How to scrub silicone sealant from tiles and other surfaces

Silicone sealant is a transparent adhesive mass, which, after complete drying, becomes dense and homogeneous, resistant to solvents and other chemicals. This is what the manufacturers intended, because a high-quality sealant must have similar features. It is quite difficult to wipe off silicone sealant from any surface; the process requires a lot of effort and free time.

It is necessary to remove excess silicone mass, because after a few months the stained surface will look rather untidy. In addition, from time to time it is necessary to replace the old sealant with a new one.

Features of removing silicone sealant

Silicone sealant is an irreplaceable substance that is used for sealing. It does not have a toxic effect, which is why it is constantly used to mask tile joints in bathrooms, kitchens, and other living quarters. Sooner or later, it turns yellow, cracks, which is why its sealing is broken. In this case, it is necessary to replace the sealant, but first you will have to wipe off the old acrylic sealant.

It is not easy to remove the mass, because it penetrates quite strongly into the pores of materials. You will have to remove the substance carefully so as not to damage the delicate surface.

It contains, in addition to the main active substance, a variety of additives. For example, there are compounds that prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the crevices of tiles. The additives in the mixture contain solvents that give the composition elasticity and stickiness.

Due to the presence of the solvent, it exudes a persistent and pungent odor, so chemical agents for cleaning the substance must be used very carefully and carefully. The same applies to removing sealant stains from clothes, in this case it is recommended to use sparing folk recipes.

How to wipe off silicone sealant using folk methods

Popular methods are the most gentle, they are best suited to wipe off the silicone sealant from clothes.

Vinegar essence

The active substance contained in vinegar effectively breaks down the structure of the sticky mass.

To do this, you need to fill the basin with water and add half the package of vinegar essence. Stir the solution, dip the soiled clothes into the basin for half an hour. Wipe off excess sealant with a toothbrush and rub in washing powder. Wash in a washing machine, rinse thoroughly.

Mounting foam

It is necessary to apply a little polyurethane foam to the stain, wait until it dries a little. Shoot carefully, because traces may remain on the problem area. They can be removed with gasoline, then washed in a washing machine and rinsed well.

Alcoholic tincture or vodka

You can wipe off the glass sealant with ordinary vodka or rubbing alcohol. This method is also suitable for removing stains from clothing. Vodka works well for cotton fabrics, while other alcoholic ones can ruin the fabric. To remove the mass, you need to dip a piece of cloth in ordinary vodka and apply to the problem area. Wait half an hour and clean with a sponge.

Freezing things

You can remove the sealant from your clothing by placing it in the freezer. Silicone sealant does not tolerate cold. It is necessary to place the item in a plastic bag, place it in the freezer overnight. In the morning, you need to clean the hardened mass with a blade, remove excess with plain water and soak in washing powder.

How to mechanically scrub silicone sealant

Any tools are suitable for removing silicone from any surface, as long as they are quite sharp:

• Putty knife... It is ideal for removing silicone from smooth structures of any material. The main thing is that its tip is straight. Otherwise, he will not be able to clean the surface well, but only scratch it.
• Razor blade... It is made of durable metal, so use it carefully so as not to scratch the surface.
• Knife... With an ordinary kitchen knife, you can clean the traces of the silicone mass.

How to remove silicone sealant chemically

One of the most effective ways to remove silicone sealant from any surface is with chemicals. They can be purchased in hardware stores, they are inexpensive, and they remove traces very quickly, and there is no need to make any efforts.

Penta-840

It is necessary to cover the problem area with a small amount of Penta. Wait a few hours, rinse. Due to the action of the polymer, the silicone leaves the surface in a layer or simply collapses if the composition is held for a long time. The drug quickly and effectively removes mass. It is advisable to test in a small area before application.

PENOSIL Premium Silicone Remover

Perfectly removes stubborn sealants. Can clean glass, plastic, brick and wood.

It is necessary to place the cartridge in the capsule, treat problem areas with solvent, squeezing the trigger. It is necessary to wait at least a day, wash off the substance and ventilate the room.

Silicon-Entferner

This mixture will last for several years to clean silicone. It is suitable for all materials except plastic, paintwork and marble. It will help to get rid of even old and stubborn silicone, it acts very quickly. It will help to get rid of traces of the sealant if its layer is less than 2 mm. It is necessary to fill the silicone stains with the substance, while the paste layer should be 2 times larger. Wait 6 hours and remove excess with a blade or knife. Wash off the paste with gasoline.

