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Average Guy DIY | ||
How to remove and repair moldy caulkCaulk with black mold is ugly and not healthy. One remedy is to bleach it, but that will only remove the existing mold and not stop it from coming back. Average Guy shows you how to remove moldy caulk and repair it by replacing it with new caulk that is mold resistant. 
The first step is to remove all of the caulk. Don't just remove the caulk where the mold exists, remove all of it. This is achieved with a putty knife. I prefer to use both a putty knife and a 5-in-1 tool. The 5-in-1 tool has a pick edge that allows you to remove caulk by pulling on the tool. The putty knife only works in the pushing direction. Also when choosing a putty knife make sure you purchase a stiff blade knife. There are stiff blade and flexible blade versions of just about every putty knife size. The stiff blade knives are for removal and the flexible blades are for applying. I don't use a flexible putty knife to apply caulk. There is more on how I achieve a uniform bead of caulk later. 
Check out the pictures on how I remove the caulk. The technique is very simple. Just scrape and gouge out the caulk. All the caulk must be removed to insure that the next bead of caulk will adhere well and seal the gap. (The pictures of caulk removal are from another project but the technique is the same.) When I finished remvoing all of the caulk, I noticed there was still some mold on the adjoining surfaces. I grabbed a rag and some bleach, and wiped over all of those surfaces. 
I used a caulking gun with caulk specific for kitchen and bath that resists mildew and mold. (I used the same caulk for how to caulk around a bathroom tub.) The same caulk can be purchased in a hand squeezable tube. I prefer a caulking gun but a squeezable tube allows for easy access into hard to reach spaces. When using a caulking gun you need to be aware of what type of release you have. The release on the caulking gun in the picture is an auto release style, also called dripless. The pressure is released once you stop squeezing the trigger. Other caulking guns don't have a black plastic bushing on the release (or some other similar mechanism) and are called ratcheting. Those caulking guns require you to hit the release to remove the pressure, otherwise the caulk will continue to come out. 
When cutting open the tip of the caulk tube, always cut a small hole. You can always make it bigger, but if you make the hole too big for the seam you need to fill, it can get messy. The other secret to applying caulk is moisture. I use a wet finger or thumb to apply the bead, because the wetness allows my finger to glide over the caulk without sticking. I can get a nice uniform bead that way. 
Another option, which I use when I have an excess amount of caulk, is a finger or thumb wrapped in a wet paper towel. This glides nicely over the caulk while absorbing all of the excess. I used this technique for how to caulk around a sink where the seam is very tight. See other tips at techniques for getting a smooth uniform bead of caulk. Plus, there is even a tip on saving caulk for later use. Submit to:
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