Cleaning Showerheads and Faucets

[drgirlfriend]

We here in Humidity Land have to disinfect our showerhead and faucet twice a month. We soak ours in bleach water for an hour. Problem is, the showerhead at our current apartment isn't holding up well. Almost a year of bleaching and it's green and black where the fake silver used to be and bits are flaking off. I don't feel good about the boyfriend using it and need your opinion about what to do. Should we buy our own showerhead or ask the apartment management for a replacement? If we buy one, what should it be made of so it doesn't meet the same fate? If we ask maintenance for one, the next one may fall apart even faster, but at least we didn't pay for it. What do you think?

[lmunchkin]

I work at a hardware store and did this for my hubby too.  I bought a hard Plastic shower head years ago for that very reason.  Fake silver and gold will show its true worth once dipped in Chlorine.  It will turn black & green and all kinds of colors. If you buy a Delta or a Moen shower head that has a hard plastic form to it, you should be fine! The one we bought is a removable kind with a hose that can sit in a case or on the top where shower head normally sits. John has to sit on a chair when he showers so having a removable one works great. When I take a shower, I put it back up in shower stand to wash off.

Also, you may be using too much bleach.  Dilute it a little more with water, and it will still disenfect.  We still have the same shower head that I bought in 2004.  Plus, it has a multi-functional positions on it that he loves!

Hope that helps,
lmunchkin

[drgirlfriend]

Thanks lmunchkin! You're probably right about the amount of bleach. We can get a little carried away sometimes. 

[Sax-O-Trix]

Shower heads are very inexpensive at many large chain stores - I'd buy a new one and leave the apartment management out of it.   The apartment management may tell you that soaking the current shower head in bleach is not normal wear and tear, so you will have to pay for the replacement anyway. 

[malaka]

Changing  a shower head is easy.  Just be sure to buy some teflon tape to seal it if the packaged shower head doesn't already contain it.

Best advice:  righty tighty, lefty loosey.

You're looking at a few bucks for a cheap plastic one to maybe $50 for a fancy chrome or nickel plated metal one.  Buy both and use the good one, leaving the cheapo on when you move.

You already know how to remove and replace the shower head you have, so you're 99% there already.  Just have to pick out a new one. 

I suggest Lowe's or Home Depot.  Overwhelming number of choices.

[amanda100wilson]

was never told this, stayed in many places and never had any problems. 

[lmunchkin]

was never told this, stayed in many places and never had any problems. 

John was doing PD at that time and I was freaked out about him showeriing with that cath in his belly.  But now, I don't worry at all with his fistula.

Best advice:  righty tighty, lefty loosey. 

I suggest Lowe's or Home Depot.  Overwhelming number of choices.

Agree with the righty tighty, but would suggest the smaller hardware stores.  Ace Hardware is more personable and a small box store.  I work for Ace, and we get alot of referrals from Lowes, Home Depot & including Wal-Mart.  We do services that the Big Boxes can't do, so they send lots of people to us.  They are Family owned too, that buy the franchise name.  It is not a corporate owned business, not that that is bad.  The big businesses employ alot of people and that is a good thing! But your mom & pop stores are what drive this economy. Surprisingly enough, people find us cheaper in alot of things. And if Ace doesnt have it in stock, they have a real good ordering service too!

But at anyrate, get a good shower head.  Expensive one is not necessary, just get one that won't rust or tarnish when bleach applied!

God Bless,
lmunchkin