"Better safe than sorry..."
Definitely agree with this. Vinegar's usually my go-to as well, especially since CLR can sometimes strip protective coatings if you're not careful. I've seen a few matte black fixtures lose their finish after harsh cleaners—customers weren't thrilled, to say the least. Shorter soak times and a good rinse afterward is solid advice. Sounds like you're on the right track already...good luck getting that showerhead back under control!
Vinegar's solid, but I've had mixed results with tougher mineral deposits. Ever tried poking the nozzles with a toothpick or something similar after soaking? Sometimes that helps loosen stubborn buildup without damaging the finish.
Vinegar usually does the trick for me too, but yeah, tougher mineral deposits can be a real pain. Toothpick method is solid advice—I've done that a few times myself. You just gotta be gentle and patient, cause I've seen a few showerheads end up scratched or chipped from people getting carried away with metal picks or needles. Plastic toothpicks or even those little interdental brushes (like the ones for braces) work pretty well without risking damage. Also, if you haven't tried it yet, soaking overnight in vinegar mixed with baking soda can sometimes loosen things up enough so you barely need to poke at all. Either way, sounds like you're on the right track already... plumbing's half patience anyway, haha.
I've had similar issues with stubborn mineral deposits, and vinegar usually does the trick for me too. But one time, I ran into a showerhead that just wouldn't cooperate no matter how long I soaked it. Eventually, I ended up using a plastic zip tie—just snipped the end at an angle to make it sharper—and gently poked through each nozzle hole. Worked surprisingly well without scratching anything up. Definitely agree about avoiding metal tools; I've seen some pretty nasty damage from folks getting impatient and aggressive with needles or pins. Also, sometimes it's not just mineral buildup—occasionally the rubber nozzles themselves degrade or warp over time, causing weird spray patterns. If that's the case, replacing the showerhead might be your best bet... but hopefully yours isn't at that stage yet.
"occasionally the rubber nozzles themselves degrade or warp over time, causing weird spray patterns."
This is spot-on. Had a customer recently whose showerhead was spraying everywhere but down, and after trying all the usual tricks (vinegar soak, gentle poking), we realized the rubber nozzles had hardened and warped from age. Sometimes no amount of cleaning helps if the material itself is shot. Ended up replacing it with a new one, and problem solved. Might be worth checking if your nozzles feel stiff or brittle...