How to remove silicone sealant?

Today in the construction industry is often used a substance such as silicone sealant. It is also actively used in everyday life, since with its help it is possible to create a good sealing of cracks or to reliably protect certain surfaces from the effects of an aggressive type environment. But it often happens that during the repair work there is a need to remove such a composition that was applied earlier. And the question arises how to remove it from a particular surface.

If you need a substance similar to glue, which will allow something to glue or make sealing the seams between the bathroom and tiles or two pieces of tile, silicone sealant is an excellent solution. It gives you the opportunity to get a wonderful connection, and even suitable for glossy surfaces. Silicone is not at all afraid of moisture and makes the connection not only airtight, but also really strong.It has a high elasticity, which makes it possible to use it when working with moving parts. It is for these reasons that this polymer material of composite type is actively used both for domestic purposes and in construction. If you need to wash it off immediately after application, then it will be quite easy to do. And if he managed to harden - will have to seriously try.

The considered silicone based version has an excellent degree of adhesion to various materials. At room temperature, it freezes quite quickly. Due to the fact that the silicone itself is rather unimportant to interact with various chemical and solvent compounds, in principle it is not easy to clean it. Therefore, it is necessary to use a special tool to remove this substance. But the trick is that even this does not always make it possible to erase such glue from the treated surface. For this reason, the removal of the adhesive composition can in each case be carried out by different methods. It is necessary to remember this, how to pick up a knife for cleaning, as it increases the risk of deforming the coating.

It is worth noting that there are a certain number of methods that make it possible to remove the remnants of such a composition from one or another surface or product. One of the most frequent methods is the use of various sharp objects that allow you to scrape the glue. These include a knife, screwdriver or any other similar remover. But this method has one major drawback - the surface is scratched and its attractiveness is very significantly reduced. Yes, and damage to the physical type can be very serious. For this reason, using such a method is necessary only in cases where the appearance of the surface and its damage do not have any special significance.

There is another method that allows you to remove the frozen sealant. This can be done with ordinary table salt. It should be slightly wet, then wrap in a clean cloth - a tampon or gauze, and start rubbing in the place where there is an old sealant. When wiping, force should be applied so that the movements are circular. When the cleaning is completed, there will be grease stains on the surface, to clean which you can use dishwashing liquid.

Table salt is just an example. In fact, a lot more ways.

If we talk about tools, you can use the following:

• knives of various types;
• iron washcloth, which usually allows you to wash pans;
• screwdriver;
• plastic scraper;
• sandpaper;
• sponge;
• brush.

If we talk about a plastic scraper, then it is used after heating with a building hairdryer of a problem area, when the material has already softened. If we talk about chemicals, then to obtain the desired result, you can use special tools that should have the same marking as the sealant.

In addition, coping with this purpose not bad solvents of this type, as:

• kerosene;
• vinegar;
• petrol;
• acetone;
• White Spirit.

In some cases, their use will bring even better results than some expensive tools. Any chemical based agent can be used to remove residues of this type of glue. The same white spirit about which it was told above, can effectively remove the considered substance from a tile, an acrylic bathtub, plastic and other surfaces. At the same time, the use of white spirit on surfaces that have already been painted is very undesirable.as the paint will peel off accurately after application. It is easy to apply it - just wet the swab and wipe the place where the sealant is. Now you should wait 40-60 seconds and remove the glue, which will just soften with a blade or a sharp knife.

But as mentioned above, in the place where the sealant was, there will be a stain of fat. In principle, it can be removed with the help of the same white spirit. It is enough to moisten them with a cloth and wipe the surface. And if the glue was applied recently, it didn’t have time to harden properly, then you can make an attempt to remove it with the help of acetone or table vinegar. All these tools have a rather strong and sharp smell of a specific plan. Therefore, you should think in advance that the ventilation in the room was of high quality. It will not be superfluous to have a respiratory mask with you, as acetone can cause allergies.

Now on the market you can find all sorts of tools that help to soften and wash the sealant. They make it possible to remove glue from different surfaces. But when selecting them, it is necessary to familiarize themselves with the instructions, so that with further use they do not cause damage to the surface to be processed.The most common are such means as Gasket Remover, Quilosa, Antisil, Lugato, Dow Corning OS-2, and Penta 840. It should also be noted that this type of funds is better to buy from manufacturers from abroad. Although the price will be significantly higher, but the result of their application will be more effective.

