How to Replace Ceramic Bathtub Soap Dishes
No matter how a soap dish becomes loose or cracked, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent mold from growing behind it. You need basic carpentry skills to repair a ceramic soap dish. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Rag
- Tarp
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Scraper
- Tile adhesive
- Small putty knife
- Soap dish
- Damp cloth
- Carpenter's level
- Masking tape
- Tile grout
Instructions
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1
Plug the bathtub drain with a rag. Cover the bathtub with a tarp to prevent tiles from scratching it.
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2
Break the soap dish free from the wall with a hammer by gently tapping the soap dish until it shatters. Remove all pieces with a chisel and hammer.
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3
Scrape out old grout with a scraper to clean the area. If you find water behind the soap dish on the wall, allow the wall to dry before continuing on to the next step.
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4
Spread a thin coat of tile adhesive on the opening of the wall with a small putty knife. Make grooves in the adhesive with the sharp edge of the putty knife.
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5
Smear a thin layer of adhesive on the back of the soap dish, then create grooves in the adhesive with a putty knife.
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6
Press the soap dish into place with your hands. With a damp cloth, wipe away any excessive adhesive that squeezed out of the joints. Verify the soap dish is level by placing a small carpenter's level on top of the soap dish.
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7
Place a long strip of masking tape horizontally across the face of the soap dish and two strips vertically over the face of the soap dish, creating a large "H" on the wall. Allow the adhesive to dry for approximately 24 hours before continuing on to the next step.
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8
Remove the tape once the adhesive has dried. Grout the joints. Use a finger to smear the grout around the joints, which ensures you've covered the hard-to-reach areas around the soap dish. Wipe away excess grout with a damp cloth. Allow the grout to dry approximately 24 hours before using the bathtub.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use the bathtub for two days, allowing the adhesive and grout to dry.
When breaking a ceramic soap dish, you run the risk of breaking surrounding tiles. Have extra tiles on hand in case you accidentally break some.
