How to Clean Up Siliconized Acrylic Latex
Siliconized acrylic latex is a common caulk formula. It is flexible, durable and cleans up easily if it is still wet. Easy cleanup is good because it is rare, when doing a caulking job, not to get some caulk on unintended surfaces. When siliconized acrylic latex has dried, cleaning it up is a bit more challenging. However, it can be done -- it just takes the right tools and a little more time and effort. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Dampen a rag in warm water. Put a few drops of dish soap on the rag and wipe up any of the still-wet siliconized acrylic latex. If the caulk is fully dry, you can skip this step and start at the next step.
-
2
Cut or scrape the caulk off with a razor blade, if at all possible. If it is on a slick surface, such as porcelain or glossy vinyl, a majority will come up this way.
-
-
3
Cover the remaining siliconized acrylic latex with caulk remover and wait for the remover to soften it. Although wait time can vary according to the caulk's thickness, you generally should wait at least an hour.
-
4
Use a putty knife to scrape up the softened siliconized acrylic latex. If it doesn't come up easily, repeat step 4, applying more remover and waiting longer than you did before.
-
5
Scrub the area briskly with a damp sponge to remove remaining traces of the caulk and remover.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If caulk is on carpeting, try to pull or cut out as much as you can. Then apply a small amount of remover and, when it has softened, scrape it up with a blade. If wet caulk is on the skin, wash it off with regular soap and warm water. If you don't have a putty knife on hand, try a butter knife. You can find caulk removers at most places that sell caulk (hardware stores and home improvement stores, for example).
Be very careful not to cut yourself when using the razor blade. Some caulk removers are flammable -- follow the label directions and do not use around open flame.
