Tricks for removing silicone caulking?

Razor blade is what I have been using, but I can never get it completely off. Is there a better way?

Don

Don, what you';re experiencing right now is the niggest reason I'm such a huge advocate of using latex caulking instead of silicone. ALL caulk has to be replaced sooner or later, but when silicone goes, it leaves a residue that's a nightmare to get off-- right up there with removing vinyl off plywood! What you're doing right now is the only way I know how to do it, too.

Acetone will soften silicone rubber and remove any residue.

Acetone also eats plastic so be careful with it.

Bill - I hear ya loud and clear - this silicone is a pain in the but to get off. Is it possible to purchase a latex caulk that has a shiny surface when cured to make it easy to wipe clean? Any of the latex caulks that I have ever used seem to cure to a dull finish and seem to attract dirt. I would like to caulk a couple of toilets with clear caulking, but really don't want to use silicone in case I have to remove the toilets later on.

Carter - The silicone caulking that I am currently removing is at the base of an acrylic tub. Any idea of acetone east acrylic? I got some Goof Off which is xylene - that might mork too?

Thanks,

Don

Xylene is worse on plastic that acetone is but it will get it up to. Might leave a dull spot though. Shouldn't be a problem if you intend to recaulk over it.

I just read on a plumbing forum that it is recommended to wax the base of the toilet with car wax prior to caulking - supposed to make it easier to remove the caulking in the future, but still get a good seal. Anyone heard of or tried this?

Don

First I've heard of it, but it makes sense.

Don, look into the "siliconized caulks" that are out there.

Ok. WD-40 works GREAT. And won't hurt the rest. Just an FYI. If you can stand the smell! Then getting that off is another subject. LOL. No, rubbing alc works great for that or 409.
Me=)

Don, Once youv'e got it scraped off with a razor blade take some flour in a cup, add some water to make it into a ball of dough. Use the ball of flour to rub off the silicone residue. No Smell, no damage, no problem. Let us know how it turns out.

Rub parafin wax on the bottom of the toilet and try KWIK SEAL It comes in a squeeze tube and U can get it at hd

Don, You can look this up on the Jon Eakes website.

The dough ball is "horsehockey" - I gave it a try and it didn't work worth a poop! It must only work on American silicone - they put extra gycol in the Canadian stuff to keep it from freezing when they transport it up here! Jon - if you were pulling my leg - you got me good!

The WD40 works with some effort - sprayed it on and wiped with a rag - that seemed to soften up the silicone a bit - then had to use my fingernails to get the final film off. I don't mind the smell - almost as good as Keralastic in the morning - right Bud!

"Goof Off" (Xylene) worked but not as good as the WD40. Man can you ever get high on that stuff though! Whew - I am still a bit woozy.

I don't have any acetone or I would have given that a try.

Saw a product called "Silicone-Be-Gone" by DAP at HD for $5 and change - looks interesting - not on their website for some unknown reason. Spread it on with a brush and leave for 2 hours, then come back and wipe it up - sounds almost too good to be true.

For caulking, a plumber on a plumbing forum recommended DynaFlex 230 by DAP to caulk the toilet to the floor. Picked up a tube of clear for $4 at HD and will try that.

http://www.dap.com/retail/retail_detail.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=1&prodhdrid=4

Thanks for the tips!

Don

Don, Here is the website with the dough. They also mention that the silicone damages acrylic.
http://joneakes.com/ca/hs/cgi-bin/getdetailscahs.cgi?id=1221

Hey Don, I don't think there is enough xylene in Goof Off to really appreciate it's full potency. If you bought straight xylene from Home Depot and poured it on anything plastic it would instantly dissolve. I can't stand the smell myself.

On July 4 of last year I did a job for a VIP here in Jacksonville. Part of it was replacing the silicone caulk in a glass shower enclosure. I used acetone and a clean white rag to remove the residue and it worked out great.

Finger nail polish remover is essentially acetone in a small inexpensive bottle. Or your wife may already have some.

Jon - I read the link - incredible. The dough ball did absolutely nothing to get the silicone off for me. I tried it exactly as they stated. I guess you can't believe everything that you read?!?

Don

Sorry about that Don. Usually Jon Eakes has some useful tips.

Try Amtex-CCR Silicone Dissolver. It worked for me on silicone caulk. [www.amtexchemical.com]

Thanks very much for the advice. I tried WD-40 and it worked beautifully. It turned a multi-hour job correcting a silicone caulking mistake into minutes. Softened thick layers making them easy to scrape and cut through thin film for a quick wipe.

It's the solvent "carrier" in the WD-40 that's doing the removal. But! Doesn't the WD-40 lubricant residue cause problems with adhesion when you start to recaulk?

WD is petroleum based and will give you trouble adhereing.

I always use lacquer thinner. That stuff will take the stripes off a coons back, careful