Thanks for your feedback. We're sorry to hear the hose cracked. You can keep formula from hardening in your portable carpet cleaner's hose. Before putting it away suction hot tap water through the hose to clean it out, then empty the dirty water tank. You can also clean out the hose by getting our HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Hose Tool, it helps clean the hose by rinsing out unwanted dirt, pet hair and lingering odor. No matter how you clean the lines, it's also a good idea to rinse all tanks and tools and let them air dry after each use.