How To

How to Clean Up Silicone Caulking

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (16 Ratings)

Silicone caulk is far more durable than acrylic caulk because it's not water-based. Unfortunately, that same durability makes it tougher - and sometimes impossible - to clean up after you've completed a project. Here's how to prevent long-term damage.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Dishwashing Liquid
  • Terry Cloth Towels
  • Turpentine
  • Dishwashing Liquid
  • Utility Blades
  • Terry cloth towels
Step1
Blot wet caulking using a white terry cloth towel.
Step2
Wipe up smudges and spills with a solvent such as turpentine or naphtha soap.
Step3
Use a utility blade to scrape or peel away cured silicone caulk from smooth surfaces.
Step4
Try dishwashing liquid and water for fabric or carpeting. Rub the material (or fibers) between your fingers until the caulk loosens and you can pick it off.

Tips & Warnings

  • Attend to messes right away. Silicone caulk sets up within eight hours. After that, you're not likely to have much luck cleaning it up.
  • Don't apply solvent to fabric or carpeting without testing the solvent first on a hidden area of the material.

Comments

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Relic

Relic said

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on 4/9/2008 We installed honed granite countertops in the kitchen. We now want to have the colour darkened with a colour enhancer. However, when the sink installed, a cloth with some silicone caulking residue was placed mistakenly on the counter. There is a light smudge in that location. Before proceeding with getting the counters darkened, we wanted to know if this smudge would be a problem. Would it darken for example the same as the rest of the countertop. Or, does the smudge need to be removed first. If it does, we have heard that acetone is a good cleaner on honed granite. Again though, what would the result be in that area with the colour enhancer after using acetone. Will the enhanced colour will be uniform through-out the counter top including the area where we used acetone to clean way the silicone smudge. If anyone has advice on the best action to take, it would be appreciated.

Relic

Relic said

Flag This Comment

on 4/9/2008 We installed honed granite countertops in the kitchen. We now want to have the colour darkened with a colour enhancer. However, when the sink installed, a cloth with some silicone caulking residue was placed mistakenly on the counter. There is a light smudge in that location. Before proceeding with getting the counters darkened, we wanted to know if this smudge would be a problem. Would it darken for example the same as the rest of the countertop. Or, does the smudge need to be removed first. If it does, we have heard that acetone is a good cleaner on honed granite. Again though, what would the result be in that area with the colour enhancer after using acetone. Will the enhanced colour will be uniform through-out the counter top including the area where we used acetone to clean way the silicone smudge. If anyone has advice on the best action to take, it would be appreciated.

pmlambooy

pmlambooy said

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on 10/15/2007 very cool stuff. How about those tube " tips" you can buy?

said

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on 8/30/2006 To keep a partially used tube of caulk usable, I press enough Vaseline into the tip to create an air tight seal, wipe the tip clean, then seal again with masking tape. The Vaseline pushes out easily with the caulk gun.

said

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on 7/9/2006 Use an electrical wire nut. Use a wire nut large enough to screw onto the tip and screw it tight. You can reuse the wire nut to reseal the tube.

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eHow Article: How to Clean Up Silicone Caulking

eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Category: Home & Garden

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