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Caulk refers to the rubbery material that we use to fill open cracks, joints, and seams around household structures such as tub counters, toilets, and sinks. Caulk sealants are super adhesive, waterproof, and commonly used to protect against moisture penetration, water seepage, and heat leakages.
White clean caulk essentially provides a good finish and helps to keep your home more hygienic. But its constant exposure to damp conditions means that your caulk will eventually rot and grow mildew. This explains why caulk becomes discolored after some time, making your bathroom look unsightly.
If you catch this early enough, you can clean the caulk instead of tearing it out and replacing it. This saves time and money and prevents you from using your bathroom while you wait for the caulk to dry. Keep in mind cleaning only proves more effective for mildew growth happening on top of the caulk.
Below we will walk you through several ways you can safely clean the caulking all over your bathroom.
Safety Preparations before cleaning caulk
Caulk cleaning materials usually contain toxic substances that emit harmful odors, which can be dangerous if not correctly handled. Therefore it’s important to follow the following precautions to ensure safety.
- Ensure that the room you intend to whiten caulk on has sufficient fresh airflow. Since bathrooms are rarely well ventilated, you can use an exhaust fan to get rid of the chemical vapor.
- Consider opening all windows or use a respirator to avoid breathing in heavy fumes.
- When cleaning caulk, other crucial safety precautions include wearing rubber gloves to protect your skin and using safety goggles to prevent eye irritation.
- Since bleach usually discolors cloth fabric, you should consider wearing clothes you do not care about while whitening caulk around the toilet.
- It also helps if you wipe down the caulk with warm water first before adding chemicals. This gets some of the initial grime off and will soften other debris before being treated with chemicals.
- Make sure to keep children and animals away from vinegar, bleach, or any other chemicals you may be using to remove the caulk.
Using Bleach Powder To Clean Caulk
Bleach powder is the most ordinary caulk cleaning agent that you can use to whiten caulk around bathtubs or clean outdoor caulking effectively. Bleach and bleach pens are some of the main options for this method.
Bleach usually stands out as the most commonly used caulk whitening agent because it is readily available in most homes. As for bleach pens, they are little squeezable tubes filled with gel-like bleach solution. They are the best alternative as they are easy to use and suitable for cleaning caulk sealant in closely fitted joints.
To successfully whiten caulk use this method.
- Put 3-4 tablespoons of bleach powder into two gallons of warm water.
- Depending on the degree of discoloration, you may need to add 1-2 more tablespoons of bleach powder to clean heavy stains.
- Take a towel and dip it in the solution; then scrub the caulk with the wet towel.
- For hard to reach areas in small spaces, you can also try using a bleach pen. This works best in corners.
Mixing Your Own Cleaning Solution
If your caulk has lots of filth, you may need to take it up a notch with baking soda. If the nearby surface gets stained by bleach, using baking soda can help restore it.
- Mix 3/4 a cup of chlorine bleach and 1/3 of a cup of baking soda. This will create a thick paste that will help you scrub the grime and calcify mildew on the caulk.
- Do not apply too much force while scrubbing, as this can damage the caulk.
- If this does not work, you should think about replacing the caulk in your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make a mixture in a smaller cup that consistent of an even ratio of water to baking soda. Apply the mixture with a wet rag or sprayer and scrub with a toothbrush or scrubbing tool.
- Use bleach or bleach powder
- Scrub a solution of bleach and baking soda on the caulk
Allow 10-20 minutes for the bleach to clean and whiten the caulk. After that, clean the bleach with a scrubber and water.
Yes – you can use bleach powder, vinegar, or a mixture of bleach and baking soda to remove stains from caulk.
Ensure that you are routinely cleaning it. The longer the caulk goes untreated the harder it is to bring it back to being clean and white. Doing routine cleaning on caulk will ensure fill lifespan, cleanliness, and effectiveness of the caulk.
If the caulk is starting to expose gaps or get loose, then it is time to replace the caulk rather than try to clean it.
Comet Cleaner with Bleach Powder
Yes, wiping caulk after it’s dry with a disinfectant wipe is a good measure to prevent any unwanted germs and dirt.
