Limescale-ridden shower heads can often be overlooked when cleaning your bathroom, primarily because, unlike grimy bathtubs, they don’t visibly display their internal filth.

Limescale and organic matter, known as mineral deposits, accumulate over time, potentially blocking the holes and disrupting the water flow.

If households notice a sudden drop in water pressure or inconsistent spray patterns, it’s likely that the shower head needs a thorough clean.

To eliminate limescale from the shower head, all you need is the “right household remedy”, say bathroom experts at Villeroy and Boch.

While many people turn to baking soda or white vinegar for natural limescale removal, these methods can be “time-consuming”.

Instead, citric acid is recommended as it “dissolves stubborn limescale” for “perfect results”.

The experts stated: “Cleaning with baking powder or with vinegar is very gentle on the material, but is somewhat time-consuming.”

“A quicker way is to use citric acid, which can be found in powder form at all chemists. Please always follow the dosage and safety instructions on the packaging.”

Citric acid is an excellent addition to the list of natural cleaning ingredients due to its low pH, making it highly acidic and effective at removing substances like calcium (limescale), rust, and other minerals.

It’s also beneficial for eliminating mould and mildew and can serve as a preservative.

As citric acid is corrosive, households should therefore make sure to either protect their hands with gloves or wash the rest of the cleaning agent off with water immediately afterwards to avoid skin irritation.

To begin with, unscrew the shower head and put it in a bowl of water. The water should completely cover the shower head.

Next, dissolve a level teaspoonful of citric acid into some cold water and add the mixture to the bowl.

Make sure to move the shower head around in the water so that the acid can get to every part of it.

Citric acid is “considerably more aggressive than baking powder”, so 15 to 45 minutes should be plenty long enough to “completely decalcify the shower head”.

After this, rinse the shower head under clear water and let enough water run through it to rinse out the acid left inside.

Remember, as citric acid is very aggressive, make sure to spot-test the acid on an unnoticeable part of the head to check it doesn’t damage the material. If it does, households may prefer to use baking powder or vinegar to remove the limescale.