Shower heads have direct contact with water and frequently develop a patina of rust. Rusty shower heads detract from the look of your bathroom and can disrupt the smooth operation of the shower.
Hence, If you have rust stains on your bathroom’s tub or shower, it can create a frustrating sight. This article will discuss various ways to remove rust from a shower or bathtub.
Prepare Your Cleaning Area
Whether you opt for a chemical bathroom rust remover or a natural remedy, you will still want to keep yourself protected once you start removing rust stains from a shower. There are various easy-to-follow cleaning methods, but rust stains can still cause damage or irritation to your skin and body.
Therefore:
- Before beginning the cleaning procedure in the bathroom, be sure you are wearing gloves. You can also wear a small mask or securely wrap a scarf around your mouth and nose to prevent harmful fumes.
- Next, ensure the bathroom is adequately ventilated. Try to switch on the bathroom fan or open a window. Ventilating the room is essential to force air to flow into it, so the dirty smell doesn’t overpower the room.
Numerous Methods To Remove Rust On Shower Head
Each method is effective in its way for removing rust from the shower. Lemons may have a higher appeal as air fresheners than vinegar. Whether you buy a commercially made or homemade shower cleaner, each works well to remove rust. Following are some natural remedies to get rid of rust on shower heads:
Using Natural Cleaners
Natural products and cleaners have much more benefits for you, your family, and the environment than is popularly believed. Many people assume that natural products and cleaners aren’t as effective as non-natural products and other cleansers, but you have a lot to gain with these. The following are the most popular natural cleaning methods:
- Vinegar and baking soda: Effective among all the options and is clearly a winner
- Salt and vinegar: Not as effective, but the salt will enhance the vinegar’s efficacy.
- Lemon & Salt: Most natural but also least effective, though it leaves a powerful scent.
Vinegar & Baking Soda
Do you remember the project on the volcano explosion you made at school using baking soda and vinegar? This mixture works the same way when you clean a rust stain.
In the presence of baking soda and vinegar, a fun chemical reaction occurs, making it entertaining to pour it into the water to clean off the grime. However, it’s excellent for cleaning without a damaging shower, tiles, and bathroom surfaces, especially for iron or rust stains.
Method:
- On a flat shower or tub surface, spread the baking soda on the shower head rust.
- Pour the vinegar. The two substances will react together as you pour the white vinegar into the soda.
- Hence, have a sponge ready. Now start scrubbing. Don’t scrub the shower surface too harshly; scrub it in a circular motion and then lightly hose.
- If the rust hasn’t disappeared, repeat the cleansing procedure. Do this three times before you rinse.
Salt & Vinegar
Vinegar is a naturally acidic solution that is great at cleaning corrosion. To increase the acidity levels of your vinegar, include salt in it. Salt will help increase vinegar acidity levels while functioning as an abrasive substance in this cleaning mix.
Method:
- Spread a good amount of salt on the shower head rust area you want to clean.
- Pour undiluted vinegar on the rust. It will act as a bathroom rust remover.
- The salt will be a barrier to keep the vinegar from dripping
- Now, rub the rusted area in a circular motion with the mixture and rinse
- You can use this combination when cleaning the bathroom surface also.
Lemon & Salt
You can use either fresh lemons or bottled lemon juice. Choose whatever is available, as there
There is no significant difference between the two alternatives. You will also require some salt.
The citric acid in the lemon works as the base to remove the rust. The salt is there to eliminate rust further and be abrasive as you attempt to scrape off the rust.
Method:
- Squeeze/pour the lemon juice over the rusted shower head to wet it.
- The complete area must be wholly moistened with lemon juice.
- Next, sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the entire rusted surface.
- Let the stain absorb for 3-4 hours.
- Do not use steel wool or rough scouring pads, as you will likely damage your surface. Instead, use a soft cloth to scratch away the rust carefully.
- Wipe down the shower and repeat the baking soda and lemon juice method if needed. You can use this mixture as a bathroom rust remover for your shower heads, bathtubs, or surfaces.
Additional Daily Cleaning Tips To Avoid Rust In Shower heads
- Keep the area around the shower head clean. This includes rinsing off soap suds that may have built up on the outside of the head and cleaning any areas where water droplets have pooled.
- Use a mild detergent. This will help remove any build-up on the inside of the head and any dirt or dust that may have been missed earlier.
- Rinse off the shower after each use. This will help prevent build-up on the head’s inside and ensure that all water has been emptied from it.
- If you clean your shower head weekly by spraying it with a solution of water and white vinegar or a commercial cleaner, you should scrub its nozzle openings with a toothbrush and run your shower for a few minutes to get rid of any debris.
- Use a metallic shower head. Plastic shower heads are more sensitive to mold development than metal fixtures.
- Use the bathroom fan at the end of or after bathing to dry the environment as quickly as possible to eliminate mold growth.
Conclusion
Rust can easily form on shower heads during use, so getting rid of it as soon as possible is essential. It is crucial to remove the shower head rust before it starts to form and damage the shower head. Scraping the rust off the shower head is not a very difficult process. It can be done in a few hours. Hence, follow our above-listed tips and ways to get rid of rust on the shower head and enjoy bathing smoothly!
