“Masking tape and a Sharpie still win for me.”
I hear you—nothing beats scribbling “leak here” on a pipe when your hands are covered in who-knows-what. I’ve tried voice memos, but my phone just ends up with fingerprints and regret. If you’re set on digital, maybe try those washable chalk markers on pipes? Not exactly high-tech, but at least it’s eco-friendly and wipes off later. Sometimes the old-school way is just less hassle...
“my phone just ends up with fingerprints and regret.”
- Been there. One time I tried snapping a pic of a valve label with my phone, and by the time I cleaned my hands, the label was gone and my phone looked like it’d been through a mudslide.
- Sharpie on masking tape is still my go-to for marking stuff under sinks or in crawlspaces. If it smudges, just slap on a new piece.
- Chalk markers are a cool idea, but I’ve had them smear if there’s any condensation. Maybe I’m just too rough with the pipes...
- For quick info, I keep a small spiral notepad in my tool bag. Old school, but it never runs out of battery and you can sketch layouts or jot down part numbers.
- Tried using those QR code stickers once to link to install vids—looked fancy until the codes peeled off from moisture.
Sometimes low-tech wins out, especially when you’re elbow-deep in gunk. Digital’s nice in theory, but in practice? Gimme tape and a marker any day.
Never fails—every time I try to use my phone for plumbing stuff, I end up with a greasy touchscreen and a camera lens that needs a deep clean. I’ve started using painter’s tape and a pencil for quick notes since it peels off clean and doesn’t leave residue. Not as permanent as Sharpie, but less waste if you’re worried about plastic. I do wish there was a digital trick that actually worked in wet, grimy spots... until then, low-tech wins for me too.
