Let’s talk taps-ceramic vs rubber washer.

[Best]

The bottom sealing washer in ceramic works makes the ceramic a tight seal, but deteriorates through time.
The washers are blue or red, but some are white, which are particularly prone to falling apart.
If you go to a dripping ceramic tap, try holding the tap head down by pushing on it for 10 seconds & often the drip stops as you do this.
Ideal Standard ceramic spindles have this white, crap washer. But the other types also lose their seal.

 

[Robert Tyrrell]

Ideal Standard ceramic spindles have this white, crap washer. But the other types also lose their seal.

So right about the Ideal Standard ones. The coloured ones that I've used always seem to be ribbed around the bottom rubber part and I think that this might, just might, enable them to last a little longer.

 

[Best]

So right about the Ideal Standard ones. The coloured ones that I've used always seem to be ribbed around the bottom rubber part and I think that this might, just might, enable them to last a little longer.

That could be true. The blue or red washers seem to be more a silicone washer & better quality than white type.
I have replaced a few faulty washers, when stuck for a possibly temporary job of a heavy O ring & this has often worked.
I find most ceramic works going faulty are mains cold on kitchen sink and not gravity fed cold.
Not fully sure what causes that, but heard that fine grit can do it, although someone at an agents told me when I was ordering mainly cold works that it was the high pressure.

 

[joni os]

Have others noticed that quality of rubber has deteriorated. Recently encountered split washer even though seat rotated freely in tap and washer was relatively new. Also replacing washers on numerous ball valves because rubber loses flexibility after a few years.