7 Steps to Remove Pesky Mineral Deposits From Faucets or Showerheads
Do your faucet and showerhead look like gross, ancient relics? Or have you noticed gunk is clogging up the holes of the showerhead?
White build-up on plumbing fixtures is commonly caused by mineral deposits, especially if you have hard water. Not only are mineral deposits an eyesore, but they can also affect the flow and pressure of water coming out of the faucet. Fortunately, most fixtures can be cleaned with a household acidic solution.
Fortunately, we’ve come up with seven easy, DIY instructions to remove mineral deposits on faucets and showerheads.
How to remove mineral deposits from plumbing fixtures
1. Find an acidic cleaner
Acidic liquids are a great way to get rid of mineral deposits. Luckily, you don’t have to visit an apothecary to get this liquid. All you have to do is look through your fridge, pantry, or cleaning supplies for things like:
- Phosphoric acid cleaners
- Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Muriatic acid
2. Gather your tools and supplies
To get rid of those mineral deposits and for your safety, you’ll need:
- Pliers
- Hand towel
- Rubber band or hair ie
- Plastic bag (no holes)
- Non-abrasive scrubbers (sponge/toothbrush)
- Protective eyewear
- Neoprene or PVC gloves
3. Disassemble the fixture
If you want the mineral deposits gone completely, remember that cleaning inside your fixture is more important than the outside. That’s why you need to remove the faucet aerator or showerhead from the base.
4. Place the fixture parts in the cleaner
After removing the aerator or showerhead, make sure your protective eyewear is over your eyes. Pour your acid cleaner into a bowl, and place your aerator or showerhead into the bowl. Be sure to let the fixtures soak based on what the acid’s instruction labels say. If there is mineral buildup outside of your fixture, fill up a plastic bag with the acid cleaner. Then, wrap it around the fixture using your rubber band.
5. Clean the base of the fixture
Clean the base of the faucet or showerhead even if there are no signs of mineral buildup. Soak the hand towel in vinegar and secure it around the base. Leave it on for an hour or so, then scrub any visible buildup.
6. Rinse and scrub
When your aerator or showerhead is finished soaking, scrub remaining mineral deposits with your non-abrasive toothbrush or sponge. Don’t wait to do this step. Your acid solution can damage your aerator or showerhead if it’s on too long.
7. Reassemble the fixture
Once your aerator or showerhead is clean, reconnect it to its fixture.
How to prevent mineral build-up
Cleaning a faucet or showerhead isn’t the most demanding chore, but it’s also not something you may want to do very frequently. Minerals are naturally present in water, but your fixtures will likely get gunked up even quicker if you have hard water. To take care of this issue and protect your plumbing overall, consider installing a water softener system in your home.
For more plumbing advice or a consultation on water softener systems, call you Ohio Buckeye Plumbing today at (440) 283-9377. We proudly serve Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.