# How to Remove Caulk in the Kitchen
Removing old caulk in the kitchen is vital before laying a new bead of caulk, such as for resealing a sink to the counter top. New caulk will not adhere properly to old caulk. Instead, the caulk will merely double your sealant problems when it dries on the old caulk. Some of the old, dried caulk can probably be pulled up with your fingers in long strips and discarded. To get at the stubborn residual, use a putty knife and a mild solvent.
Things You'll Need
- Putty knife
- Rubbing alcohol
- Paper towels
Instructions
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1
Grab one end of a dried caulk bead with your thumb and index finger. Pull gently but constantly on the bead to strip it off the surface of the material you are cleaning, such as a counter top. If the caulk strip tears apart, discard what you were able to remove and start over at the section where it tore.
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2
Scrape the remaining caulk off the surface with a putty knife. Use a plastic putty knife if working around stainless steel, such as a kitchen sink, since a metal knife could leave scratches in the sink if you should slip with the tool while scraping caulk.
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3
Dampen a wad of paper towels in rubbing alcohol and rub the work surface to remove any remaining caulk residue.
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Previous:
Interior Home Repair
- How to Remove & Replace Caulk
- How to Change a Kitchen Vent
- How to Remove the Charcoal Filter in a Space Saver Microwave
- How to Remove a Coffered Ceiling
- How to Remove Caulk From Carpet
- How to Remove & Move Linoleum
- How to Remove Congoleum Flooring
- How to Replace the Moisture Seal in a Bathtub
- How to Caulk the Cracks in the Walls of a Fireplace
- How to Remove a Soffit Over the Kitchen Cabinets
- How to Remove the Soleplate of an Iron
- How to Remove a Kitchen Desk
