It is rather important that you clean your shower head to ensure good water flow and to minimize the growth of mold. Shower heads sometime collect mineral deposits, mold and mildew; this makes it difficult to have a water pressure and affects the item’s cleanliness. Vinegar is one of the most gentle, efficient, and natural remedies to deal with this problem. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits and clean the shower head since it is acidic, so it is well-liked for cleaning bathroom items. Below, you’ll explore the ins and outs of cleaning a shower head with vinegar to ensure your shower head remains in its best state.
Ins of Cleaning a Shower Head with Vinegar
The following are the 10 advantages of using vinegar to clean a shower head:
1. Effective Mineral Deposit Removal
Mineral deposits are the primary cause of hard water that cannot be easily rinsed off hence the need to clean the shower head with vinegar. The steps in this method are simple and effective, this is according to the Good Housekeeping magazine. Water that is hard and widespread is largely saturated with calcium and magnesium salts. These minerals tend to build up in the shower head, which results in restricted water flow and ugly blockages. If they build up, you will find your shower head not functioning as it should; vinegar which is a solution of acetic acid can dissolve these deposits.
It is recommended that one uses vinegar for regular cleaning in a bid to prevent the depositing of minerals to an extent that water flow will be significantly affected. It involves immersing the shower head in vinegar for a long time to make the acetic acid to dissolve the mineral deposit well. In the long run, as you continue applying this method you are likely to notice an improvement in the water pressure of the shower and probably other features. They can also help avoid the accumulation of more solid substances that would require the use of abrasive or even professional cleaners.
2. Eco-Friendly Cleaning Solution
Vinegar is a natural cleaning solution that can easily be acquired from an environmentally conscious perspective. Compared to majority of the commercial cleaners, vinegar has the advantage of not being toxic and can easily be degraded. The EPA promotes the use of harmless and green cleaning solutions such as vinegar when cleaning your home. Cleaning your shower head with vinegar is environmentally friendly because you are not polluting water supply or the environment with chemicals. This makes it a perfect product for any person who strives to live a green lifestyle in their home but has no intention of trading style for sustainability since the item can give both style and sustainability without the two being mutually exclusive.
3. Cost-Effective
Vinegar remains a cheap substance that can be used in cleaning the house and other establishments. The Consumer Reports presents the reader with the fact that items as simple as vinegar can be used to clean around the home and reduce costs. White distilled vinegar is a cheap cleaning agent and is suitable for any task that one may wish to carry out in a household making it one of the best cleaning agents. You can also use vinegar to clean your shower head and this naturally mean that you will not have to spend cash on these special cleaning solutions. The cost-savings are not confined to the price that the client pays for the product at the point of purchase.
Due to the general functionality of vinegar in cleaning, a single bottle of vinegar can be used in cleaning different areas of the house for instance; cleaning countertops, windows and removing odors. This quality makes the vinegar even more versatile, therefore one can avoid the exploitation of numerous substances, which are created for distinct kinds of cleaning. Moreover, vinegar remains among the most frequently used kitchen ingredients, so it might be already in your home, which will allow you to start using it to clean right away without running to the store.
4. Antibacterial Properties
Since it is an all-natural material, it can effectively disinfect your shower head and eliminate bacteria. Bathrooms are specific rooms that can have high levels of microbial contamination because high humidity is the best condition to grow bacteria, mold, and mildew. Ridding these microorganisms is possible through cleaning the shower head with vinegar to ensure that the kind of water you shower with is clean. Acid in vinegar particular acetic acid has the capacity to kill bacteria and fungi mainly because of this vinegar is known to have antibacterial qualities.
Frequent use of vinegar allows to minimize the chances of bacterial infections and respiratory problems related to mold and mildew in a bathroom. Moreover, for instance, when using vinegar to clean, you will not be inhaling toxic and dangerous chemicals as it is the case with traditional cleansers. Thus, vinegar is perfect for people who have a sensitive skin or issues with their respiratory system because it can provide a softer and a non-harsh way of cleaning. WebMD states that vinegar is useful for cutting down bacterial infestation.
5. Easy Application
Conversely, one of the biggest strengths of using vinegar to clean a shower head is that the process is quite easy. The process involves simple steps: Soaking the shower head v, with a plastic bag filled with vinegar and tied tightly around the shower head v. This method is quite simple and can be practiced without much strain and no tools are needed to practice this method. In extending information for home cleaning at home safely and effectively the Mayo Clinic notes the use of vinegar.
6. Non-Abrasive Cleaning
Another advantage of vinegar is that it a non-abrasive substance hence does not harm the exterior of the shower head in any way. This is especially so in shower heads with delicate finishes or when the material used to make the shower head is one that can rather easily be scratched. That way vinegar will effectively clean the shower head to its clean shine without necessarily require a replacement of the shower head. Most commercial cleaners have abrasive particles or contain chemicals that will tarnish or scratch the materials they are cleaning. This may cause a lot of harm with time, cutting the expected lifespan of a shower head and other fixtures.
