I get the caution about poking around with needles—seen a few shower heads end up looking like Swiss cheese after someone got a little too enthusiastic. That said, I’ve actually had decent luck using a soft toothbrush and a vinegar soak for stubborn mineral buildup. Sometimes, if you unscrew the head and let it sit in a bag of vinegar for a couple hours, it’ll clear out most of the gunk without risking any scratches.
I’d also add, not all plumber’s tape is created equal. The cheap stuff can shred and make things worse, especially if you’re dealing with older, worn threads. And yeah, overtightening is a classic mistake—cracked a plastic connector once and got an impromptu indoor fountain for my trouble. If you do go for a new head, I’d recommend spending a couple extra bucks for a metal one. They hold up better and are less likely to split if you get a little heavy-handed.
Sometimes, though, if the spray’s going everywhere but down, it’s just time to retire the old thing. No shame in that.
- Agree on the vinegar soak—works wonders, and you don’t risk poking holes where you don’t want them.
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Couldn’t have said it better. Sometimes you just gotta cut your losses and swap it out.Sometimes, though, if the spray’s going everywhere but down, it’s just time to retire the old thing. No shame in that.
- Metal heads are worth the extra bucks. Plastic ones never last in my rentals, especially with hard water.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you have to replace it. Happens to the best of us, and it’s usually a quick fix.
Metal heads are worth the extra bucks. Plastic ones never last in my rentals, especially with hard water.
Couldn’t agree more on the metal heads—learned that one the hard way after two plastic ones cracked within a year. For anyone stuck with a rogue sprayer, here’s my quick checklist: 1) Unscrew the head, 2) soak it in vinegar overnight, 3) use an old toothbrush to clear the holes, and 4) if it still sprays sideways, just swap it out. Sometimes you just can’t bring ‘em back from the brink...
I used to think a cheap plastic head would be fine, but after the third time getting blasted in the face by a rogue jet, I caved and got a metal one. The vinegar trick works for a while, but if you’ve got hard water like I do, those deposits just keep coming back. Honestly, swapping to metal was less hassle in the long run. If you’re still getting weird spray patterns after cleaning, sometimes it’s just worn out inside—no amount of scrubbing will fix that.
Honestly, swapping to metal was less hassle in the long run.
I was stubborn and kept trying to clean my old plastic one, but it just got worse every time. Ended up with water shooting sideways and soaking the whole bathroom. Switched to a metal head last month—night and day difference. Sometimes you just gotta replace the thing.
