Haha, “shower’s gone rogue” sums it up perfectly. I’ve definitely seen a few that seemed determined to water the ceiling instead of me. Vinegar soaks help, but I’ve noticed if you’ve got seriously hard water, sometimes the buildup just keeps coming back no matter what you do. If you’re feeling adventurous, unscrewing the showerhead and giving it a proper clean inside can make a world of difference—just don’t drop any tiny washers down the drain like I did once... took me ages to fish that thing out.
I get the appeal of vinegar soaks, but honestly, I’ve seen mixed results with them—especially in places with really stubborn mineral deposits. Sometimes it feels like the buildup just laughs at vinegar and keeps clogging up the jets anyway. Have you ever tried using a toothpick or a pin to poke out the individual holes? It’s a bit tedious, but I’ve found it can help redirect the spray better than just soaking.
Also, about unscrewing the showerhead—totally agree it can make a difference, but I’d be careful with older fixtures. Some of them have plastic threads that strip super easily, and then you’re dealing with a whole new headache. I’ve had to replace a couple of showerheads just because the plastic cracked when I tried to take them apart. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just easier to swap out the whole thing rather than fight with it every few months...
I’ve totally been there with the plastic threads—once snapped one clean off and had to shower with a trickle for a week until I got around to replacing it. I’ve tried the toothpick thing too, but honestly, I always end up poking myself or bending the pin. At some point, I just started buying the $15 showerheads and swapping them out when they get too wild. Feels wasteful, but fighting mineral buildup is such a losing battle in my place...
I hear you on the waste, but honestly, I got tired of tossing out showerheads every year. Here’s what worked for me: I soak the whole thing in a bag of vinegar overnight—just rubber band it on there. Next day, run the water hot for a minute, then poke the holes with a bent paperclip (less stabby than a toothpick). Not perfect, but I get another year out of the cheap ones before they start spraying sideways again. Worth a shot if you’re sick of buying replacements.
That vinegar trick is a classic—works wonders for hard water buildup. I’ve had a few tenants swear by it, though I’ll admit, sometimes those budget showerheads just don’t have much life in them no matter how much you baby them. If you’re seeing constant sideways sprays even after cleaning, it might be worth spending a bit more on a mid-range model. They seem to hold up better and are less prone to clogging, at least in my experience. Still, anything that keeps me off the ladder replacing fixtures every few months is a win in my book.