While cleaning, vinegar does not have a physical abrasive quality on the shower head hence does not cause any alteration on the color or pattern of the bathroom fixtures. It also makes it the best option when in need of a product to care for your shower head since it will make your shower head looks and functions new throughout the year. The usage of vinegar for cleaning also entails its frequent use without corroding the material of the shower head, making it a suitable cleaner for long-time use.
7. Deodorizing Effect
Apart from degreasing, cleaning with vinegar also eliminates bad odors. In the course of time shower heads gather dirt and deposits on them and unpleasant smells like mold, mildew, and bacteria. Vinegar assists in the eradicating of these smells hence making your shower area to have a fresh smell. It is especially so for households which have hard water since deposits within the streams can cause the bad smells.
In addition to neutralizing the source of the stench, vinegar helps to avoid a quick recurrence of the smell by decomposing these compounds. This helps in that your bathroom stays fresh, and does not accumulate the infamous stench that often comes with most bathroom setups. By using vinegar, the shower area will not stink and therefore by using vinegar it will improve showering pleasure. The absence of any unwanted smell also means that the smell of a clean shower contributes to an even more pleasing smell, and therefore contributes to the overall experience of bathing in a more positive manner since your bathroom will be more appealing.
8. Versatility
The uses of vinegar are not restricted to shower head cleaning only. This can be equally applied on basin, showers, bathtub, taps, tiles and even the grouts. This makes it a very useful tool that is best added to your cleaning list. After using vinegar to clean your shower head, you can also use the same material to wipe other parts of your bathroom to get a thorough cleaning.
9. Safety
Vinegar is safe to use when cleaning your house for you as well as for your family. Compared to most chemical-based cleaners that may cause health complication such as breathing problems, skin rash amongst children or pets, vinegar is harmless and can be used around children and pets. Hence, it is viable for use in households that desire to have a healthy environment for living. Most commercial cleaning products contain toxins such as VOCs and other chemicals that remain airborne after cleaning and may harm those with health complications such as asthma or allergies.
While bleach gives off toxic fumes and should not be used in an area where there is little or no ventilation, the same cannot be said about vinegar. This makes it a healthier choice of home cleaning since health of people occupying the house is not compromised. So, if you decide in favor of vinegar, you eliminate the chemical burden at home, providing the population with a more favorable living environment. The benefits are also psychological in addition to this; this is because using a safe, non-toxic cleaner adds to your peace of mind as you clean, which boosts your satisfaction as you conduct the exercise.
What you need to understand is that preventive measures can be helpful, for instance now and then using vinegar to clean you shower head. Mineral deposits as well as grim build up if dealt with timely can prolong the shower head’s life expectancy and you need not spend money on repairing or replacing it. By taking this preventive measure you are likely going to have your shower head in one piece for a very long time.
Outs of Cleaning a Shower Head with Vinegar
Using vinegar to clean your shower head has many benefits. However, for anyone interested in knowing the shortcomings of the method that involves using vinegar when cleaning shower heads, the following must be considered:
Takes a While for Heavily Congested Shower Heads
In the case of hard shower head deposits a soaking in vinegar may have to be done severally before it effectively dissolves all the deposits. At times you may need to add more time allowing for soaking to happen overnight or washing to be repeated severally.
Potential for Residual Odor
After using vinegar to counter bad smells, you are left with a temporary smell, which is that of vinegar, and which is not especially inspiring to many people. There are ways in which this problem can be reduced for example proper rinse of the washroom and proper airing of the washroom area.
Sensitive to the Textual and Graphical Content of the Materials
The material to be cleaned should also be noted since vinegar may be corrosive to some of the items like brass, gold among others or anything that has a delicate surface. In case of shower head, it is recommended to first consult with the manufacturer’s guidelines since vinegar may cause harm to the property.
Requires Rinsing
Since vinegar is used as a cleaning solution, the area has to be rinsed well to get rid of any residues of vinegar and the loose debris. If the appropriate rinsing process is not done or done to perfection, there may remain a taste and or smell felt on the tongue when you take the water and this is quite unpalatable.
May Not Eliminate All Forms of Deposition
Also, vinegar is much effective on mineral deposits but not on other types of formation like soap scum or grease. Thus, it could be necessary to use additional cleaning agents or apply other methods.
Mess Potential
Although using the outlines of a real plastic bag which is filled with vinegar might be a bit messy, if not well done. They can spill or leak occasionally, although this leads to extra cleaning.
The Bottom Line
Using vinegar to clean your shower head is free, environment sensitive and most importantly it gets the job done efficiently. This formula removes mineral build-up, kills germs, and scours without the harm. Efficient to use and very effective, vinegar keeps the shower head working and clean. Since the use of vinegar in shower maintenance is recommended, a healthier showering process is enhanced.
