How to Caulk the Kitchen Sink
The finishing touches on any home improvement project are just as important to the polished look you desire as are the materials you choose. Such is the case with caulking the kitchen sink. You want to make sure that the sink functions properly, and that includes adding the sealant. You don't need an expert to caulk your kitchen sink. The following steps will show you how. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Utility knife
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Rubbing alcohol or bleach
- Goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Caulk gun
- Caulk
- Nails
- Duct tape
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove the old grout, if necessary. If you aren't starting from scratch but are replacing old caulk, use your utility knife to cut around the sink base and peel away the old grout. Make sure to get into the hard-to-reach places behind the sink, using a flat head screwdriver to reach this area.
-
2
Disinfect the sink area. Before putting new caulk down, get rid of any mold and mildew that has formed around the sink. If you have some handy, wipe the area with rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth. If you don't have any rubbing alcohol on hand and have a jug of bleach in your laundry room, mix the bleach with regular tap water using three parts water to one part bleach.
-
-
3
Get your gun ready. Using your utility knife, trim off the end of the caulking gun nozzle at an angle. You can then insert the tube of caulk into the caulking gun according to the manufacturer's instructions.
-
4
Caulk the sink. Using steady pressure on the gun, run a line of caulk around the sink. It pays to be patient during this process. Go slow enough to fill the crack but not cause overflow.
-
5
See to the details. This is the time when you go back over your job to double-check for any mistakes. You can remove overflow with the utility knife, but only after a 24-hour period of not using the sink and allowing the caulk to set and dry thoroughly.
-
6
Clean your gun properly. Don't waste any remaining caulk in your gun. Insert a nail into the tip of the caulk tube followed by wrapping the tip with a piece of duct tape. If you do this, your caulk should remain usable for two months.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When using your homemade bleach cleaning solution to remove the mold and mildew, remember that goggles and rubber gloves are recommended for safely handling the solution.