Features of removing silicone sealant from different types of surfaces

To remove sealant from a variety of surfaces, it is necessary to take into account some features. There are different methods that are most effective in removing impurities.

How to scrub the tile sealant

Small specks of silicone sealant on tiles or plumbing fixtures appear after a while, look unaesthetic, turn yellow over time, so it is important to remove them in a timely manner. This is best done with a regular clerical knife, going over the tile joints and scraping with a razor blade. You can remove the remaining stains of silicone with a regular wire net, a swab dipped in a solution of table salt and washing powder. It is recommended to do this in the order indicated.

It is advisable to remove the mixture exclusively by mechanical action, because the chemicals destroy not only the integrity of the sealant, but also break the tightness of the tile seams.

How to wipe off the silicone sealant from the bath

To remove the remains of the product, you can hook it and try to remove it with adhesive tape. In this case, it is necessary to refrain from using many methods of mechanical action and strong chemicals that can lead to scratches and damage to the bath coating. In rare cases, it is allowed to use a sharp knife or razor blade. To do this, you need to remove the sealant layer, being careful not to touch the plumbing coatings.

How to wipe off silicone sealant from glass

For glass surfaces, it is best to use a utility knife or razor blade. This must be done with care so as not to scratch the glass. After cleaning the sealant, excess can be removed with a window cleaner, apple cider vinegar, or rubbing alcohol. You cannot use gasoline and kerosene, because after them strong stains will remain on the glass, which will be very problematic to remove.

How to wipe off the silicone sealant from the countertop

The method of cleaning silicone sealant from the table surface must be chosen taking into account the material from which it is made. You can remove it from porcelain stoneware using all existing mechanical, chemical and folk methods. Before using any agent you prefer, it is advisable to try it on a small area of ​​the table.

How to wipe off silicone sealant from plastic

It is much easier to clean stubborn silicone sealant from a plastic surface than from other materials, because the silicone does not adhere so much to the plastic. A weak solvent is ideal for this purpose. It is necessary to apply it to the problem area, wait a few hours, wipe off the loose silicone sealant with a soft sponge.

How to wipe silicone sealant off your hands

The mixture can be removed from the skin of the hands with ordinary edible salt and pumice. It is necessary to fill a large bowl with warm water, add 4 tbsp. l. salt, dip your hand and rub the sticky mass hard with a piece of pumice. In this case, you will have to spend a lot of free time on cleaning. You will most likely need to do this 3 more times.

How to remove sealant from clothing

It is best to wipe silicone sealant off cotton fabrics with solvents (acetone, nail polish remover). It is necessary to moisten a piece of cloth in a solvent, apply it to the problem area, rub it and wait for several hours. You may need to carry out several procedures. You can replace the solvent with rubbing alcohol or vodka.

You can remove silicone from clothing by mechanical action. It is necessary to straighten the thing, stretch it strongly, and then scrape it off the fabric with a toothbrush. This will remove the sealant from any fabric.

Tips & Tricks

You can find many solvents in hardware stores that are designed to cleanse silicone, but their effectiveness remains questionable. Therefore, at first it is advisable to resort to folk recipes and mechanical stress.If these methods do not work, you can buy a suitable product from a specialist store.

Before starting to remove the sealant with an expensive product, it is recommended to test it in a small area. If the result has exceeded expectations, you can safely start cleaning the entire plane.

With regard to the process of use, be sure to work wearing protective clothing, gloves and a mask. It is advisable to additionally protect your hands from the possible ingress of a sticky mass, therefore professionals advise to wash your palms well with laundry soap. This will create a protective film on the epidermis, which will repel the substance, prevent it from penetrating into the pores and staying in them. It is strictly forbidden to allow the sealant to get on the hair, since it cannot be removed, the hair will have to be cut.

Conclusion

You can wipe off the silicone sealant with the help of chemicals and force. You can effectively remove the adhesive from the fabric using traditional methods. Unfortunately, this will take a lot of time and effort. If you can't do it yourself, you can contact a dry cleaner. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid such situations when residues of the mass remain on the surfaces and to pre-protect the surface with ordinary masking tape, which must be removed before the silicone completely cures.