Good points, vinegar and toothbrush usually do the trick. Couple extra thoughts:
- Check the rubber washers when swapping showerheads—sometimes leaks or weird sprays come from worn-out seals.
- If your water's hard, consider a showerhead with silicone nozzles; they're easier to clean and less prone to buildup.
Been there myself... rogue showers aren't fun.
"Check the rubber washers when swapping showerheads—sometimes leaks or weird sprays come from worn-out seals."
Glad someone mentioned the washers. I remember a few years back, I had this showerhead that just refused to cooperate. No matter how much vinegar-soaking or toothbrush scrubbing I did, it still sprayed water everywhere except where I wanted it. Finally, after weeks of frustration and a bathroom floor that was basically a swamp, I decided to take the whole thing apart. Turns out, the washer was completely shot—cracked and brittle like an old cookie. Swapped it out for a fresh one, and boom... instant fix.
Also, totally agree about silicone nozzles being easier to deal with if you've got hard water. I've seen some showerheads with those little rubbery silicone tips that you can just rub with your finger to clear buildup—super handy. Definitely beats standing there poking at tiny holes with a toothpick (been there too).
One thing I'd add from experience: sometimes it's not even the showerhead itself causing trouble. If you've got one of those adjustable shower arms (the ones you can angle up and down), check the joint connections too. They can loosen over time and cause weird spray angles or drips.
Speaking of rogue showers, anyone ever had issues with handheld showerheads suddenly losing pressure? Had one recently that started strong but gradually turned into a sad trickle. Ended up being a sneaky blockage in the hose itself—never would've guessed until I took it apart out of sheer annoyance. Curious if that's happened to anyone else...
Swapped it out for a fresh one, and boom...
Had the same issue with my handheld losing pressure—turned out the hose had a kink inside. Took it off, ran water through backwards, and a chunk of mineral buildup popped right out. Worked like new after that. Might be worth checking yours too...
Good call on the kinked hose—seen that a bunch. If the hose checks out fine though, have you looked at the showerhead itself? Sometimes the rubber nozzles get clogged or worn unevenly, causing weird spray patterns...could that be your issue maybe?
Had something similar happen last year...turned out the showerhead had mineral buildup inside. Have you tried soaking yours in vinegar overnight to clear it out? Might be worth a shot before replacing anything.
