Showerhead dilemma--need vinegar advice fast!

[Marcel]

I am trying to clean the mineral deposits from my showerhead with a 50-50 combination of white vinegar and water.

I looked it up on the web and found articles suggesting that the treatment should be much briefer for metal showerheads than for plastic ones. I am assuming this is because the vinegar will make the metal rust quickly?

My dilemma: my showerhead has both plastic and metal parts! This is true even just in the area with holes where the water comes out--it's plastic and metal.

It's been soaking now for about 4 hours. Should I take it out now or let it stay overnight?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Thmom]

I usually use straight vinegar or lemon juice and a toothbrush. I'd take it out now, see what it looks like and if you can get it clean. Try dipping a tooth brush into baking soda as a good abrasive.

[Marcel]

Thanks, Thmom, I just took it out and found that the metal part, which previously had seemed affixed to the plastic, now has come loose as the vinegar has worked. Also realized I had a rubber part in there! Well, I took the metal and rubber out (the metal seems to have started to rust, but not too noticeably) but figured I may as well leave the plastic part in there overnight, since it can't rust, and it's the main part with the clogged holes that the water comes out of...and why should I scrub it if maybe the deposits will just soak off?

Thanks again.