Remove Old Caulking

Getting rid of old caulking is a pretty easy task, although it takes a little time and patience. First, make life easier by taking a few steps that will make the caulk easier to remove. After that, it’s simply a matter of stripping it from the surrounding surface with various tools. Once you’re done with that, a few finishing touches will make the exposed gap ready for a Caulk.

Steps

Making the Old Caulk Easier to Remove

  1. Clean the area with surface cleaner or soap scum remover. This isn’t strictly necessary to get rid of old caulk, but you’re most likely going to be adding new caulk afterward. If so, make life easier by washing the area now with a surface cleaner, soap scum remover, or a combination of the two. You’ll still need to do a little cleanup after removal, but for now, reduce the need to deep-clean the uncaulked area with excessive amounts of liquid.[1]
    • This is also a good idea because any buildup of oils or other slippery liquids may cause your hand or tools to slip while removing the old caulking.
  2. Determine how hard the caulk is. Pick a small area to test with a utility knife. Make a small cut with its tip. Assess the caulk's texture as you do.[1]
    • Water-based, latex, and PVA caulks will most likely feel brittle and hard. These are more prone to chipping during removal.
    • Silicone caulks should feel much more pliable, like soft rubber. These are usually the easiest to remove.
  3. Make starter cuts. Hold your utility knife parallel with either surrounding surface. Insert the tip of your utility blade into the caulk line and slice it open along its edge. Repeat along the other surface.[2]
    • Avoid making actual contact with either surface. For now, you just want to weaken the caulk’s bond and allow more access for the next step.
    • If your caulk is especially hard, try heating it with a heat gun to soften it up.
    • If the heat gun doesn’t work, skip to the next step rather than risk damaging the surrounding surfaces with nicks and scratches.
  4. Soften with caulk remover if needed. If your starter cuts were extremely easy to make, feel free to try skipping this step, since the whole caulk line may come off just as easily without any additional treatment.[2] Otherwise, apply a bead of caulk remover along the old caulk. Repeat as needed to cover the whole caulk line and spread it out so all of the old caulk is covered.[3]
    • Refer to your caulk remover’s directions to find out the minimum amount of time you should allow for it to set before moving on. Generally this is about two to three hours.[4]
    • The longer you let it set, the more it should soften the old caulk. So if the old caulk felt extremely hard and brittle when you made your test and starter cuts, allow more time for the caulk remover to be absorbed (as much as 24 hours for very stubborn caulk).

Getting Rid of the Old Caulk

  1. Work slowly. Before you start, take a breath, relax, and prepare to take your time with this project. Expect it to be a relatively easy task, but at the same time, avoid the temptation to rush through it. The more you rush, the more likely you’ll slip along the way and accidentally nick, scratch, or make a deeper cut in the surrounding surfaces.[3]
  2. Start with a putty knife. Select an area along the caulk line to start. Hold your putty knife parallel to the caulk line and place the blade flat against either surrounding surface. Favor whichever one is smoothest to start. Edge the corner of the blade into and under the softened caulk, then push the blade along the caulk line to separate it from the surface.[3]
    • Ideally, you will be able to pull this loosened strip free of the other surface. If the bond is too strong to do so, repeat this process along the second surface.
  3. Use pliers to remove broken-off bits. As you push the putty knife along, the caulk should come away in strips. As it does, smaller pieces may break off and lodge in the gap between the two surfaces, so go back over your work as you remove each strip. Pull those smaller bits out with a pair of needle-nose pliers.[4]
    • If the gap is very small, use tweezers instead.
  4. Scrape away whatever’s left. Even if most of the caulk came away in nice, long strips, go back and use your putty knife to remove any lingering lines that stuck to the surfaces along the caulk line’s edges. For extremely tough pieces, switch to a steel brush, toothbrush, or the hook feature in a 5-in-1 painter’s tool. Brush or chip away at any pieces that have hardened into place.[4]
    • Remember to do the same with any bits that are deep within the gap.
    • If needed, use your heat gun again to soften any stubborn bits.[1]

Finishing Up

  1. Clean up after removal. Once you’ve removed all the caulk, clean up the mess you’ve made so it doesn’t interfere with the new caulk bonding to the surfaces. Dust the surface with dry paper towels or microfiber clothes so you don’t have to use too much liquid. Then use a light amount of cleaner and/or soap scum remover to clean the surface areas. Wipe the area dry when finished.[5]
    • Because the gap between the surfaces is now exposed, you want to expose it to as little moisture as possible. Spray paper towels of cloths with cleaner instead of spraying the surfaces directly.
    • Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners, since this creates toxic fumes when combined with bleach, which you’ll be using next.
  2. Get rid of mildew. Kill mold by combining ⅓ cup (79 ml) of bleach with 1 gallon (3.75 L) of water. Fill a spray bottle with the solution and spray into and around the gap, or soak a paintbrush or foam brush in it and use that to reach inside the gap. Scrub with a cleaning brush, wipe up any extra debris that may have worked loose, rinse the area with dampened towels, and then wipe it dry.[5]
    • Alternately, you can also use a storebought mold-and-mildew killer.[1]
  3. Allow the area to dry before recaulking. To make sure you’re not trapping any moisture behind the surfaces, wait until the next day before covering the gap with new caulk. Give the area behind the surfaces a chance to air-dry. Aim a fan at the gap to improve air circulation. To hurry things up, pass your heat gun up and down along the gap periodically and/or set up a space heater nearby.[1]
    • If you’re using silicone caulk for a new caulk line, the area must be completely dry in order for it adhere.
    • Water-based caulks will adhere to surfaces that are slightly damp, but doing so may increase the risk of mildew growing back.



Warnings

  • Chemicals that remove or soften caulking are very powerful and may be toxic. Always wear the proper protective gear when using strong chemicals.

Things You’ll Need

  • Surface cleaner and/or soap scum remover
  • Paper towels or microfiber cloths
  • Utility knife
  • Heat gun (optional)
  • Caulk remover
  • Putty knife
  • Needle-nose pliers and/or tweezers
  • Steel brush, tooth brush, and/or 5-in-1 painter’s tool
  • Bleach or mold-and-mildew killer
  • Fan
  • Space heater (optional)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infcau.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.sashco.com/diy/how-to/remove-caulk-silicone/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.familyhandyman.com/tiling/how-to-remove-caulk-easily/view-all
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-remove-caulk/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/a1448/4213124/
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