Cleaning your showerhead can be a fiddly task which many of us put off. But it is essential to avoid a tough build-up of limescale that can form around it.
Limescale forms around showerheads and faucets due to minerals like calcium and magnesium found in hard water. When water evaporates, these minerals are left behind, forming tough, chalky deposits that are notoriously difficult to remove.
It clings stubbornly to surfaces, often requiring intense scrubbing to get rid of it and when it comes to your showerhead, you have to remove it to fully get at it. But if you live in a rental property and don’t know how to remove your showerhead, you may not want to risk causing damage by trying to get it off.
Instead, hygiene expert Mary Futher has shared her simple hack to help make the cleaning simple when you can’t take it off. The social media sensation, who is known online as “Madame Sweat” claims all you need is a zip lock bag, an elastic band and some white vinegar.
In a video, which has gained more than 3,000 likes, she explained: “Take a Ziploc bag and fill it three-quarters full of pure vinegar. Place the shower head inside the Ziploc bag and you want to take a rubber band, cut it and use it as a string to tie around the Ziploc bag as tightly as possible.
“Let it soak for about 30 minutes. Then you want to take a toothbrush and baking soda and scrub any sort of residual lime off of the shower head. You should probably do this little exercise once a quarter.”
Instagram users were left stunned by the hack as they took to the comments to thank her for the tip. One user said: ” Been meaning to do this for about a year lol,” as another wrote: “You’re the best.”
However, someone else penned: “I agree with the cleaning method, but that’s a huge waste of vinegar. You don’t need that much.”
White vinegar is particularly effective in breaking down limescale because it contains acetic acid. This acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in the limescale, dissolving the hard, chalky buildup into smaller, more manageable pieces.
The result is an easier-to-clean surface, with vinegar softening the limescale and helping remove stubborn deposits around taps and other areas affected by hard water. For those looking for a natural and efficient way to tackle limescale, white vinegar provides an easy and cost-effective solution.
