How to Clean Up Silicone Caulking

Silicone caulk is far more durable than acrylic caulk because it's not water-based. Unfortunately, that same durability makes it tougher - and sometimes impossible - to clean up after you've completed a project. Here's how to prevent long-term damage.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dishwashing Liquid
• Terry Cloth Towels
• Turpentine
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Utility Blades
• Terry cloth towels

1. Blot wet caulking using a white terry cloth towel.

2. Wipe up smudges and spills with a solvent such as turpentine or naphtha soap.

3. Use a utility blade to scrape or peel away cured silicone caulk from smooth surfaces.

4. Try dishwashing liquid and water for fabric or carpeting. Rub the material (or fibers) between your fingers until the caulk loosens and you can pick it off.

Tips & Warnings

• Attend to messes right away. Silicone caulk sets up within eight hours. After that, you're not likely to have much luck cleaning it up.
• Don't apply solvent to fabric or carpeting without testing the solvent first on a hidden area of the material.

[gooch1166]

on 7/29/2009 to clean up your granite counter use denatured alcohol and a brand new razor blade, after you've scraped up most of it use a toothbrush to get up the rest.

[Relic]

on 4/9/2008 We installed honed granite countertops in the kitchen. We now want to have the colour darkened with a colour enhancer. However, when the sink installed, a cloth with some silicone caulking residue was placed mistakenly on the counter. There is a light smudge in that location. Before proceeding with getting the counters darkened, we wanted to know if this smudge would be a problem. Would it darken for example the same as the rest of the countertop. Or, does the smudge need to be removed first. If it does, we have heard that acetone is a good cleaner on honed granite. Again though, what would the result be in that area with the colour enhancer after using acetone. Will the enhanced colour will be uniform through-out the counter top including the area where we used acetone to clean way the silicone smudge. If anyone has advice on the best action to take, it would be appreciated.

[Relic]

on 4/9/2008 We installed honed granite countertops in the kitchen. We now want to have the colour darkened with a colour enhancer. However, when the sink installed, a cloth with some silicone caulking residue was placed mistakenly on the counter. There is a light smudge in that location. Before proceeding with getting the counters darkened, we wanted to know if this smudge would be a problem. Would it darken for example the same as the rest of the countertop. Or, does the smudge need to be removed first. If it does, we have heard that acetone is a good cleaner on honed granite. Again though, what would the result be in that area with the colour enhancer after using acetone. Will the enhanced colour will be uniform through-out the counter top including the area where we used acetone to clean way the silicone smudge. If anyone has advice on the best action to take, it would be appreciated.

[pmlambooy]

on 10/15/2007 very cool stuff. How about those tube " tips" you can buy?

on 8/30/2006 To keep a partially used tube of caulk usable, I press enough Vaseline into the tip to create an air tight seal, wipe the tip clean, then seal again with masking tape. The Vaseline pushes out easily with the caulk gun.