my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down

Taking the showerhead apart is honestly the only thing that worked for me when mine started spraying sideways.

sometimes there’s debris or even little plastic bits clogging things up inside that soaking just won’t touch

Title: My Shower's Gone Rogue And Sprays Everywhere But Down

Taking these things apart is usually the only way to get them working right again, especially if it’s been a while since anyone’s looked inside. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve opened up a showerhead and found all sorts of junk—bits of Teflon tape, mineral chunks, even a dead spider once (don’t ask). Vinegar’s fine for the easy stuff, but if you’re dealing with years of buildup or random debris, soaking just doesn’t cut it.

I get being nervous about chemicals on old fixtures. Some of those finishes are pretty thin, and you never really know what’s under there until something starts peeling. I’ve seen folks try CLR or similar products and end up with a patchy mess where the chrome used to be. If you’re worried about that, sticking to mechanical cleaning—like taking it apart and scrubbing with an old toothbrush—usually does the trick without risking the finish.

One thing I’d add: when you put it back together, make sure the rubber washer or O-ring is seated right. Miss that and you’ll get leaks or weird spray patterns all over again. And don’t overtighten—hand tight is usually enough unless you want to fight with it next time.

Funny thing is, sometimes people think they need a whole new showerhead when it’s just a bit of gunk stuck in there. Seen plenty tossed out for no good reason. If you can get it apart without breaking anything, nine times out of ten you can bring it back to life.

Anyway, sideways spray is almost always something stuck inside or blocking one of the holes. Taking it apart isn’t as scary as it sounds... just keep track of how everything fits together so you don’t end up with extra parts at the end.

I’ve definitely seen the aftermath of someone going wild with pliers and ending up with a cracked showerhead or stripped threads—sometimes less is more when it comes to tightening things back up. Curious, have you ever run into those older showerheads where the buildup is basically cemented in? I had one where even soaking and scrubbing barely made a dent. Ended up having to poke each hole with a needle... not exactly fun, but it worked. Wondering if anyone’s found a better trick for those stubborn cases?

Man, I totally get where you’re coming from—those ancient showerheads can be brutal. I’ve tried soaking in vinegar overnight, but sometimes the buildup is just too far gone. Honestly, poking each hole with a needle is tedious but weirdly satisfying when you see the spray finally straighten out. I’ve heard some folks swear by CLR or similar descalers, but I’m always a bit wary about what those chemicals might do to older finishes. Sometimes, it’s just not worth the hassle and a new showerhead is the way to go... but I respect the stubbornness of fighting through it!

I get the appeal of just swapping out the whole thing, but I always wonder if people check what’s actually causing the weird spray first. Sometimes it’s just a chunk of old Teflon tape or a bit of rubber stuck inside—had that happen at my uncle’s place, and a quick disassembly did the trick. Also, I’m with you on being cautious about chemicals like CLR, especially if you’re not sure what kind of finish you’ve got under all that grime. Ever tried just taking it apart and scrubbing inside with an old toothbrush? It’s messy but usually less risky than harsh cleaners.