A former hoarding technician who cleaned biohazard sites says vinegar is the key ingredient for a squeaky-clean shower head

• Fiona Mills is a former hoarding technician and franchise business consultant at Spaulding Decon.
• She told Insider the best way to clean shower heads.

Fiona Mills is a former hoarding technician and current franchise business consultant with Spaulding Decon, a US-based biohazard restoration company specializing in hoarding, crime scene, meth lab, and tear gas cleanup. When the 33-year-old first spoke to Insider in October 2021, she shared six of her favorite cleaning hacks for a spotless home.

Now, she told Insider how to keep properly clean shower heads, which researchers have found hold lots of mycobacteria – some of which can cause lung diseases.

Mills said white vinegar, a common household item, is a great way to get rid of calcium and grim

According to Mills, homeowners should clean their shower heads when they notice calcium buildup on the jets and a decline in water pressure.

"The best way to clean a shower head is soaking it overnight in white vinegar," Mills said. "Then brush the jets and around the jets with a used toothbrush."

Afterward, Mills said to let the shower run for "a minute or so to flush any loose debris through."

Alternatively, she told Insider that CLR Remover and The Pink Stuff also work.

Mills advised against using bleach-based products because they can erode parts of a shower head over time.

People should clean their shower heads once or twice a month, depending on where they live, Mills said

Mills explained that most homeowners should clean their shower heads once a month but for those living in states like Florida – where the water has high mineral build-up – twice a month is better.

"Shower heads are prone to mold and mineral buildup inside and out – do you really want to bathe in water that contains that?" she said.