How to remove limescale from a shower head and taps

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 3 October 2026

Limescale is the chalky crust that hard water leaves on everything it touches. On a shower head it blocks the holes and makes the spray thin and crooked. On taps it dulls the chrome and clogs the aerator. A mild acid dissolves it without scrubbing, and citric acid is the UK consumer organisation Which?'s recommendation: stronger than vinegar and without the smell.

Step by step

1. Mix the solution

   Stir two tablespoons of citric acid powder into a large bowl holding about a litre of hot water. Not boiling: very hot water can damage seals and some finishes.

   Done

2. Detachable shower head: soak it

   Unscrew the head from the hose, drop it into the bowl so it is fully covered, and leave it for about an hour.

   Done

3. Fixed shower head: use a bag

   Fill a large zip-lock freezer bag with the solution, pull it up over the head so the holes are under the liquid, zip it as far as it goes and fix it with an elastic band or a cable tie. Leave it for about an hour.

   Done

4. Wipe and rinse

   Take the head out, wipe it with a cloth, and poke any still-blocked holes with a toothpick. Screw it back on and run the shower hot for a minute to flush the rest out.

   Done

5. Taps: wrap them

   Soak a cloth or kitchen paper in the solution, wrap it around the tap spout and the base, and leave it for half an hour to an hour. Wipe, rinse with clean water and polish dry.

   Done

6. Tap aerator: unscrew it

   The small mesh insert at the tip of the tap unscrews by hand or with pliers wrapped in a cloth. Soak it in the solution, brush it with an old toothbrush, rinse and screw it back.

   Done

7. Glass and tiles

   Spray the solution on shower glass and tiles, leave it ten minutes and wipe off. Rinse well, as acid left on grout slowly wears it.

   Done

Good to know

Do not use acids on natural stone such as marble or travertine, or on brass and gold-coloured finishes without checking the manufacturer's advice. Test on a hidden spot first.

Never mix a descaler with bleach or other cleaners.

Prevention is easier than removal: wipe the shower head and taps dry after use, or squeegee the glass, and the scale never gets a hold.

The same citric acid works in the kitchen: how to descale a kettle. For the rest of the room: how to get rid of bathroom mould.

A shower head that stays weak after descaling may have a flow restrictor or a blocked hose instead.

In short: Two tablespoons of citric acid in a litre of hot water. Soak the shower head for an hour, or bag it on a fixed head. Wrap taps in a soaked cloth. Wipe, rinse, run water. No acid on stone.