Remove hard water build-up on showerheads & faucets

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  #1  
Old 09-10-2023, 11:33 AM
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Default Remove hard water build-up on showerheads & faucets

Hard water and the backsplash of soap when you're washing your hair can easily clog up your showerhead and faucets over time. If you can't remember the last time you cleaned it, or you've noticed your flow hasn't been as strong as it once was, now is a great time to give it a good soak and possibly even a scrub. You'll need CLR or vinegar, a quart or gallon-sized food baggie, and some rubber bands.

A showerhead or faucet cleaning trick to make this process super-easy and less messy, but your main goal is to get a bag of solution strapped onto your shower nozzle. We find CLR works best but combining 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1 cup of white vinegar.Then add in 1 cup of water and strap the bag over the nozzle using rubber bands to hold it on, making sure the nozzle head is completely submerged in the mixture. Let it soak for 10 minutes with CLR or four hours with vinegar, then run the water a few minutes and a good wipe down with a washcloth.
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Last edited by Nova Filtration; 09-10-2023 at 01:10 PM.
  #2  
Old 09-10-2023, 11:54 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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I also use a 2-inch long sewing needle, stick it into each showerhead hole, and wiggle it. Makes a world of difference on how the water flows out.
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Old 09-10-2023, 12:08 PM
frayedends frayedends is offline
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I've heard good things about Nova filter. But seriously posting to put vinegar and baking soda together? No No No. So sick of seeing vinegar mixed with baking soda being presented as a cure all cleaner. Baking soda is slightly caustic, vinegar is slightly acidic. Mixing them makes the solution about neutral. You are left with nothing but basically water.

Use vinegar alone and it will dissolve the calcium deposits. It can take a long time though because vinegar isn't that strong an acid.
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Old 09-10-2023, 12:57 PM
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CLR is our first choice
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Old 09-10-2023, 01:03 PM
Babubhat Babubhat is offline
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Can buy it in dollar tree. Not worth making your own solution
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Old 09-10-2023, 01:04 PM
frayedends frayedends is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nova Filtration View Post
CLR is our first choice
Yes but please remove the part about baking soda altogether. People will be wasting their time. Google it. But here's an article explaining as I said.

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Old 09-11-2023, 05:41 AM
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or. just buy a new head for $20 at Walmart
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Old 09-11-2023, 06:03 AM
RICH1 RICH1 is offline
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Use The Works toilet bowl cleaner…. It’s the only brand that has higher amounts of hydrochloric acid
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Old 09-11-2023, 06:14 AM
thevillager1988 thevillager1988 is offline
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Post hmmm ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by frayedends View Post
I've heard good things about Nova filter. But seriously posting to put vinegar and baking soda together? No No No. So sick of seeing vinegar mixed with baking soda being presented as a cure all cleaner. Baking soda is slightly caustic, vinegar is slightly acidic. Mixing them makes the solution about neutral. You are left with nothing but basically water.

Use vinegar alone and it will dissolve the calcium deposits. It can take a long time though because vinegar isn't that strong an acid.
I use baking soda and vinegar to clean our drains. 1) Pour super hot water down the drain. 2) Sprinkle the baking soda around the drain. 3) Pour vinegar over the baking soda. The combo bubbles and originally it cleared a hair clog. Now I do it every few months as prevention. Maybe once the bubbling "action" stops the result is neutral, but the process kept me from paying for a plumber.

Back to the reason for the post ... for cleaning a shower head, I use CLR (be sure to read the instructions).
  #10  
Old 09-11-2023, 07:17 AM
Nevinator Nevinator is offline
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Be careful using undiluted CLR on a bathroom fixture (e.g. drain or showerhhead) that has a finish on it like oil rubbed bronze. I used it on such a finish one time and it took the finish completely off. Now I always dilute the CLR on a 50:50 mixture and still het great results. A less caustic solution is a 100% strength application of Lime-Away.
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Old 09-11-2023, 07:22 AM
Larchap49 Larchap49 is offline
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Default Clogged shower head

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nova Filtration View Post
CLR is our first choice
I installed a Nova. Great filter system but it did nothing for the hard water build op in shower head, refrigerator door water dispenser, sink drains, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, install a water softener after the water filter system and problem solved. ps I put the softener after the filter because that will extend the life of the softener media.
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  #12  
Old 09-11-2023, 07:54 AM
Mrfriendly Mrfriendly is offline
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What is CLR ?
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Old 09-11-2023, 09:03 AM
Pennyt Pennyt is offline
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Agree! My oil rubbed bronze fixtures had the coating taken off when I tried to clean it with CLR and other cleaners.
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Old 09-11-2023, 09:10 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mrfriendly View Post
What is CLR ?
It's a calcium, lime, and rust remover. You can buy it at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Publix.

Note that they sell other spray-on products, but they are not the same as the CLR that you pour from a plastic bottle.

Last edited by retiredguy123; 09-11-2023 at 11:02 AM.
  #15  
Old 09-11-2023, 10:17 AM
Deden Deden is offline
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Get it in the bathroom or cleaning isle. Walmart, Winn-Dixie, Lowes Home Depot Publix.
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