To get the desired results when cleaning your showerhead, it helps to know what kind of water you are dealing with and from what material the showerhead has been manufactured.  Water can contain a variety of minerals, all of which react differently with different metals. In certain areas, for an example, household water may be high in iron, while in others it may be higher in calcium.  Over time stainless can become dull while copper showerheads may tarnish or turn green depending on the chemical properties of household water.

Unclog a showerhead

If your showerhead is not working efficiently, it is likely that that spouts that expel the water have become clogged with mineral deposits from your water.  White vinegar is a great solution to this problem.  For metal showerheads, boil them in ½ cup of vinegar mixed with one quart of water for fifteen minutes.  For plastic showerheads, soak for one hour in equal parts of vinegar and water

Regular Maintenance Is Key

Regular weekly cleaning will usually help maintain the brightness of the metals and avoid the heavy water particulate that begins to collect around the "eyes" or water spouts on the face of the showerhead. Be aware that stainless steel showerhead housings can easily scratch. Thus, the cleaners for this type of metal should not be abrasive or corrosive. There are actually liquid cleaners that are available expressly for cleaning various types of metals that work quite well to clean and protect showerheads.   For a homemade cleaner, soak a terry cloth towel soaked in hot vinegar and wrap the spout for an hour.  Wipe clean.