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I am repairing a shower that has an excessive amount of old silicone caulk all over it and the adjoining walls. Does anyone have any tips on how to remove the stubborn residue left by the caulk? I am afraid that the new caulking and wall paint will fail if this residue isn’t properly removed.
Thanks in advance,
Jim Woodrow
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Jim, what are the surfaces ?
If you are able to get the caulk itself off, you will still need to use TSP to clean the surfaces, or risk paint and/or mud not sticking.
*Depending on how long it's been on there try xylol and maybe a doodlebug or other cleaning pad.
*Jim,3M makes a product called Caulk Remover that will get silicone off tile. I think it is safe with all tub and pan materials, but will dissolve paint. One applies it over the residue after razoring what can be cut away. It takes a number of hours, but turns clear silicone into a loose slime which you can then wipe off with paper towel and clean with alcohol to get a surface ready for paint or caulk. I think they are the only ones with a product that does this. A painter friend turned me on to it and it really does work.Bill
*Bill, I think your brother was great. His drawl, his gait, the whole darn shootin' match. Man, he sure was a kick. I still smile when I think of him. I miss ole Walter.
*Bill,Just a tidbit -- the 3M caulk remover is exactly the same product as 3M's Safer paint remover (which is why it'll also remove paint, as you noted). In a clever bit of marketing and packaging, 3M can sell the product in a small container, calling it caulk remover, at many times its unit volume cost when sold in a larger container as paint remover.