Sealant is a substance made using silicone rubbers. It is widely used when performing repair work. Let's consider how to remove silicone sealant, which is especially important due to the properties of this material. Learn effective cleaning methods for various products and surfaces.
Assortment of sealants Source mr-build.ru
Possible cleaning methods
In order not to worry about how to wash silicone sealant, it is recommended to remove excess material before it dries. The “fresh” (not hardened) mixture can be easily washed off with a regular sponge. The use of rags is allowed.
Once the silicone hardens, it is quite difficult to remove. This is especially true for embossed materials (various types of tiles). If the technology has not been violated, silicone sealant adheres to them very strongly.
If you plan to reapply the mixture to the surface, it is important to pay a lot of attention to removing the existing layer. This necessity is explained by the lack of adhesion between silicone molecules, which have already undergone polymerization and have just begun this process.
It is also important to thoroughly clean the surface of any silicone that has gone beyond the permissible limits during application. Even transparent material becomes dirty and dark during use, which disrupts the appearance of finishes, plumbing fixtures and other products.
Silicone affected by mold Source ytimg.com
Mechanical methods
Before removing silicone sealant, the surface should be mechanically treated. They are trying to get rid of as much material as possible. Mechanical cleaning is carried out using any devices. It is desirable that they be sharp and thin. The most suitable tools are:
- Metal spatula . It copes well with removing contaminants on non-relief surfaces formed from different materials. An important requirement is that the working edge of the spatula must be smooth. Otherwise, the surface being treated may be scratched.
Metal spatula Source dobrostroy.rf
- Razor blade . Must be used extremely carefully. If used carelessly, there is a risk of injury and leaving scratches on the surface being treated.
- Knife . It is better to use a special wallpaper. Using a knife is convenient for removing large accumulations of hardened mixture.
Wallpaper knife Source prom.st
- Bank card . It is formed from soft plastic, so it is not capable of scratching or damaging the surface. But the card will not cope with serious contamination. It is recommended to use it after using one of the chemicals.
After preliminary rough treatment, it is recommended to continue cleaning using any abrasive. Pumice stone, hard sponge or salt will do. You need to rub it carefully to avoid scratches. For glass or ceramics, it is better to use fine salt.
Salt is suitable for cleaning Source yandex.net
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in paints, protective and finishing materials
Chemical methods
To determine how to clean silicone sealant, you need to know its exact composition. Conventional construction silicone most often has an acid base. This is evidenced by the cloying smell of vinegar. It appears immediately after applying the mixture and remains until it hardens. To clean surfaces from this type of silicone, use concentrated acetic acid 70%.
In addition to acidic, sealants can also have another neutral base:
- Oxide . Can be removed using any solvent or purified gasoline.
- Alcohol . For cleaning, it is recommended to use ethanol (technical, food grade).
- Amide . It is removed in the same way as the oxide mixture.
A variety of chemicals Source avtoelektrik-info.ru
Before choosing how to remove silicone sealant, you need to understand that some materials can only be processed mechanically. This applies to polyurethane mixtures. Once polymerization is complete, this material can only be removed with a very sharp, thin blade. If the polyurethane mixture has not yet completely hardened, try to partially wash it off with a solvent.
When using any silicone sealant remover, you must consider the type of surface being treated. Contact of varnished or painted material with solvents is prohibited. There is also no need to clean glass with gasoline. This will lead to the formation of divorces. It is impossible to get rid of them in the future.
Industrial products
The most popular cleaners:
- H.G. _ The product is suitable for removing stubborn stains. It has a pleasant smell and does not spoil the appearance of the products.
Industrial cleaner Source ozone.ru
- Tytan . Contains acids. The product shows good results on surfaces with depressions. The advantage is the absence of a pungent odor.
- XADO Mottec . The product is made on an alcohol basis. Great for acrylic. After drying, it leaves no traces.
- Soudal . Differs in hydrocarbon base. It is recommended to apply only after complete removal of moisture. It is advisable to test the product before use, as it can leave greasy marks.
In what cases should silicone sealant be removed?
Despite the large number of positive qualities, sometimes certain circumstances still arise in which silicone removal is required:
- Errors made during application. If the areas between the wall and the bathtub are filled incorrectly, when after hardening, remaining gaps are found, due to which the seal does not acquire the necessary tightness. In this case, you have to clean the entire seam and re-apply.
- Worn seams. Nothing is eternal. If repair work has not been carried out for a long time, the surface of the seam may become cracked and dark in color. In this case, the old sealant should be completely removed and replaced with a new one.
- Carelessness during application. During the work, even a specialist can make a mistake. If applied carelessly, the sealant may end up in the wrong place.
- The occurrence of fungal infections. Most often, its appearance occurs due to poor ventilation in the room, which is why the antibacterial additives present in the composition do not properly cope with their main function.
Some of these reasons can be avoided by being careful during application.
Methods for cleaning different surfaces
To determine how to remove silicone sealant, you need to try and combine different methods. Specific recommendations depend on the type of coating being treated.
Removing unusable sealant Source prorab.help
Bath
When choosing how to clean the sealant on the bathtub, you can follow the following tips:
- The layer of hardened mixture must be carefully pryed off with a sharp blade.
- Use your hands to try to completely remove the material.
- The surface should be wiped with a damp cloth soaked in salt of minimal grain size.
- If there are traces of the sealing agent left on the bathtub, they can be washed off with vinegar or solvent.
If the silicone-containing substance has not yet hardened, there is no need to perform these manipulations. The mixture that has contaminated the surface of the bath can be easily removed with a solvent.
