Bathroom Caulking In 4 Easy Steps
Bathroom Caulking In 4 Easy Steps. It's easy to brighten dingy, cracked or mildewed bathroom caulk using this simple, 4-step plan. It's one of the easiest home maintenance projects to tackle.
Dingy, cracked or mildewed bathtub or shower caulk can make even a sparkling clean bathroom look dirty. You can correct this misperception in 4 easy steps.
1. Using a stiff putty knife and small razor scraper, remove all old material around the tub.
Dig out as much old stuff as possible so that a groove is formed along the entire edge between the bathtub and the tile or the tub or shower surround.
2. Scrub the entire area with a bleach-based cleaner and a stiff brush.
Rinse well, and allow to dry completely. A fan directed at the area will speed the drying process.
3. Using a latex-based tub-and-tile product, fill the shallow grove with a thin, continuous bead.
While
the line is still fresh and before a skin starts to set and harden -
within a few minutes, at most - moisten your fingertip and use it to
smooth it out and push it thoroughly into any gaps.
4. Carefully wipe away any excess with a damp cloth.
The trick is to use the least amount necessary to fill the small gap between two different materials and surfaces.
It should be nearly invisible when complete, and not protrude any farther than the tile or the edge of the tub or shower.
Otherwise,
it can act as a trap for moisture and allow mildew to grow. Let it set
for as long as the package directions indicate (it's usually overnight).
Finally,
you can probably avoid ever having to do this job again by regularly
drying tub surfaces, shower walls, fixtures, and nearby areas with a
clean towel.
If stains do appear, try cleaning with a mildew-killer or other commercially available grout cleaner.
Suggested Reading
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About the Author
Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.
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