Dish soap in the mud mix, huh? Never tried that one, but now I'm curious enough to give it a shot next project. Usually, I just thin mine out a bit and cross my fingers, haha. Totally feel you on the lighting thing though—it's like drywall has some sneaky invisibility cloak until you've officially called it done. The flashlight trick is spot-on, saved me more than once from waking up to a nasty surprise. Vinegar sounds sketchy to me too...I'd probably stick with the damp sponge method, personally.
I've been there with the damp sponge method, works pretty well...just gotta be careful not to overdo it or you end up pulling off too much mud. Tried dish soap once—definitely helps smoothness, but go easy on it or things get bubbly.
Ever tried mixing in a little joint compound conditioner instead of dish soap? I've heard some folks swear by it, but honestly, I'm skeptical about adding anything extra. Seems like it could mess with the drying time or adhesion... Have you noticed any issues with drying or paint adherence after using dish soap? Curious if it's worth experimenting with something specifically made for drywall mud instead.
I've experimented with both dish soap and joint compound conditioner, and honestly, the conditioner does seem to give a smoother finish without affecting adhesion much. Dish soap can sometimes cause minor issues if you go overboard—like slightly longer drying times or paint not sticking perfectly. If you're cautious and keep it minimal, it's usually fine, but the conditioner is specifically formulated for drywall mud, so it feels safer. I'd say it's worth trying out on a small section first to see how it behaves before committing to a whole room.
I've had similar experiences with dish soap—tried it once when I ran out of conditioner mid-project (typical me, lol). It worked okay-ish, but drying took forever, and the paint felt a bit off afterward. Switched back to conditioner and haven't looked back since. Plus, I feel better using something that's actually made for drywall mud, you know? Less guesswork and fewer headaches later on.