Vinegar can actually make mineral clogs worse in some steamers. It reacts with the buildup and turns it into a harder paste. Next time try just distilled water and a longer soak.

I get what @ivan_harris is saying, but that thinner stuff just cuts into your hands after a few hours.

My buddy Mark learned this the hard way. He tossed his puffy jacket in the dryer for like ten minutes, thought it was good, and packed it for a camping trip. That first cold morning he put it on and it was just flat, zero warmth. The outside shell was dry but all the down inside was still damp and clumped together. He spent the whole weekend freezing.

That flexible rod system is a total game changer for older chimneys. The whip head gets into the mortar joints and those weird angles a stiff brush just glides right over. It feels like you're actually cleaning the whole flue, not just the easy middle part. My only tip is to go slow on the first pass to feel for any loose tiles or big cracks. Once you get the rhythm down, it's so much smoother on your shoulders too.

How could you not love that kind of time saved?