I’d say if you’ve got a decent old metal one, it might actually be worth fixing or replacing parts—it’s wild how much better the older ones hold up compared to the cheap plastic stuff out there now.
Honestly, I get the nostalgia for the old metal ones, but sometimes you’re just throwing good money after bad. I’ve tried soaking, scrubbing, even vinegar baths—half the time, the buildup comes back in a month. I switched to a mid-range eco model (not the cheapest plastic, but not fancy either), and it’s actually been solid. Water pressure’s decent, and it hasn’t clogged up yet. As for recycling, I’ve asked at my local center—they’ll take metal parts, but plastic ones? Straight to landfill, unfortunately. Sometimes it’s just about picking your battles and moving on.
half the time, the buildup comes back in a month
Ever try checking your water hardness? Sometimes it’s less about the showerhead and more about what’s coming through the pipes. Curious if a filter would help, or is it just not worth the hassle for you?
Yeah, hard water’s a sneaky culprit. I’ve seen showerheads get crusty again in weeks, even after a vinegar soak. Filters can help, but honestly, they’re not magic—still gotta clean now and then. At least you won’t need a chisel every month...
I get where you’re coming from about filters not being a cure-all. But honestly, if your shower’s spraying every which way, I’d bet there’s more than just hard water at play. Sometimes the rubber gasket inside the head gets warped or clogged, and no amount of vinegar is fixing that. I’ve seen folks swap out a $10 showerhead and—bam—problem solved for months. Worth checking if it’s just plain worn out instead of fighting the same battle over and over...
Not saying you’re wrong about swapping the head, but have you ever checked if the pipe threads are gunked up or corroded? I had a similar mess once and it turned out the arm itself was half-blocked. Sometimes it’s not just the showerhead that’s the culprit…
