower in Amira's bathroom has started spraying sideways. It has soft black rubber nozzles, and its manual allows a citric-acid descaler. She tries a quick rub first, then soaks, brushes, rinses and refits it. One "what if" drawing shows the bag method for a fixed head.

Part 1: Try a quick rub-clean

1. Run the shower and look at the jets.

   

   In our story: Amira turns the shower on and holds the head up to look. The jets fan out at odd angles, one nozzle only dribbles, and a few are crusted white with limescale.

   Jets that spray sideways, dribble or don't come out show where limescale is blocking the nozzles (hansgrohe). Turn the shower off.

2. Rub the nozzles.

   

   In our story: Amira rubs her thumb firmly across the rubber nozzles, and small white flakes of scale crack off.

   Rub each soft rubber nozzle with your thumb or a soft cloth to crack the scale off (Mira). hansgrohe says this works on its flexible nozzles for light build-up. Run the shower again: if every jet now sprays straight, you're done.

Part 2: Soak a hand shower

1. Unscrew the head from the hose.

   

   In our story: Some jets are still blocked, so Amira unscrews the head from the hose and puts the little rubber washer safely on the towel.

   Turn the nut at the bottom of the head anticlockwise by hand. Catch the small rubber washer inside and keep it safe; it's easy to lose, and without it the joint leaks (Drench). If there's a small filter screen in the thread, take it out too (hansgrohe).

2. Make up the descaler.

   

   In our story: In rubber gloves, Amira tips citric-acid descaler into hot water in a white bowl, as the packet says.

   Mix it exactly as the packet says, with enough to cover the spray face. If you use citric acid powder and your maker allows it, Drench suggests 2 tablespoons per litre of hot water.

3. Soak the head face down.

   

   In our story: The shower head sits face down in the bowl, its spray face fully under the liquid.

   Leave it for the time on the packet, and no longer. hansgrohe says to take it out after a few minutes; Drench gives 15 to 20 minutes for citric acid on chrome.

4. Brush the nozzles.

   

   In our story: Amira lifts the head out and brushes the spray face with a soft toothbrush.

   Brush the spray face gently, then rub the nozzles with your thumb again (Drench, Mira). If the filter screen is furred up, soak and brush that too. No scourers, abrasive creams or steam cleaners: they can damage chrome and plastic (hansgrohe, Mira).

5. Rinse it well.

   

   In our story: Amira rinses the head inside and out under the basin tap, then shakes it empty.

   Rinse inside and out under clean running water until no descaler is left (hansgrohe).

Part 3: If the head won't come off

1. Tie a bag of descaler round it.

   

   In our story: What if Amira's shower head were fixed to the wall? She would pour the descaler into a food bag, lift it so the spray face is under the liquid, and band it round the arm.

   Check the bag has no holes first (Aqualisa) and fasten it tight with an elastic band (Drench). Leave it for the packet time, take it off carefully over the bath, pour the liquid away and brush the nozzles. Some overhead showers have a spray disc that comes off for cleaning; check the manual (hansgrohe).

Part 4: Refit and test

1. Refit the head.

   

   In our story: Amira puts the rubber washer back in and screws the head onto the hose until it's hand-tight.

   Put the filter screen and washer back first, then screw the head on clockwise, by hand only (hansgrohe).

2. Flush it and test every setting.

   

   In our story: Back in its bracket, the shower sprays straight, even jets from every nozzle.

   Run it for at least 30 seconds to wash out loose scale and descaler (Drench), then switch through each spray setting (hansgrohe). Check there's no drip at the hose joint.

3. Wipe it dry after showers.

   

   In our story: After her next shower, Amira wipes the head dry with a soft cloth to slow the scale coming back.

   GROHE says drying after each use is the easiest way to stop scale building up. For routine cleaning, Mira suggests mild soapy water on a soft cloth.

If something goes wrong

If it's past saving

If scale has blocked the inside of an old head, some models have a removable spray plate, and a replacement part may be simpler than soaking again (Mira). Take the old head to the shop, or look up the model on the maker's website.

Related: How to clean a dishwasher filter.