It should be noted that to clean any surface of the sealant at home can be quite difficult. And the problem is not even that the methods may be simply inaccessible due to their high cost or complexity, but that it is not always possible to determine the brand and composition of a particular sealant. It is necessary to choose the most effective cleaner for it, which can really just remove excess sealant without any particular difficulties and damage to the surface where it is located. It is worthwhile to consider in more detail how to remove silicone-based sealant from various surfaces.

For many, the question of how to dissolve such a substance from the bathroom, if it is located at the junction between the walls or the tray, is very topical. Usually, the surface here darkens if the composition has come off and a gap appears where the water flows.If desired, you can use a screwdriver or a knife to remove from the shower and tiles. In addition, the use of pumice can also be a good option. First you need to remove the layer of material, gently pick it up with a screwdriver and try to tear off all or at least clean the areas where this can be done. If the problem is not removed simply, the sealant is easy to cut. To do this, you should insert a screwdriver into the hole between the wall and the tray, and the remnants can be removed using the same pumice stone.

It should be noted that the cleaning work should be carried out as carefully as possible so as not to deform the surface. To remove the silicone in the bathroom, you can use chemical compositions to remove dried glue.

If it is not clear how to remove from the tile, it will be necessary to carry out such fairly simple steps as:

• first you need to remove excess sealant, so as not to deform the surface;
• when the entire layer is removed, you can use the same white spirit or kerosene;
• rub with a rag is necessary until such time as the remnants of the substance do not soften,so that they can be removed; To do this, by the way, you can use a scraper made of wood, which will protect the surface from scratching.

If there is a need to remove the silicone, then you can use the same kerosene or gasoline. They simply need to be rubbed into the tile where it is until the hardened substance becomes softer. You can use the "Penta 840", but you must first ask how the bath surface will react to it. If the surface is unstable to the effects of the drug, it will crack, so you should be extremely careful. If it is necessary to remove such a compound from a plastic surface, then all actions are performed relatively easier due to low adhesive characteristics. Pallets made of plastic, pipes and other items, it is easy to clean the glue, if they apply a solvent and wait 60 minutes, or even less. After that, traces of glue can be simply removed with a degreaser.

If you need to remove any sealant from a mirror or glass, for example, from the wall of an aquarium, it is best to use a blade.

It is worth paying attention to such moments as:

• removal may take a lot of time;
• It is highly likely that this type of surface may be scratched.

It is best to remove the glue from this type of surface using white spirit or gasoline. To get these funds, in general, is not a problem. How to remove silicone with their help was described above. As an option, you can use the building hair dryer, which will give the opportunity to heat the sealant. After that, you can gently pry the sealant from the edge so that it easily moves away from the glass or mirror surface. To remove traces, you can apply white spirit.

Various solvents are used to remove the silicone from the countertop. You should know what the sealant consists of.

If substances belong to the category of refined petroleum products, they can be removed using purified gasoline as follows:

• First, apply the solvent on a cloth;
• wipe the desired area and leave it for 5-30 minutes;
• After that, you need to take a spatula, scraper or trowel and carefully remove the sealant.

To explain how to remove silicone based sealant from metal, it is worth considering an example of a bath made of steel or cast iron. They are cleaned using materials based on abrasives and chemicals. But you need to be careful not to scratch the surface.

To remove the sealant from the metal should use the following instructions:

• using a blade or a knife, you need to cut off the maximum possible layer of sealant;
• residues should be scrubbed with a scourer made of iron or a spatula made of plastic;
• you need to get rid of the traces by applying fine sandpaper or pumice.

After such a procedure, fat stains also remain, which can be easily removed with an agent intended for cleaning the plates. Allowed to use baking soda, but in time this option will be more costly. If it is decided to use chemistry, then it is better to use some solvent that should be applied to the hermetic joint.In a day, it is easy to remove such a strip with a spatula or paddle made of wood. The greasy layer, in general, is not a problem to remove with the help of liquids containing alcohol.

