How to Unclog a Showerhead: A Guide to Getting Your Flow Back

While it seems like your showerhead should always be the cleanest thing in your household—it's what gets you clean, after all—even it can get dirty due to the gradual buildup of grime and mineral deposits. Eventually, these foreign substances will affect the showerhead’s performance, leading to a weaker flow and making it more difficult to rinse off.

Whether you’ve got a special rain showerhead or a standard model, clogged showerheads are no fun. Fortunately, cleaning them isn't as hard as you might think. Here’s how to unclog a showerhead and prevent future clogs. 

Signs That Your Showerhead Is Clogged 

Showers are meant to rejuvenate or facilitate a relaxing shower, but a clogged showerhead can result in frustration. Here are a few signs that your showerhead is clogged:

• Sputtering water: Instead of allowing water to flow freely, a clogged showerhead can cause the water to sputter and come out in short bursts rather than a steady flow.

• Decreased flow or pressure: If your showerhead isn’t putting out as much power as it used to, mineral buildup and clogged nozzles can reduce the water pressure and flow.

• Uneven spray: Clogged nozzles can send water out in different directions, making it difficult to get an effective rinse. 

What Causes a Clogged Showerhead? 

Showerheads clog over time because of a buildup of mineral deposits—specifically calcium. You may notice water spraying out of the nozzle in random directions, part of your showerhead is completely clogged, or poor water pressure. If you have hard water, you’re particularly vulnerable and may need to clean your showerhead more often. Signs of hard water include:

• Residue or buildup on shower glass or around sinks

• White mineral deposits on dishware

• Difficulty lathering soap

• Hair that feels heavy rather than clean despite washing

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Showerhead?

The average cost of replacing a showerhead ranges between $100 and $450. Depending on the exact problem, more complex plumbing issues come with a higher cost. You could pay anywhere from $75 for a basic twist-on showerhead replacement to more than $4,000 if you need to replace or reroute plumbing to stop the drips that cause clogs. The latter isn’t the norm, and the average cost to replace a clogged showerhead is around $330.

A professional plumber charges $45 to $200 per hour, but they will conduct a consultation and provide you with a more accurate quote.

Steps to Clean and Unclog Your Showerhead 

Figuring out how to clean a showerhead attached to your wall can leave you scratching your head. Luckily, this method will help you get a deep clean.

How to Unclog a Showerhead on the Wall

1. Make Your Cleaning Solution

Mix your cleaning solution (1 part baking soda for every 3 parts vinegar) in a large mixing bowl. For example, you can add 1/4 cup baking soda and 3/4 cup vinegar, but you’ll need enough to fill a plastic bag and submerge your whole showerhead. When you're finished, pour the mixture into a plastic bag.

2. Tie the Bag to the Showerhead

Wrap the bag around the showerhead so it’s completely submerged in the cleaning solution. Use a rubber band to secure the bag to the pipe where the showerhead is attached.

3. Let the Showerhead Soak in the Bag

Let your showerhead soak for at least an hour—or overnight, if possible. After soaking, remove the bag and let the shower run for a few minutes until all of the solution clears from the nozzle.

How to Unclog a Showerhead by Detaching It

If you can detach the showerhead from the wall, you can take a different approach to cleaning it.

1. Remove the Showerhead

Detach the showerhead from the fixture. You can do this by loosening the nut that keeps it fixed to the pipe and then unscrewing the head. If not, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Some showerheads can’t be removed easily, so you’ll need to revert to the first cleaning method.

2. Rinse the Showerhead Thoroughly

Run the showerhead under a faucet so you can rinse as much debris and grime out of the nozzle as possible.

3. Make Your Cleaning Solution

Combine baking soda and vinegar in a large enough container to submerge the showerhead completely. Again, use 3 parts vinegar to 1 part baking soda.

4. Submerge and Soak Your Showerhead

Submerge the showerhead in the solution for at least an hour, and ideally longer, especially if there’s a lot of buildup. The longer it sits, the more it will loosen the grime.

5. Rinse, Wipe Down, and Reinstall the Showerhead

Rinse the showerhead to remove all of the solution and wipe it down. Then, reinstall the showerhead and run your shower to see if you’ve cleared the clog.

Alternatives to Using Vinegar to Unclog a Showerhead 

If you’re looking for ways to unclog your showerhead without vinegar, try some of these other methods to get the water flow back in your shower: 

• Make a paste with baking soda and water: Apply the paste to the showerhead nozzles and gently scrub off debris with a toothbrush or scrubber sponge. Rinse thoroughly afterward and run some hot water through it after you reattach it to the shower to clear leftover paste.  

• Use citric acid: Dissolve a teaspoon of citric acid in a bowl of cold water. Submerge the showerhead in the bowl and move it around so the mixture can get into all the nozzles and break down buildup or debris. Rinse the showerhead and reattach it. 

• Use a pipe cleaner: After removing the showerhead from the shower, take a pipe cleaner and gently clean the clogged nozzles. This takes more elbow grease, but you’ll be sure to remove everything from the nozzles. You can follow this with a soak in one of the solutions mentioned above. 

• Use a descaler: You can also purchase a commercial descaler and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean the showerhead.

• Use calcium, lime, and rust remover: Another option is to purchase a calcium, lime, and rust remover to clean off mineral deposits and get your showerhead flowing smoothly again.

How to Prevent Showerhead Buildup

If you have hard water, it may be difficult to prevent buildup. Eventually, your showerhead might get clogged, and you’ll have to clean it. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to minimize calcium deposits.

1. Fix Drips

Slow drips are a killer for showerheads. It gives minerals a better chance to build up in the nozzle and cause serious clogs. If you have a drippy showerhead, either replace the showerhead on your own or hire a plumber to fix the problem.

2. Regularly Clean Your Showerhead

If you regularly clean your showerhead, there’s less of a chance that minerals will build up enough to cause a clog. Instead of vinegar, you can use a shower spray specifically meant to stave off mineral buildup.

3. Install a Water Softener

If hard water is causing problems in your home, you may want to consider installing a water softener. For most homeowners, a water softener system costs between $200 and $6,000. This isn’t a simple DIY fix, and you’ll need to hire a local plumber. Luckily, if you don’t need to replace pipes, a pro can install a water softener quickly.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Using a DIY fix to unclog your showerhead will only cost you around $10 or less, especially if you already have the tools and supplies around your home. However, if you’re still having problems with your showerhead despite multiple cleanings with the method described above, it may be time to get a pro involved. 

You may need to replace your showerhead. While that’s sometimes a simple DIY, you may have deeper issues with your plumbing if a replacement doesn't solve the problem. Rather than handling shower problems on your own, contact a shower repair pro near you to inspect your plumbing.