Recaulking A Tub or Shower

It doesn't matter what kind of silicone you put on the joints of the tub and/or shower walls after a time it will begin to discolor. Mostly it is mold but the dye in shampoos will bleed into the sealer as well.

The first step is to get all the silicone out. This means getting a sharp knife to cut through the silicone and have a putty knife to scrape the excess away. Get right down to the tile and the edges between the tub and wall. Use a razor blade if you have to. Although, it is time-consuming everything has to go because new silicone does not bond well to old silicone.

Clean the area well and wipe it down with methyl alcohol to remove any oils or any unseen build-up from conditioners and shampoos.

Now, if there is a tub, fill it so that the pressure will equal what it would be when in use. Now run electrical tape along the wall on each side of the joint to be filled. Do one seam at a time. Apply the silicone in a continuous bead.

Run your index finger along the joint to smooth out the silicone and take off the excess. Now, take off the tape being careful not to let the excess silicone get on the tile or grout.

Wet your index finger and run it over the silicone one last time for a smooth seal. Let sit for 5 hours before you drain the tub. Of course, showers do not need this.