• Thoroughly cleaning the shower head improves water flow.shower image by Ekaterina Shvigert from Fotolia.com
  
  Shower head buildup not only makes the shower head look dirty, but buildup can also cause water to spray out in every direction except where you want it to go. Fortunately, a couple of simple products make cleaning mineral buildup easier. Most cleaners probably contain at least one ingredient already sitting on your shelf.
  
  

Vinegar

• A vinegar soak opens the holes in a shower head by loosening the minerals that hardened on the shower head. Family Handyman magazine recommends removing the shower head and soaking it in vinegar overnight. In the morning, use a toothpick to scrape the mineral buildup out of the shower head's holes. After reattaching the shower head, a blast of cold water will eliminate the last of the residue. If it is impossible to remove the shower head, fill a small bucket or bag with vinegar, and attach it to the shower head for a long soak.
  
  

Lemon Juice

• Lemon juice is a handy all-purpose cleaner that works wonders on shower heads. To get rid of lime scale, Green Living Tips website recommends using half of a lemon to scrub the shower head. Alternatively, you can soak the shower head in lemon juice overnight to break down the buildup. Green Living Tips also suggests adding lemon juice to vinegar to lighten the vinegar smell; soak the shower head in both ingredients.
  
  

Cleaning Tools

• Aside from using liquids as cleaners, an old toothbrush can also reform a crusty shower head. If buildup isn't too severe, a simply spritzing with vinegar and lemon juice is often enough to make the shower head toothbrush-ready. Scrub the loosened mineral buildup with the toothbrush, putting in extra effort to clean out stubborn debris that is clogging the holes in the shower head.