How to Remove Caulk From Fabric
Caulk is one of the stickiest, gooiest substances in the construction world. These characteristics make it ideal for sealing cracks or gaps in everything from bathroom fixtures to the exterior of RVs. Unfortunately that stickiness holds true at all times--even when you've gotten the caulk on your clothes, a chair or other fabric you need to clean. Learning some methods for removing caulk from fabrics can save your favorite shirt or other piece of fabric from being forever stained by caulk. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Detergent
- Washing machine
- Scissors
- Ice or water
- Freezer
- Chemical cleaner
Instructions
-
-
1
Run the fabric through a regular washing cycle in your washing machine with standard detergent. If the fabric is white, add bleach for extra washing power. New caulk stains or ones that have not completely dried, may come off with a normal wash.
-
2
Scrape the stain from the fabric with scissors. Be careful not to cut yourself or the fabric.
-
-
3
Hold an ice cube in place over the stain until it freezes; you can also wet the stain with water, and place the whole piece of fabric into the freezer. Once frozen, the caulk will loosen, and you can pull it off.
-
4
Purchase a chemical cleaner, such as Goof Off Stain Remover or Paint Pal Stain Remover, to clean the fabric. Follow all instructions and warnings supplied by the manufacturer to ensure proper cleaning. These products will be available at most hardware stores.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you can get to caulk before it dries, it will be much easier to remove.
Always pretest cleaners with which you are unfamiliar on old clothing or other useless fabrics before applying it to important fabrics.
