How to Remove Caulking From the Inside of a Bathtub

Little by little, the nice white caulk around a tub starts to turn from that pristine white to brown and finally black. Taking a bath with mold surrounding you starts to freak you out, so in a moment of inspired disgust, you attempt to remove caulking from inside the bathtub. After you scrape out a small section, leaing silver scratches on the inside of the tub and panting in exhaustion, you realize you need a better plan. There are easier ways to remove the caulk for the tub and replace it in one afternoon, without all of the drama.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk remover Plastic gloves Putty knife, utility knife or 5-in-1 tool Garbage bags Needlenose pliers Alcohol Bleach Detergent Spray bottle Paintbrush Hair dryer Rags

Instructions

1. Soften the caulk to the consistency of butter with a caulk remover. Before you strain a muscle, get a bottle of caulk remover and squirt it on the caulk all of the way around the tub. This doesn't make the caulk magically jump out into the trash, but it does soften it so removal is easier.

2. Allow the remover to work while you do something else. The caulk remover takes time to soften the caulk. You need to let it sit for at least 4 hours for easier removal. Wear gloves when you perform this step and work as quickly as possible. While it softens the caulk, it can really do a number on your rubber gloves, too; you want to be finished before they are. Use enough remover to cover all of the caulk. You might need a second tube.

3. Line the tub with an open plastic garbage bag before you start to remove the softened caulk. This makes cleanup easier. Also, keep an open garbage bag nearby to dispose of any paper towels or large chunks of caulk from the blade.

4. Use a plastic scraper, a 5-in-1 tool or a putty knife to remove the caulk. You can also use a utility knife with a sharp blade, but the 5-in-1 tool is best. Slide the flat edge along the top edge of the tub, at the spot where the caulk meets the tub. Let the residue fall into the open garbage bag. Wipe off the scraper frequently with a paper towel.

5. Pull the strings of caulk with the tip of the 5-in-1 tool or a set of needlenose pliers. Occasionally, you get lucky and a big hunk comes off in a string. If you see you can pull this away easily as a whole string, by all means do it.

6. Remove all of the bits of caulk and clean thoroughly with a mildew remover. Plain alcohol works; you can also use a homemade mildew remover. Simply mix 1 cup of bleach with 3 cups of water. Add 1 tbsp. of powdered detergent and put it in a spray bottle. Shake it and spray onto the mildewed area. You also can use paint thinner to clean the area. Whatever you do, don't mix any ammoniated product with the bleach: The fumes are toxic. If you don't have a spray bottle, use a paintbrush to apply the mixture. You want to kill the mildew deep in the cracks.

7. Dry the area with a hair dryer or allow it to sit overnight before you recaulk. You'll need the surface to be completely dry for the new caulking to adhere properly.