The Showerhead Cleaning Trick That Changes Everything

When it comes to house cleaning, most of us probably dread tackling one room the most: the bathroom. Built-up soap scum, mildew, and limescale take some serious elbow grease to get rid of, and don't even get us started on the toilet.

Some spots are easy to clean, while others pose the additional challenge of being awkward to reach, like the showerhead. You'll probably lose feeling in your arms before you get that thing clean by plain old scrubbing it. Or you might even overlook this fixture, considering it's basically being washed with water every time you use it, right?

Wrong. Your showerhead definitely needs a good cleaning on a regular basis. If you have hard water, the minerals it contains, usually magnesium and calcium, can form deposits and clog the holes that spout water, which lowers water pressure, according to the Water Quality Organization. Mildew can accumulate, too, and a 2018 study by the American Society for Microbiology even revealed that certain harmful bacteria thrive in showerheads.

Don't worry, though: The following showerhead cleaning trick is so simple you'll be cleaning yours every week.

All you need to quickly and painlessly clean your showerhead is a resealable plastic bag that will fit over the head, a strong rubber band or two, and either white vinegar or CLR cleaner, according to CNET. Fill up the bag halfway with vinegar or CLR, place the bag carefully over the showerhead, and tightly secure it with the rubber band(s). Very slowly turn on the faucet so that the bag fills up with water, mixing with the vinegar or CLR to create a cleaning solution. Make sure it's stable, and let it sit for one hour.

When the time is up, carefully remove the bag, and spill the contents into the drain or a sink. Throw the bag away (or reserve it if you need to repeat the process on the same showerhead or another one). Take a damp cloth, and wipe the showerhead; any remaining gunk should readily wipe clean. Run the shower to see if there's an improvement in the pressure. If not, you can repeat the cleaning process again.