Whether you're protecting bathroom tiles or sealing windows, the most common material used is a silicone sealant. Although very versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces, this type of sealant does not last long. When the sealant starts to loosen, crack, or peel, you will need to carefully scrape it off with a knife or razor.
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Method 1 of 3: Getting Rid of Silicone Sealant on Bathroom Tiles
Step 1. Clean the shower or tub
Remove all personal items and bathroom accessories and place them where they will not get in the way of your work. Clean the tiled area with a tile cleaning product.
- Find a cleanser that will remove soap suds without leaving a residue.
- You can also use mild dish soap and hot water to clean the tiles.
Step 2. Select the first putty joint to remove
Use a knife or razor to cut one side of the putty joint. Hold the knife so it is near the wall on the silicone base and slide the knife down from end to end of the joint.
- Cut gently from being careful not to cut through the wall.
- Do not cut completely through the joint. Your goal is to loosen the edges of the joint. Make shallow incisions using only the tip of the knife.
- Repeat the previous step on the other side of the same joint. Slide the knife along the joint of the putty, near where the silicone touches the tile, but again, without slicing the wall.
Step 3. Grasp one end of the loose silicone sealant
Peel the putty up until it comes off the tile. This will remove the silicone filling the joint, along with the part that you can see. If the sealant is difficult to remove, use a putty knife or a cutter knife to push it away.
Step 4. Remove any remaining sealant at the joint
Use a putty knife or a cutter knife to carefully remove any remaining silicone. Position the blade at an angle against the tile and make sure not to scratch or damage your tile.
Repeat the steps for each other connection you want to remove. Don't rush and work carefully
Step 5. Scrub the tiles to get rid of any residue left behind
Wet a scouring pad with acetone and rub it over the bathroom tiles. You may need to scrub a little harder to get rid of stubborn residue.
- If you don't have acetone, use rubbing alcohol or mineral spirit.
- Use a mixture of cup bleach and 4 liters of water to kill mold. Wait for the tiles to dry completely before applying new sealant.
Method 2 of 3: Removing Sealant from Glass
Step 1. Use a razor to start scraping the sealant off the glass surface
Position the razor blade where the putty and glass meet. Press the razor and start scraping off the putty.
Be careful when using the razor so you don't scratch the glass or hurt yourself
Step 2. Use a firing heater if the silicone is not easy to scrape off with a razor
Set the firing heater to a high heat setting and aim the nozzle at the problem area. After a while, test the area with a scraper to make sure the sealant is soft enough before continuing. Scrape until most of the sealant is removed.
If you don't have a heating gun, use a hairdryer on the highest setting
Step 3. Remove any remaining sealant with rubbing alcohol and a sponge
Dip the sponge in rubbing alcohol or mineral spirits and gently wipe the glass.
- If there is still a large amount of putty left, try heating it up and scraping it off again.
- Once all the sealant is removed, dip a cloth in rubbing alcohol to clean any cloudy areas of the glass.
Method 3 of 3: Removing Putty from Wood
Step 1. Remove loose parts by hand
If you're removing the sealant because it's very old, there's a good chance that a large part of the wood has come off. Pull the part that can be removed easily by hand.
Step 2. Use a firing heater to warm up any remaining sealant
This will soften the putty and make it easier to remove. Don't let the area get too hot as the wood covering can be damaged.
You can also use a hairdryer to soften the sealant
Step 3. Scrape off the remaining sealant with a razor blade
Position the blade at a low angle so it doesn't damage the wood surface. The sealant will come off in large chunks. Use your hands or tweezers to completely remove any pieces of sealant.
Step 4. Remove any remaining residue using a silicone putty cleaner
Start by reading the instructions on the bottle of putty remover. Then, apply the cleaner to the area you just scraped and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Make sure the cloth is not too wet because water can also damage the wood.
- Before you begin, test the silicone cleaning product on a small piece of wood to make sure it doesn't get damaged or discolored.
Step 5. Smooth the surface of the wood with a wood cleaner
This will help keep the wood clean and less prone to damage. Wood surfaces must be clean before applying a primer, stain, or varnish.