Removing silicone-containing products from the bathtub Source kak-otteret.ru
Tiles on the wall
To understand how to wash silicone, you need to read the following instructions:
- It is recommended to remove large pieces of silicone using a thin object.
- A washcloth is soaked in a solvent and the dirty tiles are treated. There must be a lot of liquid so that it can be “absorbed” into the hardened mixture.
- After 10 minutes, remaining silicone can be removed with a hard cloth soaked in solvent.
- At the final stage, it is recommended to wash the tiles using a soap solution.
Chemical methods
The industry produces special chemicals for removing sealant from various surfaces. They are selected taking into account the material of the bathtub and the chemical resistance of the tiles. Chemicals will help remove the sealant from the bathtub quickly, but they must be used with caution.
Old silicone applied in a thick layer can be removed using white spirit. The solvent will soften the silicone composition. The sealant will be easier to remove and wipe off the bathtub. Using white alcohol takes some time as the liquid needs to be absorbed and the chemical reaction begins. The cleaning process takes 3-4 hours.
To clean the bath, it is allowed to use reagents containing methylsiloxane components. Such solvents quickly soften the connections between the surface and the sealants. With their help they achieve good results.
All chemicals are aggressive and can harm human health, so it is important to adhere to safety measures when working with them.
Precautionary measures
When using chemical solvents and other special compounds for cleaning, it is important to ensure safe working conditions when working with the substance. The following must be taken into account:
- the room should be well ventilated;
- It is allowed to work only with rubber gloves and a protective mask;
- the use of chemicals near fire and smoking during work are prohibited;
- you must strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for handling the product;
- Upon completion of work, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
It is also important to be careful when working with sharp piercing and cutting objects. After all, in order to clean the product from sealant, you often have to use blades or knives. They are necessary to remove the top layer of silicone.
Briefly about the main thing
It is quite difficult to remove hardened sealant from any surface. Therefore, it is recommended to remove traces of the mixture before completing its polymerization.
Mechanical techniques and various chemicals are used to remove silicone-containing compounds. It is recommended to initially clean the surface with a wallpaper knife or spatula. After removing large pieces of material, you can move on to final cleaning using ethanol, solvents and other substances.
There are industrial products on sale that effectively deal with stains from silicone rubbers. They are used exactly according to the instructions after preliminary testing.
Advice from professionals
Experts recommend:
- Before using a chemical, you need to apply it to a small and inconspicuous area of the bath and monitor the reaction of the material to the chemical. This way you can avoid damage to the product.
- When working with sealant, it is advisable to wipe off drips and drips before it hardens.
- Silicone substances have a destructive effect on products made of polyacrylate and polycarbonate. In this regard, it is not prohibited to combine them.
- You should always follow the rules for working with chemicals.
With a competent approach to the procedure, removing the sealant from the bathtub will not be difficult.
Procedure
Industrial preparations affect the structure of the seal, causing its gradual destruction. Ready-made solutions are sold in construction stores and automotive supply outlets.
There is a single principle for using professional products:
- mechanical cleaning of the area is carried out;
- the drug is applied with a sponge (you need to wear thick rubber gloves);
- At the end of the exposure time, the remaining sealant is removed with a plastic scraper, brush or spatula - the tools are often included with the cleaner.
Industrial formulations often leave behind greasy, yellow-tinged residues. For removal, a soap solution is used - a small amount is applied to the contaminated area, left for 3-5 minutes and washed.
Laundry soap has a similar effect; it is lathered on a sponge and processed. The foam is later washed off, the area is wiped dry, then degreased with acetone or white spirit, and dried with a hairdryer.
How not to cause harm
Before starting the tile cleaning procedure, weigh the pros and cons.
It is important not to damage the surface of the tile or scratch it.
It is better to check the operation of the tool and the effect of solvents on an invisible area of the cladding. This will ensure that the tiles will not be damaged.
Cleaning is a labor-intensive process, so in order not to resort to it, it is important to clearly apply the sealant to the seams, using masking tape or construction tape as a limiter.
Special attachments placed on the spout of a can of silicone prevent it from splashing and allow you to process joints evenly.
Peculiarities
Silicone is a unique substance available for use in sealing. It is non-toxic, so it is often used to seal tile joints in the bathroom, kitchen, swimming pool, refrigerators and ovens. Over time, it can still turn yellow, crack, and its sealing properties are impaired. Then you need to carry out a planned replacement of the material, and for this you will have to remove the old one. This material is also used as an adhesive base for joining different parts.
The difficulty of removal lies in the ability of silicone to penetrate deep into the cracks and pores of rough surfaces. The width of the silicone-coated surface can also complicate the work. Therefore, you will have to clean off the sealant very carefully.
As for the composition of the mixture, in addition to the main substance, it contains various types of additives. Bactericidal compounds that prevent the penetration and development of microorganisms in the joints of kitchen or toilet tiles, plus various solvents that give the substance elastic and sticky properties.
Due to the solvent, the sealant has a recognizable pungent odor, so chemicals to remove the material are used with extreme caution.
There are two groups of silicone sealants on the market - one-component and two-component.
They are sold in ordinary plastic or polyethylene tubes. They harden when the solvent in the mixture evaporates, but only thin strokes can dry completely in due time. Most adhesives on the counter are one-component, which in turn can be acidic or neutral:
- Acidic - have a distinct smell of acetic acid, are very inexpensive and effective.
- Neutral - practically odorless, more resistant to temperature changes, and their price is noticeably higher.
The purpose of the adhesive-sealant is usually indicated on the packaging: automotive, construction, special and others. Two-component (compounds) harden when interacting with a kind of catalyst. They are rarely found in regular stores due to the fact that they are used mainly for industrial purposes. Completely hardens in any quantity and on any surface.
