If you ever find yourself standing soaped up in the shower while you desperately try to rinse yourself off under a slow trickle of water, it could be time to step up your shower head maintenance.

While some problems with lack of water pressure and sputtering shower heads can be down to the plumbing and may require the assistance of a professional to fix up, it may also be because your shower head is clogged up with mineral build up.

And fortunately this is actually a very simple problem to solve, and is one that can be sorted by any homeowner without necessarily having to all in outside help.

Ask any cleaning whizz and they will tell you that the secret to cleaning and unclogging your shower head is vinegar.

There are a number of antibacterial sprays marketed to scrub up shower heads and hoses, but it has been argued that these may kill good as well as bad bugs and can allow the bacteria to develop a resistance to cleaning chemicals, so vinegar tends to be a better option.

Start by gently wiping the dry debris from around the holes in the shower head using a dry sponge. Next mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water and then unscrew the shower head if possible and soak it in the mixture for 20 minutes before screwing back on firmly.

If you are having trouble unscrewing the shower head, a good tip is to pour the solution into a plastic bag and tie this securely around the shaft so the holes are fully immersed and then leave to soak for the 20 minutes.

It is then a good idea to run the hot water to clear away any loosened deposits and wipe the shower head over one last time. Carry out this simple shower head maintenance every couple of months and you should be left with a clean, well-functioning appliance.