diff --git a/etiquette/helpers.py b/etiquette/helpers.py
index 4d75a4a..77490cf 100644
--- a/etiquette/helpers.py
+++ b/etiquette/helpers.py
@@ -278,15 +278,6 @@ def get_mimetype(filepath):
         mimetype = mimetypes.guess_type(filepath)[0]
     return mimetype
 
-def hash_file(filepath, hasher):
-    bytestream = read_filebytes(filepath)
-    for chunk in bytestream:
-        hasher.update(chunk)
-    return hasher.hexdigest()
-
-def hash_file_md5(filepath):
-    return hash_file(filepath, hasher=hashlib.md5())
-
 def hash_photoset(photos):
     '''
     Given some photos, return a fingerprint string for that particular set.
diff --git a/frontends/etiquette_flask/backend/client_caching.py b/frontends/etiquette_flask/backend/client_caching.py
index 851c031..e7992f8 100644
--- a/frontends/etiquette_flask/backend/client_caching.py
+++ b/frontends/etiquette_flask/backend/client_caching.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+import hashlib
+
 from voussoirkit import cacheclass
+from voussoirkit import spinal
 
 import etiquette
 
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ class FileEtag:
 
         if do_refresh:
             self._stored_hash_time = mtime
-            self._stored_hash_value = etiquette.helpers.hash_file_md5(self.filepath)
+            self._stored_hash_value = spinal.hash_file(self.filepath, hash_class=hashlib.md5)
 
         return self._stored_hash_value