A few tools and some elbow grease go a long way in removing old caulk
Caulk is a household essential that’s easy to overlook—until it’s worn, torn, and covered in mildew. At that point, the old, unsightly caulk is all you can see when you walk into a room.
This small but mighty material easily solves common household concerns, from minding the gap on countertops and cabinets to sealing crown molding and baseboards. With a few common tools and a little patience, here are simple steps for how to remove old caulk.
First things first: It’s essential to know what type of caulk material you’re removing. Silicone-based caulk has a rubber texture that slightly stretches. Water-based caulk is much harder and is prone to chipping away. While some caulk-removing products will work on both types of material, having this information handy can help you shop for the right item the first time.
Before you get started, clean the caulk and surrounding surface with mild dish soap and water to rid the area of dirt, dust, or grime. Dry the area with a cloth. This step will give you a clean slate to work with for removing old caulk.
There may be some caulk that’s already loose or flaking off. Use a flexible putty knife to loosen the caulk’s edge. You can then use the knife to pull the caulk off in strips.
You’re just trying to remove what easily peels away. You don’t need to scrape too hard, which can potentially scratch the surrounding surface. The caulk remover you’ll apply in a later step will loosen the remaining caulk.
Use a utility knife and a steady hand to create a gap in the seal between the caulk and the surrounding surface. Scoring the edge of the caulk helps to break the bond between the two. Be careful not to score any nearby surfaces, like tile or laminate.
Give the caulk remover product instructions a quick read before spraying. If you want to be extra careful, slip on some rubber gloves to protect your hands from chemicals in the caulk removal product.
Completely cover the caulk with the removal product according to the manufacturer's instructions. Now, it’s a waiting game. Your caulk removal product will advise you to wait a few hours, with three to four hours being fairly average. Depending on the condition of the caulk, you might want to leave the removal solution overnight to fully soften it.
The longer it sits, the easier the caulk will come off. This method is especially helpful if you’re dealing with aged, hardened caulk or caulk that’s several layers deep, a remnant of a past project.
Once the caulk has softened, you can get to work. Scrape away the old caulk using an angled caulk-removing tool. The caulk should come off fairly easily, thanks to the remover product. In fact, some pieces of the softened caulk might peel off in different-sized strips.
Needle-nose pliers will come in handy for stubborn or hard-to-reach areas. Grab a piece of the softened caulk with the pliers and gently pull. If stubborn caulk won’t budge, use a utility knife to cut the material away from the sides. Be careful not to nip any sensitive areas, such as tiling or countertops. Lastly, scrape away residual caulk using a plastic putty knife.
For the final step, wipe the surface with a cloth drenched in rubbing alcohol. Once dry, clean the area with a solution made of 1/3 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water. This step will kill any mold, mildew, or soap scum left lurking behind—an essential step if you plan on re-caulking your bathtub.
Use a paintbrush or old toothbrush to get into tight areas or gaps left by the removed caulk. Rinse the area thoroughly. Let the area air dry before re-applying caulk to the surface.
"When removing mold or mildew, bleach is a necessary component of the solution,” said Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters, a family-owned and operated janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “It will be efficient in the buildup removal and in preparing the surface for further processes or use."
Once you’ve mastered removing old caulk, you’ll see that it’s a pretty straightforward task. But if you’re short on time or want a professional’s touch, consider hiring a local handyperson to tackle straightforward caulking jobs. Depending on the amount of caulk removal required, a handyperson could charge between $60 and $125 per hour.
If you’re already hiring someone to remove the old caulk, it makes sense to have them install the new seal. They can get the old caulk out and the new caulk in within one day. You might need to leave some time for the caulk to dry, but a pro can make short work of the project. They will also have access to other tools to finish the project, like brad nailers, wood putty or fillers, mixing tools, and torque wrenches.
Staci Parks contributed to this piece.
There are several products you can buy to soften caulk for removal. The most affordable are WD-40, alcohol, and vinegar. Industrial-grade isopropyl alcohol can be used for caulk that won’t budge, but you should hire a professional before using this solution. There are also a variety of products available at your local home improvement store that are made specifically for removing caulk.
Scrape softened caulk with a putty knife or slice hardened caulk with a utility knife. Hard-to-remove caulk generally requires more time exposed to a softening solution, like a commercial product or rubbing alcohol. A few hours to a day later, the softened caulk will come off with the help of common household tools. In many cases, you can grab needle-nosed pliers for caulk with multiple old layers and pull the material off its base.
The list of what removes caulk residue includes rubbing alcohol. In some cases, rubbing alcohol can also help remove water-based caulk. However, old caulk or caulk that’s in layers from years of upkeep and projects might prove to be too much for simple rubbing alcohol and may require a caulk-removing solution from a home improvement store.
You’ll get the best results by removing old caulk before applying new caulk. Mold, mildew, and rot can sneak in through small cracks or openings in the old caulk. Removing the old layer and appropriately cleaning and sanitizing the material underneath get rid of anything that could compromise the strength of and protection provided by the caulk.
