Informational Guide

How To Clean A LED Shower Head

In this guide, we’ll provide you with all of the details you need to know in regards to how to clean & maintain a LED shower head.

by Holly Curell

If you have an LED shower head, it’s vital to maintain them to ensure they stay effective and sanitary. A dirty LED shower head can make your showering experience an unpleasant one and cause plenty of other problems.  

It’s not difficult to keep your LED shower head clean, and in this guide, we’ll provide you with all of the details you need to know in regards to how to clean a LED shower head.  

Wondering why it’s necessary to clean your LED shower head in the first place? Here are a couple of reasons why.  

If you don’t clean your LED shower head, you run the risk of disease-causing bacteria along with mold and germs growing in your shower head. While most of the bacteria in the shower head is harmless, some levels of harmful bacteria could be present and can cause the development of a lung infection.  

Limescale can also build up within your shower head if you don’t clean it, and this can cause your LED lights to stop working. When the shower head is clogged with mineral/sediment, the deposits will also hamper the flow of water that generates electricity and cause reduced water pressure.  

For most of the above instances, you can easily rectify them simply by cleaning your shower head. You should also replace your LED shower head when needed to keep it clean.  

LED Shower Head

LED Lights Not Working? It Could Be A Dirty Shower Head 

If the LED lights of your shower head aren’t working, it could be because your shower head is dirty. LED lights are powered by a small turbine within your shower head which generates electricity based on water flow and pressure.

As limescale and other minerals/sediments build up in your shower head, it can prevent the microchip turbine from producing enough energy to light up the LED lights.  


How To Clean A LED Shower Head: Step-By-Step DIY Guide 

Cleaning an LED shower head doesn’t have to be complicated. Here, we’ve got a step-by-step DIY guide of how to go about doing so. LED shower heads are quite similar to regular shower heads, so the cleaning process doesn’t differ significantly between the two.  

If you choose to dismantle your LED shower head when you’re cleaning it, however, you would just want to be careful as there are some extra parts in there that you may not see in a regular shower head.  

1. The Rubber Band Method 

Cleaning material and tools required:  

  • White vinegar 
  • Freezer bag  
  • Rubber bands
  • 1
    Start by checking for the presence of leakage within your shower head.  
  • 2
    If everything is good to go, go ahead and pour your white vinegar into a bag. The amount of white vinegar should be sufficient to submerge your shower head.  
  • 3
    Then, use a couple of rubber bands to secure it firmly. You should leave it to soak for about eight hours.  
  • 4
    In the morning, go ahead and clean your LED shower head with a toothbrush or toothpick.  

The vinegar helps to remove the debris from your shower head, and it will also break down calcium deposits.  

2. The Heated Vinegar Method 

Cleaning material and tools required:  

  • Distilled white vinegar  
  • Large saucepan  
  • 1
    This method is similar to the rubber band method, but instead of using regular distilled white vinegar, you would slightly heat the solution.  
  • 2
    Start by heating the white vinegar over a hot stove in a large saucepan. The white vinegar should be warm and not boiling.  
  • 3
    Then, immerse the entire shower head in the solution. Make sure that the shower head is floating in the vinegar rather than touching the base of the saucepan.  
  • 4
    Leave it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing thoroughly.  

3. The Dismantling Method 

Cleaning material and tools required:

  • Instructions to dismantle your shower head 
  • Hard toothbrush  
  • Cleaning solution
  • Adjustable wrench  
  • 1
    This method might be the most effective, but it’s also the most complicated. Make sure that you’re comfortable with dismantling your shower head before attempting this.  
  • 2
    After you’ve removed your shower head, rinse it under cool water.  
  • 3
    Then, go ahead and slather the cleaning solution on your shower head before using a toothbrush to clean the shower head to remove any gunk.  
  • 4
    Make sure to scrub down the water ducts so that they are as clean as possible.  
  • 5
    Finally, go ahead and rinse your shower head thoroughly before reattaching your shower head.  
Blue LED Shower Head

People also Ask (FAQs)

Are LED shower heads safe? 

Yes, LED shower heads are safe. As LED shower heads are built to use water and not electricity to generate power, the chances of getting an electric shock are zero. 

Do LED shower heads need electricity? 

No, LED shower heads don’t need electricity; instead, they rely on water flow to power the LED lights. The water flow helps drive a turbine or generator that produces electricity that powers the LED lights on the shower head.  

Can a new LED shower head increase water pressure? 

Yes, even though water pressure is primarily influenced by how your plumbing is routed to the shower, getting a new LED shower head can help with increasing water pressure.

Limescale buildup can affect the water pressure of your LED shower head, and the problem can be easily rectified with a new LED shower head.  

Can I replace the LEDs in my shower heads? 

Yes, you can replace the LEDs in your shower heads, but it’s always a good idea to engage an electrician to help with that particular task as proper connections between the LEDs and the shower head needs to be made.  


Conclusion

As seen from this guide, it’s not difficult to clean your LED shower head and maintain it well. It is, however, something that you should do to ensure that you’ve got a pleasant showering experience and won’t run into any issues in the long run.  

Holly Curell is the editor extraordinaire for Plumbing Lab. Having grown up in Michigan, Holly has spent time living in New York, Virginia, & currently North Carolina, where she lives with her husband & family. Holly loves DIY & has years of experience with at-home plumbing problems that arise from having 3 kids & living in colder climates. When she's not writing about her plumbing knowledge, Holly enjoys reading, hiking & relaxing with family.

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