Cleaning the hard water stains off tap heads

Kathryn Babowal
by Kathryn Babowal
I have just started renting a house and I would love to drop my tap heads into CLR to wear off all the built up hard water stains but I can't find any pliers - even brand new ones with full grips - that can grip hard enough to be able to unscrew and remove them. Any suggestions?

  9 answers
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Nov 24, 2017

    Soak a washcloth or small towel with vinegar and wrap them around the tap heads and secure them so that they are covering them well and let them soak over night. You may need to repeat if they are really bad. This will cover the outside, If you need to soak the whole thing, put vinegar in a baggie and tie it so it soaks the whole head. This should help if you can't get them loose.

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Nov 24, 2017

    I agree with Nancy. Be sure to put a cloth on the shower head before using the pliers so that you do not scratch the finish.

  • Patti Cardinal Patti Cardinal on Nov 25, 2017

    I agree with the last two answers. Just wiping with vinegar may be enough to clean it off.

  • Lauren Hill Lauren Hill on Nov 25, 2017

    Try putting for in baggie, put it over tap head secure it with rubber bands or whatever you have to hold baggie on

  • Lauren Hill Lauren Hill on Nov 25, 2017

    thats clr not for

  • Castrang17 Castrang17 on Nov 25, 2017

    After cleaning the shower head, faucets...spray a good quality furniture polish on a soft cloth and wipe the shower head and faucetS clean. Notice the shine? Buff with the cloth and the finish gets brighter. The furniture polish lets the water slide off. Be careful not to get the polish on the shower or tub floor or bathroom floor. Also spray your mirror, while you are at it, the polish again will deter moisture...no spots! I shine my sink and toilet (outside only) with furniture polish too, for a bright fresh clean shine.

  • Kelly Denoyer Russell Kelly Denoyer Russell on Nov 25, 2017

    plastic baggies and rubber band. Pour CLR into the bag and rubber band it onto the head. Leave for a few hours.



  • 2dogal 2dogal on Nov 25, 2017

    Fill a small baggie with vinegar and tape it to the tap heads. Leave it on overnight. That'll work.

  • Kathryn Babowal Kathryn Babowal on Nov 25, 2017

    Thanks everyone! Such great fix ideas :D