How To Remove Old Caulk From Bathtub
You can also use a special caulk remover tool or a utility knife to separate the caulk from the tub or sink.
How to remove old caulk from bathtub. Start by closing the pop up drain in the tub and covering the entire tub with a drop cloth to protect it from scratches residue etc. With patience and plenty of it. When you start to see small bits of caulk peeling away from the seam where the wall meets your bathtub or worse still black spots indicating mold or mildew buildup it s time to remove the old caulk and lay a new line down to ensure a water tight seal. Simplify old moldy caulk removal by applying special caulk remover over the caulk to soften it and break the bond.
It s not hard to do but if you rush it you ll regret it. Removing old silicone caulking is no picnic no solvent dissolves it and you won t find a magic one step removal tool you ll need a razor knife for cutting and scraping a putty knife and a pair of pliers because pulling the rubbery material with your fingers can be difficult. Then simply scrape the old caulk away. Remove the softened caulk carefully using a putty knife to pull it gently out of the spaces between the tile and tub or sink.
New caulk doesn t stick to old caulk so if you fail to remove the old stuff the new caulk can t form a watertight seal leaving the potential for moisture to seep into areas where you don t want it. Apply a caulk remover such as 3m caulk remover or mckanica silicone caulk remover gel. Scraping out moldy caulk from around a bathtub is a tough tedious job. And if you get too aggressive you ll chip a tile or mar the tub finish.
Before you can re caulk the tub you need to remove the old stuff entirely it can be a time consuming task but it s. Once you soften the caulk it s easier to scrape it away from the wall or tile. Take the razor blade and carefully pry the old caulking off the tub. Remove old caulk photo by david carmack.
The caulk around a bathtub looks pretty nasty when it begins to peel away. How to remove bathroom caulk. Keep the angle of the blade as low as possible and watch the caulking to see if it s being cut. Plus a little patience pays off by making the job much much easier.
Next use the blade of a putty knife to separate the caulk from the wall or tile.