To remove the substance in question from a cloth or cover, if the contamination is fresh, you should immediately remove the item of clothing and wet it with hot water. If it is already frozen, then sealant cannot be removed from the case without a special solvent. Using the chemistry of some aggressive category is quite dangerous due to the fact that it can easily destroy the structure of the fabric, so you first need to put it on some invisible piece of clothing. If everything is in order, then the contaminated area should be soaked with a solvent, after about half an hour, scrape it with a brush. And then the thing should just be washed. But without a solvent, it is unlikely that anything will be washed off.

If the solvent cannot be used, then the thing must be cleaned according to the following algorithm:

• spread out clothes on the surface;
• stretch it a little;
• very carefully using a scraper or a blunt edge of the knife to try to remove dirt;
• traces of oily nature wipe with vinegar or alcohol, after making sure that they can be used;
• after clothes should be soaked for several hours, and then carry out the usual washing.

There is another option that allows you to remove sealant from clothing.

Follow these steps:

• you must first put the clothes in the freezer section of the refrigerator for 3-4 hours;
• after which you should scrape the sealant with a scraper;
• it is necessary to pour hydrogen peroxide on the sealant stain and wait for it to disappear;
• after that the clothes should be washed.

Now it is worth considering how to wash your hands from sealant. If the substance does not have time to harden, then you need to take a simple bag of cellophane and make the silicone stick to it, and then tear off the bag with it. If the pollution has already dried up seriously, then you should take table salt (about 2-3 tablespoons and dissolve it in a quarter liter of water). Next, you need to put there hands and hold for about 12-17 minutes. After that, you need to take a brush and rub it with a place of pollution.

It is worth trying to wash your hands with soap and pumice. First you need to lather your hands, then pick up a pumice stone and process them.If the above methods did not help to achieve the necessary result, then you should heat the vegetable oil, then lubricate their hands, and wait for the reaction to begin. After that, it remains only to wash your hands with soap, shower gel or scrub. It should be careful not to burn yourself while heating the oil. And in no case should you use chemical solvents to remove the sealant from the skin.

When repair is carried out, there is simply no time to scrub the various surfaces from the sealant. It is better to simply prevent the appearance of such pollution.

Masters recommend sticking to the following tips:

• all actions must be performed with gloves;
• It will not be superfluous if the sealant has smeared or dripped somewhere, immediately remove it with a cloth, which was previously moistened with vinegar;
• it is better not to throw away the labels from the cylinders with a sealant, so that if necessary you can choose the most effective solvent;
• in order to carry out work on seaming the seams neatly, you can use a special masking tape to make the seams even and perfect;
• stains that remain from the glue can be removed with an iron; you must first put a solvent on the sealant and put a paper sheet on top, which you should walk on with a heated iron;
• excess silicone can be removed if the desired place is treated with hydrogen peroxide;
• When working with gasoline, kerosene, white spirit and other caustic substances, you should have a respirator with you, as these substances have a very strong and strong odor, which can cause significant discomfort when working with them.

To date, the domestic market presents products of both Russian and foreign brands.

Among the most popular companies, there are several.

• Moment sealants have a silicone base and can be produced not only in Russia, but also in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Belgium. They are used for various purposes, including for work in rooms with high humidity. Sealants are available in tubes of various sizes.

• Ceresit brand products are popular with professional builders. It is made in Germany and is used for sealing and gluing various decorative elements.The main disadvantage is that this sealant is not suitable for food surfaces.

• Tytan sealant is produced in Poland and can be of two categories: silicone-based and acrylic-based. User reviews about them are the most positive. The only drawback is the small volume of the tube - no more than 0.3 liters.

• The Turkish manufacturer Ciki Fix produces good sealants, which are an excellent solution in terms of price and quality. They are produced in the framework of the sanitary list of norms. They are often used as an adhesive.

It should be said that the products of such brands as Penosil, Soudal, Makroflex, HG and so on are also represented on the market. These companies have created a large line of silicone-based sealants for various purposes. On the market there are products of slightly less well-known brands, which also deserve attention due to the high quality of sealants, as well as their excellent properties.

Removing silicone sealant is not an easy task. Of course, everything will depend on what type of composition was used, what properties it had and on what surface it was applied. All this makes it possible to say that the removal of the sealant should be thought out even at the stage of its application.There are a considerable number of methods for removing such substances, which make it possible to preserve the shape of the surface on which it was applied.

How and how to remove silicone sealant, see the following video.