How do you remove clear caulk that has turned yellow?

Neida
by Neida

Our shower door was caulked with a clear caulking which, after 3 years, has turned yellow. It is very unsightly. I've tried pulling it off but it is spread very thin on the edges and it just won't come off. How can I remove this?

  7 answers
    • Neida Neida on Dec 01, 2018

      Thank you. I will try one of the caulk removers. I didn't know there was such a thing!

  • Kelly Denoyer Russell Kelly Denoyer Russell on Dec 01, 2018

    Razor blade?

    • Neida Neida on Dec 01, 2018

      I tried the razor blade, but it is so thin on the edge the caulk just kind of rolls, it doesn't shave off the way I thought it would. And then the caulking goes over my subway tile grout and that seems impossible to remove.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Dec 01, 2018

    You could try a window scraper that has a safety razor blade in it. I have had success with that before. put the blade pretty much against the thin parts on the edge and it should get it up pretty easy. Make sure it is clean and undamaged with no pitting on the edge.

  • You can buy a caulk removal tool at your local hardware or home improvement store, Neida.

  • Birdie Birdie on Dec 01, 2018

    Mogie is right. It takes patience and time. We removed old calk from all the edges of of our 5 foot bathroom vanity but used NO chemicals. The best "tool" we used was a regular hair dryer! Heating small sections at a time ( 6 - 8 inches ) made the task of removing the calk so much easier. Heat area for 30 seconds or so, holding the dryer a few inches above the calk. Then use calk removing tool, putty knives, dental tools, small paring knives or 5-in-1 painter's tool to carefully pull and pry out calking. Go over the sections a few times to get it all. Be careful not to damage surrounding surfaces. When all traces of calk are removed, clean area with alcohol or something similar. Be sure area is clean and completely dry before re-calking. Good luck.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 06, 2021

    Hello Neida,

    Use a Scalpel or a razor blade, but be careful. You could of course paint it!

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 23, 2021

    We removed old caulk that was thin and cracked with a caulk removing tool, then cleaned off the surface with alcohol.