How do you clean a showerhead?

[PirateJones]

The one we have is clogged up with (I’m guessing) lime scale, so even though its a power shower the flow is only a bit more than a trickle.
I've tried taking it off and socking it overnight in cillect bang, but it doesn't seem to have done much good.

It's a rented house, so replacing the thing isn't an option.

Spray with Viakal, then scrub and rinse*

Other limescale removing products are available

Soaking, not socking*

Thank you i will try Viakal.

You need something acidic. Try soaking it in cheap strong vinegar overnight (white or malt fine). If that doesn't work, Oust will sort it.

I think I've seen Kim and Aggie put the head in a bag full of vinegar overnight.

vinegar it is then.
Thank you all.

Loads of vinegar on some kitchen roll or similar, and then in a plastic bag tied onto the shower head. Remember to let the head hang down so the vinegar is on the crusty bit.
Scrub the next morning, and then use a pin to stab all the blocked holes. Repeat the vinegar the next night. This is what it took in my last rented house.

Are the spray holes in metal, or plastic, or rubbery little nozzles that stick out?

Unscrewing it from the pipe is certainly better than trying to do it in place.

When did it last work properly?

Plastic, and i'm not sure becuase it's been about a year since i used the shower.

You say it is a power shower. How do you know the pressure pump is working?

If you unscrew the shower head, and turn it on so it fills a bucket, and time it to full, how many litres per minute come out of the unobstructed pipe?

You say it is a power shower. How do you know the pressure pump is working?

Because the water comes out of the pipe faster without the shower head on.

You mean it pumps out more litres per minute from the open shower pipe than come out from the unpumped bath tap?

What are the figures, please?

^You mean it pumps out more litres per minute from the open shower pipe than come out from the unpumped bath tap?

What are the figures, please?^

No idea, i just want to clean the Nozzle.

I think I've heard that soaking it in water and lemon juice is good. Not sure where I've heard that though.

I'm with addictedtosugar. Very hard water area here and the only thing that works is soaking in limescale solution (I use ecover) then poking each hole with a pin. Labour intensive, but the only thing that works...

Very hard water here too and I am afraid I am terribly lazy and just buy a new shower head from tesco every so often... they're great from there and about £7 I think.