"Once had an ancient one where the vinegar loosened up some hidden corrosion, and it started dripping afterward..."
Yeah, seen that happen more than once. Vinegar's great for clearing out mineral buildup, but older fixtures can be touchy. Had a client with a vintage showerhead—beautiful piece, brass and everything—but after soaking it overnight, it leaked like crazy. Ended up needing new washers and a bit of plumber's tape to get it back in shape. Sometimes these old fixtures just need a little extra TLC after cleaning...
Had a client with a vintage showerhead—beautiful piece, brass and everything—but after soaking it overnight, it leaked like crazy.
I've actually found vinegar a bit overrated for older fixtures. Sure, it clears buildup, but I've seen it eat away at seals and washers pretty quickly. Maybe a mild cleaner or just plain hot water would be gentler on vintage stuff?
- Vinegar's great for salad dressing, less so for vintage plumbing... learned that the hard way myself.
- Mild soap and warm water usually does the trick without murdering your seals.
- Curious though, anyone tried citric acid solutions? Heard they're gentler but haven't tested personally.
"Curious though, anyone tried citric acid solutions? Heard they're gentler but haven't tested personally."
I've actually experimented a bit with citric acid in a couple of my older rental units. Had one shower head that was basically doing interpretive dance instead of spraying straight. Diluted citric acid worked surprisingly well—gentle enough to not mess with the seals, but still effective at clearing mineral buildup. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly afterward... left some residue behind once and tenants weren't thrilled about the lemony surprise.
I've used citric acid a few times myself, and it's definitely gentler than vinegar or harsher chemical cleaners. One thing I'd add though—make sure you don't soak the showerhead too long. I left mine overnight once, thinking it'd be extra clean, but it ended up discoloring the finish slightly. A quick 30-minute soak usually does the trick without any issues. Just rinse well afterward to avoid any sticky residue surprises... learned that one the hard way too.
