Haha, your description of the hose as an "ancient cave" made me chuckle—I've definitely seen my fair share of those mineral build-ups. Vinegar soaking is usually my go-to as well, but you're right, sometimes it's just not enough. Toothpicks can work wonders, though I'd suggest using something a bit softer next time, like a plastic zip tie or even a nylon brush bristle. Metal connectors can handle toothpicks fine, but plastic ones can be surprisingly delicate.
Also, if you notice this happening frequently, it might be worth checking your water hardness levels. Hard water is usually the culprit behind these stubborn deposits. Installing a simple inline water filter or softener can help reduce build-up significantly and save you from future excavation missions.
Anyway, kudos for sticking with it and not just tossing the hose out immediately. Plumbing can be oddly rewarding when you finally get things working again... plus, pizza money is always a solid motivator.
"Plumbing can be oddly rewarding when you finally get things working again... plus, pizza money is always a solid motivator."
Haha, totally agree on the pizza motivation—nothing tastes better than victory pizza after wrestling with stubborn plumbing. I second the nylon brush bristle tip; learned that one the hard way after accidentally gouging a plastic connector with a toothpick (oops). Also, if vinegar isn't cutting it, I've had luck with citric acid powder dissolved in warm water. Seems to tackle those mineral deposits pretty well without being too harsh. Worth a shot next time your shower decides to rebel!
Good call on the citric acid, vinegar never really did much for me either. Couple other things I've found helpful:
- Check the rubber gasket inside the showerhead—sometimes it gets twisted or worn out, causing weird spray patterns.
- If you're on a tight budget, soaking the showerhead overnight in CLR diluted with water can work wonders. Just rinse it thoroughly afterward.
- Worst case scenario, a cheap replacement head from the hardware store is usually under $20 and saves a ton of hassle.
Pizza definitely tastes better when you haven't blown your whole weekend on plumbing repairs...
"Worst case scenario, a cheap replacement head from the hardware store is usually under $20 and saves a ton of hassle."
Yeah, this was me last weekend. After soaking mine overnight in CLR (which usually does the trick), it still sprayed water everywhere but down. Ended up grabbing a basic replacement from the hardware store for like $15. Honestly, best decision ever—no more surprise face sprays at 6am. Plus, pizza money intact... priorities, right?
Did you try checking the rubber washers or seals before replacing the whole thing? Sometimes it's just a tiny worn-out gasket causing all that chaos. I've had showerheads spray everywhere, and it turned out to be a 50-cent fix rather than a $15 replacement. Not knocking your pizza priorities, but maybe worth a quick look next time before heading to the store?
