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Caulk Removal Made Easy

By Bob Formisano, About.com

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Chemical Caulk Remover

3M Caulk Remover Breaks the Old Caulks Bond and Softens it for Easy Removal

© 2008 3M

Chemical Caulk Remover
An easy way to start the old caulk removal process is to use a caulk removal solution like that made by 3M. The remover destroys the bond between the old caulk and the tile, tub or sink. 3M's liquid caulk remover comes in a plastic squeeze bottle, costs less than $10 and removes a little over 20 linear feet of old caulk. This is a great way to get a jump softening up and removing the old caulk as opposed to only relying upon manually scraping the old caulk.

To use this remover simply proceed as follows:

  • Squeeze remover onto the old caulk making sure to cover the old caulk completely;
  • Let set for 2-7 hours as directed;
  • Using a plastic putty knife or a caulk removing tool (see next page), scrape the old caulking away. It will come off in chunks;
  • Clean up with soap and water.

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