Vinegar's always been my go-to, but yeah, it definitely has its limits. I've found that if vinegar alone isn't cutting it, adding some baking soda into the mix can help loosen things up a bit more. It fizzes up nicely and seems to tackle the tougher deposits better than vinegar alone. Plus, it's super eco-friendly and cheap as dirt, so that's a bonus.
CLR does work wonders, can't deny that, but personally, I'm not a huge fan of using it regularly. Like you mentioned, the rinsing is a hassle and I've had my own share of mishaps with residue. Once, I accidentally splashed some onto a chrome faucet and didn't rinse it off quickly enough—ended up with a weird cloudy patch that took forever to buff out. Lesson learned indeed, haha.
Another trick I've had success with is soaking the showerhead overnight in vinegar, then using an old toothbrush or toothpick to clear out any remaining stubborn bits. It takes a little patience, but it usually does the trick without resorting to harsher chemicals. Of course, if you're dealing with something that's been neglected for years (like the showerhead in the guest bathroom at my parents' house—yikes), sometimes you just gotta pull out the big guns.
Also, not sure if anyone else has tried citric acid powder? I bought some online a while back for cleaning my dishwasher, and it worked surprisingly well on shower fixtures too. Just dissolve a tablespoon or two in hot water, soak the showerhead for a few hours, and voilà—good as new. It's gentle enough that you don't have to worry about discoloration, and it's biodegradable too, which is always a win in my book.
Anyway, just my two cents. There's definitely more than one way to tackle stubborn showerheads, but I'm all for trying the gentler methods first before bringing out the heavy-duty stuff.
I've had pretty good luck with the vinegar and baking soda combo myself, though I admit I've never tried citric acid powder—sounds intriguing. One thing I'd add: if you're dealing with a really stubborn showerhead, sometimes it's worth just removing it completely and soaking it in hot water mixed with dish soap. Surprisingly effective, and no risk of cloudy residue. Has anyone else tried this method, or am I just lucky with dish soap?
