How do you lubricate an O-ring faucet?
So you can clean them up with a rag a cloth and then with some plumbers grease thoroughly grease up
Lubrication of O-rings is extremely important. The greatest benefit of using a lubricant is typically obtained during installation. Using a lubricant is going to decrease the surface friction of the O-ring helping to prevent abrasion, pinching or cutting of the O-ring during installation.
What lubricant is best for o rings? Silicone lubricant grease. Protective, waterproof, simple to use. As o rings are made from synthetic rubbers such as Neoprene, nitrile, and EPDM, you can use petroleum grease to perfectly lubricate the o ring.
Well Mike no you do not want to use Vaseline on your rings. The petroleum jelly just eats away at
Remove a swivel-type faucet spout by twisting it back and forth while pulling it up and off the faucet body at the same time. Apply a small amount of silicon faucet grease to the two rubber o-rings on the faucet body, as well as the inside of the spout. Press the spout back into place using a gentle twisting motion.
Silicone lubricant is waterproofing and lubricating. It costs $10 for a small tube and is available at all auto parts stores. Be safe, use silicone grease on your o-rings and rubber seals in pressure washer wands, hoses and pumps.
Will WD-40 Destroy Your Motorcycle Chain O-Rings? | MC GARAGE
Vegetable oil isn't just for use in the kitchen. Some engine manufacturers recommend vegetable oil to lubricate O-Ring seals. In these applications, if petroleum-based lubricants are used, the result will be swelling and cracking of the seal, leading to a leak.
Plumber's grease is also used by, well, plumber's for O-rings, gaskets, cartridges, handles, swivel joints and other moving parts on plumbing fixtures like toilets, showers, and faucets. Because it's safe for potable water you'd be surprised at all the plumbing places that could use a little lubrication!
Don't Use Vaseline or Oil
But DO NOT use Vaseline, mineral oil, baby oil, or vegetable oil to lubricate o-rings. Oils degrade rubber and will actually cause the rubber to swell.
Is olive oil good for rubber?
If your rubber wellies get chalky after a few wears, rub them with olive oil to erase the white marks. Avoid getting oil on the soles, though; it may cause you to slip next time you put them on.
Plumber's grease is waterproof and comprises of silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane) in combination with silicone grease. It's a dielectric grease in nature, but is relatively thicker than regular grease. This type of grease is mainly used for lubricating and protecting plumbing fixtures.

As mentioned above, and unlike lithium grease, silicone lubricant is the perfect lubricant for rubber surfaces, but it is also extremely versatile, so it can be used on most other materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and even painted materials.
Vegetable oil should NEVER be used to lubricate mechanical parts. It always leaves a solid deposit which later will be stuck to the parts you wanted to lubricate.
Petroleum distillates are another common, but less than ideal choice, as they frequently cause rubber to dry out or swell. While soap and water may be safe, they are not especially effective. They may even reactivate when wet, which can significantly reduce the efficacy of the O-ring.
- Remove the faucet handles from faucet, and place in a bowl.
- Pour straight vinegar into the bowl until the handles are completely submerged. ...
- In the morning, thoroughly lubricate the faucet valve with Plumber's Grease. ...
- Remove faucet handles from vinegar, rinse with water, dry thoroughly, and re-install.
Stuck or Hard to Turn Price Pfister Faucet Handle. Easy $0 repair.
Clean out the inside of the faucet valve with vinegar, and repeat the cleaning on the cartridge. Inspect for metal shavings, worn parts, grit, or mineral buildup. A scrub brush can help loosen deposits. Use the plumber's grease to lubricate any threads you can see.
- BEST OVERALL: WD-40 Specialist Water-Resistant Silicone Lubricant.
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: WD-40 Multi-Use Product (2 pack)
- BEST FOR RUBBER: DuPont Teflon Silicone Lubricant.
- BEST FOR GARAGE DOOR: 3-in-ONEProfessional Garage Door Lubricant.
Is Vaseline Safe To Use On Gaskets And Rubber Seals - YouTube
When should you not use silicone lubricant?
The one time you should never use silicone lube is when you're using silicone sex toys. “Like damages like,” Dr. Rowen says. “Silicone lubes will break down sex toys." Instead, opt for a water-based with a silicone sex toy or oil-based if you don't need to use any latex barrier on the toy.
- Door hinges. Sure, WD-40 will stop the squeaking, but it also attracts dust and dirt. ...
- Bike chains. WD-40 can cause dirt and dust to stick to a chain. ...
- Paintball guns. WD-40 can melt the seals in the guns.
- Locks. ...
- iPods and iPads.
Cleaning Methods
Method 1: Wiping with 100% Isopropyl Alcohol for 30 to 60 seconds. Method 2: Washing in an Ultra Sonic Machine for 15 minutes using a 50/50 mix of Isopropyl Alcohol/Water. Method 3: Sending through the washer in our clean room with a 1% Valtech Solution.
Actually wd 40 is bad for rubber anything. Just ask any air soft gun hobbyist. They avoid it to lube their guns because it destroys rubber seals. The best option here would be a silicone based lube.
I have used pam on a metal garage door's wheels and track v.s grease and I must say the pam works better and has lasted longer, surprising, I know. After that I tried it on my bike chain, simply put, it works, like other lubes it keeps the rollers, well rolling.
Olive oil also works as a great lubricant and protectant for metal, which means you can use it on hinges, gardening tools, and kitchen knives. Be sure to remove rust and grime before applying the olive oil, to ensure the surface is as clean as possible.
Vegetable oils can and have been used as lubricants in their natural forms. They have several advantages and disadvantages when considered for industrial and machinery lubrication. On the positive side, vegetable oils can have excellent lubricity, far superior than that of mineral oil.
So, can you use Vaseline as bike grease? You can use Vaseline (petroleum jelly) as a bike lubricant without issues. However, it melts at lower temperatures (40-60 degrees Celsius) as compared to grease. All the same, when you have no grease, Vaseline would be ideal for a quick alternative.
Silicone lubricant is a great product for lubricating rubber surfaces, protecting and extending the life of your tools and equipment, does not allow dust, dirt, oil and grime to stick and of course prevents parts from sticking and binding.
Tips for Applying Plumber's Grease on Shower Faucets - YouTube
How do you lubricate a kitchen faucet handle?
Archive - How to Keep Kitchen Faucet Rotating Smoothly - YouTube
Faucets become hard to turn due to the buildup of mineral deposits or problems related to the faucet's cartridge.
You want to remove all the built-up grease and dirt so you can apply a clean lubricant. Take your spindle O-ring and roll it onto the spindle until it sits in its groove. Add tap lubricant and turn the tap handle anti-clockwise. Move the spindle as far as it will go up into the spindle outer.