How to Clean a Showerhead to Reduce Legionella Risk: EPA and DC Health Steps

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How to clean a showerhead to reduce Legionella risk comes down to two rules from the sources: clean the fixture regularly using the manufacturer’s instructions, and clean it sooner when you see buildup. The EPA says that if you notice “mineral build-up or slimy film on water fixtures, consider cleaning them more often.” The DC Health handout says to “Properly maintain and regularly clean all water-using devices (showerheads, faucet aerators/screens, hot tubs, etc.), per manufacturer instructions.” This post walks through what those rules mean for a showerhead and where the sources stop.

Quick answer

Clean the showerhead when you see mineral buildup or a slimy film. The EPA says to clean fixtures more often in that case.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the cleaning product and method. Both the EPA and the DC handout say so.
The EPA describes removing the head and hose and soaking them in a cleaning solution to remove buildup.
The sources do not give a fixed number of days or months, and they do not name a cleaning product. Check the manual for your model.

Why cleaning the head matters

The showerhead creates the spray. The EPA says that showerheads, sink faucets, and humidifiers “can create spray, or small droplets, that can release bacteria into the air.” If bacteria or buildup sit inside the head, that spray can carry them. The EPA also says Legionella exposures “primarily occur when a person breathes in spray or small droplets that contain the bacteria.” Cleaning the head is one of the steps the sources list for reducing growth and spray.

The DC handout gives the same reason in short form. Its opening section says “The best way to prevent legionellosis is to prevent legionella growth and spread.” Cleaning the showerhead is one way to limit growth on the fixture. The handout is clear that cleaning does not replace the other home steps, such as keeping water temperatures in range and flushing unused outlets.

Step 1: Check the head for buildup

Look at the face of the showerhead, the nozzle holes and the connection to the hose. The EPA uses visible signs as its trigger, namely mineral build-up or a slimy film. If you see either, that is the EPA’s cue to clean more often. The sources do not describe a test for Legionella in a home showerhead, and a clean-looking head is not proof of safety.

Also check the hose if your shower has one. The EPA’s description of cleaning includes the fixture and the hose, because it says you “might require you to remove the fixture, for example a showerhead and hose, and soak in a cleaning solution to remove buildup.” The DC handout lists faucet aerators and screens in the same group of devices to clean.

Step 2: Read the manufacturer instructions first

Both sources send you to the manufacturer. The EPA says to “Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the appropriate cleaning product and method.” The DC handout uses the words “per manufacturer instructions.” If the manual names a product, use that product. If the manual warns against a product, do not use it, even if a home method you have read looks simpler.

This matters because the sources do not name a cleaning product. They do not say vinegar, bleach, or any other chemical is right for every head. They also do not say a particular finish or metal is safe for a particular solution. The manual is the source that covers those points for your model.

Step 3: Remove the head and soak it

The EPA describes removing the showerhead and hose and soaking them in a cleaning solution to remove buildup. The sources do not give a soak time, a concentration, or a list of tools. If you use a soak, follow the manual’s limits on time and on what the head can take. Rinse the parts well before you put them back on, and follow the product’s own safety directions.

Do not try to scrape a hard-to-remove deposit with a sharp tool. The sources do not recommend that method, and it can damage the nozzle holes. If the buildup will not come off, the sources do not say what to do next, so the manufacturer’s instructions for your model are the place to check.

Step 4: Reinstall and flush

After you reinstall the head, run the water before you shower. The DC handout says to “Run/flush all faucets and showerheads for at least 2 minutes, if they have been out of use for more than a week.” The EPA says to open taps and let the water run for approximately two minutes to remove water that has been standing in the pipes and outlets. Both sources describe flushing as a separate step from cleaning, so do the flush even if you cleaned the head.

The EPA also advises minimizing splashing and spray during flushing. It suggests turning on an exhaust fan or opening a window, and stepping away from the area to avoid breathing in spray. Those steps matter most when you flush a shower you have not used for a while.

Reducing spray after cleaning

Cleaning the head does not change the basic fact that a showerhead makes spray. The EPA suggests opening a window or using an exhaust fan when you shower. It also says that “High-risk individuals may also want to consider point-of-use (POU) filters for sinks and showerheads”, and that POU devices “need to be maintained and must be replaced at regular intervals.” The filter, if you use one, has its own schedule, and the sources say to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for it.

The DC handout lists “Regularly replace water filters” among its home steps, including filters for countertop pitchers and ice makers. It does not say how often to replace a showerhead filter. Use the filter manufacturer’s schedule.

What the sources say about temperature

Cleaning is only one part of a home plan. The EPA says Legionella “grows best at temperatures between 80-120⁰F”, and that keeping water in indoor plumbing above 124⁰F or below 80⁰F can help control the bacteria. The DC handout says to set water heaters to a minimum of 120⁰F and to consider 130 to 140⁰F. Hot water at the shower can scald, and the EPA says water at the faucet or shower “may present a scalding risk at temperatures above 117⁰F.” If you change the heater setting, consider a thermostatic mixing valve, and have a plumber install it if you are not sure.

For readers who also compare shower heads for flow and pressure, see our high pressure and water-saving shower head guide and the water-efficient hand-held shower head roundup. Those comparisons do not cover Legionella, and neither do the sources in this post.

Mistakes to avoid

Cleaning only the face and not the inside of the head. The sources ask for the fixture to be cleaned, and they do not say a surface wipe is enough.
Choosing a product the manual does not allow. The sources send you to the manufacturer for the product and method, so check the manual before using any solution.
Skipping the flush. The EPA and DC handout both describe flushing as a separate step.
Assuming a cleaned head is free of Legionella. The sources do not test for the bacteria in a home.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean a showerhead?

The EPA ties cleaning to buildup: clean more often when you notice mineral buildup or a slimy film. The DC handout says to clean regularly. The sources do not give a number of days, so check the manufacturer’s schedule.

Is vinegar the right cleaner?

The sources do not name a cleaner. Follow the manual, and do not assume a home solution is right for your head’s finish.

Do I need to clean the shower hose too?

The EPA’s description of cleaning includes the showerhead and hose, because the hose can hold buildup. Clean the hose on the same basis as the head.

Does a cleaned showerhead remove the risk?

No source says so. Cleaning reduces buildup and spray, and the sources list it as one part of prevention alongside temperature and flushing.

How we chose these sources

We used the EPA page “Legionella in the Indoor Environment” as the federal source on showerhead spray and cleaning. We used the DC Health handout “Preventing Legionellosis at Home” (2025) as a local government handout that gives home steps. The CDC prevention page returned a 404 error and the CDC site returned 403 errors to our fetch tool, so no CDC text is quoted here. Search results from county and state handouts were not used as sources.

What we could not verify

A cleaning product, concentration or soak time that works for any specific showerhead. The sources do not give these.
A fixed cleaning interval in days or months for showerheads.
Whether cleaning removes Legionella from a particular head. No source reports that test.
The CDC’s own cleaning steps. The CDC pages were not available to us.

Sources

US EPA, “Legionella in the Indoor Environment”, https://www.epa.gov/node/271246 (opened 2026-10-29). Saved text: research/sources-20261029/B4/how-to-clean-a-showerhead-to-reduce-legionella-risk–epa-indoor-environment.txt
DC Health, “Preventing Legionellosis at Home” (2025), https://dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/Preventing%20Legionellosis%20at%20Home_2025.pdf (opened 2026-10-29). Saved text: research/sources-20261029/B4/how-to-clean-a-showerhead-to-reduce-legionella-risk–dc-health-home-handout.txt