If you live in a hard water area, limescale (calcium deposits) are likely to build up on your shower head but there's no need to reach for harmful chemical cleaners. Here's how to clean a shower head using vinegar.

How to clean a removable shower head

You will need:

Jug or container slightly bigger than the shower head (or any container big enough to hold the shower head)
Distilled white vinegar
Old toothbrush

Remove the shower head and place it in the jug.
Pour in enough vinegar to cover the head.
Leave to soak for at least 30 minutes. (Shower heads made of brass, or with a gold or nickel coating should be left no longer than 30 minutes.) If it's particularly dirty or has a lot of mineral build up, you may need to leave it longer or even overnight.
Rinse the shower head and scrub off any stubborn deposits using the old toothbrush.
Put the shower head back and turn on the shower head to remove any limescale remaining inside the shower head.

You will need:

Soak the rag in vinegar.
Wrap the rag around the shower head and secure it using the string or elastic band.
Leave to soak for at least 30 minutes. (Shower heads made of brass, or with a gold or nickel coating should be left no longer than 30 minutes.) If it's particularly dirty or has a lot of mineral build up, you may need to leave it longer or even overnight.
Remove the cloth and scrub off any stubborn deposits using the old toothbrush.
Turn on the shower head to remove any limescale remaining inside the shower head.

Support your local hardware shop as they often sell vinegar and other traditional cleaning products. Otherwise you can buy it online from:

Have you got any more eco-friendly cleaning tips using vinegar? Please share your advice below.