No more weird spray patterns, no more fussing with washers or scraping off ancient tape.
Couldn’t agree more about just swapping out the shower head when it gets to that point. There’s only so much vinegar can do, especially if you’re dealing with old plastic that’s already cracked or warped. I’ve seen folks spend ages trying to revive a $10 shower head when a new one’s cheaper and less headache in the long run.
Pipe dope over Teflon tape is a solid move too. I’ve used both, but honestly, pipe dope’s saved me a few times when the threads were a little rough or the fit wasn’t perfect. Way less fiddly than trying to wrap tape around wet threads, that’s for sure.
Vinegar’s not totally useless, but yeah, sometimes you just gotta call it and move on. I always say—if you’re fighting with your plumbing more than five minutes, it’s probably time for a new part. Makes life a lot easier.
I’m with you on not wasting time trying to resurrect a shower head that’s already seen better days. I used to be stubborn about cleaning and re-cleaning, but after a few too many leaky disasters, I just swap them out now. One thing I’ve wondered—has anyone tried those universal rubber washers instead of the standard ones? I’ve had mixed luck with them sealing properly, especially if the threads are a bit worn. Curious if there’s a trick I’m missing or if it’s just hit or miss depending on the brand.
Universal rubber washers are a bit of a gamble, honestly. If the threads are worn, they just don’t always grab right and you end up chasing leaks. I’ve had better luck sticking with the standard ones and using a bit of plumber’s tape for backup. Sometimes you just gotta admit defeat and replace the whole thing... saves a lot of cursing in the long run.