How should I clean a shower head?Updated 4 days ago
There are really two separate things to keep clean — the nozzles and the finish. They're different jobs.
Cleaning the nozzles. Over time, minerals in your water build up on the nozzles, which can clog them, reduce your water pressure and throw the spray off to one side. They're easy to clean, though: our nozzles are made of soft, flexible silicone, so you can simply run the water and rub the nozzle tips with your fingertip to dislodge the buildup and bring the spray back to even. No tools needed. If you're on especially hard water and a deeper clog won't release, a toothpick works well for clearing an individual nozzle, or you can use a small nozzle-cleaning brush sized to fit the holes — they're typically about 0.9–1.2 mm across, and brushes in that size are easy to find on Amazon. Use either on the nozzles only, never on the finish.
Cleaning the finish (water spots). This is separate from the nozzles. About once a month, wipe the shower head down with a soft microfiber cloth and warm water (a single drop of mild dish soap is fine if you need it). Our Brushed Nickel, Matte Black, Oil-Rubbed Bronze and HammerHead Gray (Gun Metal) finishes have a proprietary surface coating that resists water spotting, so they need even less — skip chemical or degreasing cleaners, which can strip that coating over time. Our uncoated finishes — Chrome, Polished Brass and Brushed Gold — show water spots more easily, so just dry them with the microfiber after wiping.
Please avoid soaking in vinegar (the acidity can dull or damage finishes over time), baking soda or any scouring powder (abrasive — it scratches), bleach, harsh chemical cleaners, and stiff brushes, abrasive pads or toothbrushes on the finish itself. Gentle is all our shower heads need.
To cut down on cleaning altogether, an inline shower head filter reduces the minerals that cause buildup in the first place.
Learn more in our cleaning blog