How to remove silicone sealant?

Silicone is an effective and versatile sealant. Silicone sealants are useful to waterproof your home in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and windows. Silicone is durable, but it will eventually wear down. When the sealant starts to loosen or crack, it’s time to remove it and replace it.

Peel away the silicone

If you’re removing old sealant, some bits might have already come loose. Pull off any silicone that can be removed by hand. If this is not possible, use a utility knife or razor to cut along the length of the seam. Make a shallow cut, so you can loosen the end of the seam. Be careful not to cut or scratch the underlying surface.

When the seam has come loose, peel or scrape away the silicone. If you encounter any resistance from the sealant, you can use a scraper to push it along.

How to remove silicone sealant

Use a hot air blower to warm up the remaining sealant. This will soften the material and make it easier to remove. You can use a hair dryer if you don’t have an air blower. Scrape off the remains with the edge of a knife, or use tweezers.

Depending on the surface you’re cleaning, you can use several types of products to wipe off the last of the residue.

• Tiles: Use acetone and a scouring pad. If you don’t have acetone, you can use rubbing alcohol or white spirit instead.
• Glass: Use a sponge dipped in alcohol or white spirit.
• Wood: Use a silicone removing product. Wipe it off with a damp cloth. Then, apply a wood cleaner.

If there’s any mould or mildew underneath the silicone, you can remove it with a mixture of water and bleach. Wait until the surface is dry. Then apply the new silicone.

Using silicone removing products

Silicone sealants can be difficult to remove. This is because they are designed to have a certain degree of solvent and chemical resistance. Silicone removers are available from producers such as Dowsil and Microcare. Ambersil Polymer Remover is also an effective solution.

However, these products should be used with caution. They can damage surfaces and human skin. It is best to use them after most of the silicone has been removed by hand. However, they can be also applied first thing, if the silicone proves too difficult to peel or scrape away. Isopropyl alcohol can serve the same purpose.

Most products will need a few hours to break down the old silicone. Follow the directions on the bottle. Remember to wear protective gloves and make sure the area is well-ventilated.

Conro Electronics offers a wide choice of silicone sealants from major manufacturers such as Ambersil, Dowsil and Henkel Loctite.

We’ll show you how to improve product reliability while increasing performance and lowering costs. Our team of technical support specialists will provide your company with dependable global supply, unrivalled efficiency, and superior technical support.

Feel free to contact us on 0208 953 1211 or send us an email to info@conro.com