Low Shower Water Pressure? This Trick Will Solve That Problem

This story is part of Try This, CNET’s collection of simple tips to improve your life, fast.

Low water pressure can turn a 10-minute shower into a 20-minute shower as you try to use what’s trickling out of your showerhead to rinse the gobs of shampoo out of your hair. It’s even worse when the water is spraying in any direction but down. Why is this happening? You have a clogged showerhead, which happens when the minerals in the water build up over time. Sure, you could buy a new showerhead to replace your current one, but that only temporarily solves the problem — and it’s way more expensive than our tried and true trick. You’ll start by addressing the root of the problem: mineral buildup from hard water.

Water is considered “hard” when it contains high levels of dissolved solids, mostly calcium and magnesium. That’s the stuff that ends up sticking to the metal and plastic in your showerhead, collecting over time and causing a buildup of crusty bits around the water spouts. Eventually, your house’s water pressure can’t compete, and your shower stream slows to a trickle. Shower filters are one way of preventing the problem, but there’s an even easier fix.

This science-based hack is so low-effort, in fact, waiting is truly the hardest part. With just a few common household supplies and some patience, you can have your shower’s water output restored to its once-magnificent original flow in about an hour. Here’s how to do it.

For more tips around the kitchen, here’s how to clean your oven without harsh chemicals and how to make a delicious chocolate cake without a pan.

Gather these items you already have in your junk drawer

First, gather up your supplies. If you’ve got a small enough showerhead, a sandwich bag might very well do the trick. For larger hardware, though, you might need to grab a big ole 1-gallon bag. You’ll also need a rubber band to tie it up, but look for a thicker band, like the ones used to hold asparagus or broccoli crowns together at the supermarket. Water gets heavy, and quick.

For the science-y part, you’re going to create a 50/50 solution of either CLR household cleaner (available at most grocery stores, Walmart and Amazon) or white vinegar (the stuff in your cupboard will do) and plain shower water.

Soak, soak, soak your way to a rejuvenated showerhead

Fill the bag about halfway with either CLR or white vinegar, then insert the showerhead into the bag. Secure it with the rubber band or bands, then gently turn on the water to the shower just enough to fill the bag the rest of the way and mix up the solution. Whatever you do, don’t crank the shower on full blast, or else the sudden pressure may inadvertently launch the plastic bag across your bathroom. 

Next, set a timer for 60 minutes. You could use your phone, a kitchen timer or a smart assistant — here’s how to set multiple timers with Google Home, as well as with Amazon’s Alexa on Echo devices. 

Wipe, rinse and (hopefully) there’s no need to repeat

After your timer goes off, remove the bag from your showerhead and let the cleaning solution spill into the drain. Toss the bag in the trash and wipe down your shower hardware with a damp cloth. 

Then, the moment of truth: Turn on your shower (full-blast, this time) and see how much more powerfully and evenly it sprays. If for some reason there are still a few clogged spouts, try repeating this process. But for most clogged showerheads, one round of this treatment should do the trick.

For other tips, here’s how to get to sleep at night by following a five-minute routine and how to easily clean pet fur off your sofa.