Remove Caulk From Vinyl Siding

Removing silicone caulk residue effectively is a two or three part process.

Remove caulk from vinyl siding.

If the caulk isn t coming off you may need to soften it some more or use a chemical caulk remover. Follow these simple steps for how to remove old caulk from your bathtub. If you re removing caulk from window trim score the side of the caulk that touches the trim then score the other side that touches your siding or adjacent surface. The fresh wet caulk is easier to remove than dry caulk.

If you don t have any on hand you can use isopropyl rubbing alcohol. One way to do this is with a commercial caulk remover. Make a vertical slice into the softened caulk with the knife being careful not to cut too deep. Latex caulk is a little more stubborn to remove from vinyl.

Softening caulk for removal. As the caulk loosens you can pry it off with a putty knife or utility knife. Be careful not to damage your siding. Here are the two easy ways to remove the caulk.

4 remove any stubborn bits of caulk. The remover will weaken the caulk s inner structure making it easier to pry the caulk away. Next place some lift off in a yogurt cup stoneyfield farm is my favorite and apply it to the caulk with a small 1 inch paint brush. Peeling off that gunky old caulk can be a nasty job but doing it right will result in a bathtub that looks sparkling fresh.

Removing the old caulk from your vinyl siding will take more time care. Soaking the caulk in mineral spirits or rubbing alcohol can help. Softening the residue by prolonged exposure to mineral spirits loosens its bond with the substrate. Latex caulk is strong but harder to remove.

Peel the loose caulk away from the siding with your fingers.