Caulk Around a Toilet
Caulking around a toilet is usually done for cosmetic reasons, to hide the gap between the toilet’s base and the floor. It’s not done to prevent water from leaking around the base; doing this would cause more harm than good. It’s a relatively simple home improvement project, but will require the right preparation beforehand. Caulk does require some cleanup and tooling after application to ensure an even, subtle seal.
Contents
Steps
Preparing the Surface for Caulking
- Remove any old caulk. If your toilet already has a caulk seal around the base, you’ll want to remove it rather than apply caulk directly over it. You can find dedicated caulk removal tools in home improvement stores, which have special blades made to scrape and scoop caulk. Run this tool along the joint between the toilet and the floor to scrape out any old caulk.
- If you don’t have a caulk removal tool handy, you can also use a utility knife to remove old caulking.
- You can make an old caulking job easier to clean up by applying commercial caulk removers before scraping. If you do, make sure to check the product’s label to prevent any possible damage to your floors or toilet.
- Clean the base of the toilet. After clearing the joint of any caulk, you’ll want to get the area as clean as possible. Scoop out any debris, such as paint chips, dirt or rust. Use a general purpose bathroom cleaner and a rag to clean in and around the joint. The cleaner you can get the area, the better of a seal you’ll be able to apply.
- If any water or other liquid gets in the joint, do your best to dry it. If you can’t quite reach it, make sure to allow enough time for it to dry properly. Caulking over liquid will trap it, which can cause damage to your flooring.
- After cleaning, you can wipe the area with rubbing alcohol to disinfect it.
- Apply masking tape to the floor. Not only will this help you get a straighter, smoother seal, but it will prevent any caulk from getting on your floors. Put masking tape on either side of the joint, one following the toilet’s base and the other along the floor. If you’re particularly worried about your caulking abilities, you can use a second strip on either side to double the width of masking tape and protect more of your floors.
- Since most toilets have a round base, you’ll probably have to use several strips of tape to properly follow the curve. Tear up pieces a few inches long, and apply them to the floor, following the curve of the toilet’s base.
- Alternatively, you can also buy masking tape that comes curved and is more flexible than typical tape. This will save you some time in taping up your floor.
Squeezing out the Caulk
- Choose the right caulk. Caulk usually comes in a tube. 100% silicone caulk is best for use on a toilet since it’s more resistant to water than other types of caulk, such as acrylic. Silicone caulk is typically a bit more expensive than other types, but that extra money will save you the problems that come with an improper seal.
- It’s important to match the color of your caulk to your bathroom. White usually fits most styles, but you’ll still want to give this some thought.
- Insert the caulk tube into a caulk gun. While the tube holds the sealant, the gun is what allows you to deliver it. The main part of the gun is the plastic body, which holds the tube. The plunger is a metal pole with a flat end that runs the length of the body. At the back of the body, you’ll find a metal release, usually shaped like a trigger. Push this forward and you’ll be able to pull back the plunger. You can then insert the caulk tube and push the plunger into the back of the tube.
- Pull the caulk gun along the joint between the toilet and floor. Pull on the trigger and keep the caulk gun at a 45 degree angle. Keep your pressure on the trigger consistent and the movement of the caulk gun slow and smooth to ensure a better seal.
- Pushing the caulk rather than pulling it along will make it more difficult to create a consistent seal.
- You may want to have a folded up piece of cardboard available nearby to lay the caulk gun onto if you need to stop for any reason. This will prevent caulk from dribbling onto your floors.
Cleaning and Tooling the Sealant
- Use your finger to scoop off excess caulk. Run your finger along the caulk seal. This will push caulk deeper into the joint, sealing it more fully. You’ll also be scooping off any extra caulk, resulting in a cleaner joint. You can dip your finger in water or rubbing alcohol if you’re worried about the caulk sticking to your finger.
- You can discard any caulk buildups directly in the garbage. If you placed a piece of cardboard down to hold your caulk gun, you can simply collect the caulk there for disposal later.
- If you’re worried about dirtying your hands or irritating your skin, you should wear gloves for this step.
- You can also buy dedicated caulk finishing tools to clean up your seal, however this isn’t strictly necessary.
- Peel off the tape. If you used masking tape, it should peel off quite easily. Pull the tape at a 45 degree angle away from you. If you got caulk on the tape, be careful as you peel it to avoid spilling the sealant on your floors. Masking tape usually shouldn’t leave any sticky residue, but if it does, you can use a product like Goo Gone to get rid of it.
- Use a sponge to clean up around the joint. You don’t need to apply any cleaning solution to the sponge; you’re relying on its absorbency to clean up any spilled caulk. Pass the sponge around the base of the toilet, picking up any caulk around the joint. Make as many passes as you need to clean up the joint, rinsing the sponge between passes.
Tips
- You should let the caulk sit for about 24 hours before getting it wet.
Warnings
- You shouldn’t caulk around a toilet to try to fix a leak. Leaking water will get trapped behind the caulk and damage your floors.
