How to maintain Silicone Caulking in your Bathroom
Remodeling your bathroom may come to the forefront in the near future to provide an overall improvement on the existing facility. If you’ve just purchased a home or have resided in your home for quite a few years you may take notice that caulking joints become dirty, moldy and hard to maintain. In these situations you may already have some growth that is behind the joints in your tub or shower that have absorbed into wall material. In these cases, you can cut out the existing caulking and re-apply silicone, however, mold is a fast growing bacteria and you may not be able to remove all of it. When you re-apply caulking to the joints the mold can grow from the inside to the surface.
When these conditions constantly occur you may be facing a problem that will not go away. This is when you should start planning for an upgrade that will eliminate the problem. All that being said, maintaining your bathroom and all the small things like silicone does take time and effort on your part.
Silicone sealant is a part of any bathroom renovation and will play a part in many applications including:
- Sealing a counter top and backsplash
- Sealing faucet mounting brackets to a counter top
- Sealing a tub and wall joint
- Sealing joints associated with shower accessories
- Sealing changes of plane in a tile shower
- Sealing shower door tracks
- Sealing joints around your bathroom window
While this is a necessary product that will prevent water leakage, it is important to know how to maintain it. You should regularly inspect all joints to ensure that they are not coming loose or growing mold or mildew. It is of best practice to clean (not only the whole bathroom) but the shower on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
Although specific cleaners may be recommended based on the products you have installed, silicone can be cleaned with just about any household cleaning product. Spray the joints down and leave the cleaner in place for a few minutes. After there has been sufficient time for the product to absorb, you can begin to wipe it down. Scrubbing too hard will cause the sealant to come loose along the edges so it’s better to softly wipe the joints with a damp rag or sponge. Silicone does not last forever and depending on your cleaning habits, it will have to be replaced. Typically silicone will last 3-5 years but just make sure that if you see signs of failure to call your professional for a service appointment.
For tile installations in your tub or shower, there are specific grout that will allow for less silicone to be used. This will create more of a maintenance free unit in the long run since we use high quality grouts and sealants. If you’re having problems with your silicone and would like some solutions to your problems, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch by filling out a contact form.
Follow Us!