I've noticed pretty similar results myself—silicone grease can attract mineral buildup if your water's hard. As for seals, silicone ones tend to hold up better long-term, especially in hot water applications. Rubber seals are cheaper but seem to crack sooner...something to keep in mind.
Had a similar experience when I replaced the seals in my kitchen faucet last year. Went with rubber seals initially because they were cheaper and easy to find locally. Worked fine at first, but within about 8 months, started noticing tiny cracks and leaks around the edges. Our water here is pretty hard too, so mineral buildup was definitely an issue—had to clean it off regularly.
Ended up switching to silicone seals after that. Cost a bit more upfront, but they've been holding steady for over a year now without any noticeable wear or cracking. Haven't had to mess with them at all since installation, which is nice because crawling under the sink every few months isn't exactly my idea of fun...
One thing I did notice though: silicone grease seemed to attract deposits like you mentioned. I tried using less grease this time around, just enough to lubricate without leaving excess behind. Seems to have helped reduce buildup quite a bit.
Overall, I'd say silicone seals are worth the extra cost if you're looking for longevity and less hassle down the road. Rubber might save you a few bucks initially, but you'll probably end up replacing them sooner anyway—at least that's been my experience.
"silicone grease seemed to attract deposits like you mentioned."
Yeah, silicone grease can definitely be a magnet for mineral buildup, especially with hard water. I've found that wiping off any excess grease after installation helps a lot. Another trick is to periodically run some vinegar through the faucet—it breaks down deposits pretty effectively. Silicone seals are definitely the way to go though, rubber just doesn't hold up long-term in my experience either.
- Totally agree on silicone seals lasting longer—rubber ones degrade way too fast, especially with chlorine-treated water.
- Vinegar's good, but I've also had luck soaking parts overnight in citric acid solution... seems gentler on finishes.
- Key is definitely minimal grease; excess just traps more gunk.
Haha, honestly, before owning a home, I had zero clue faucets even had seals—thought it was just magic water elves or something. Totally with you on the silicone though, rubber ones turned into crumbly messes way quicker than I'd hoped. Haven't tried citric acid yet, but vinegar's been my go-to... might give your method a shot next time. And yeah, learned the hard way about grease—more is definitely not merrier.
