dirty caulk question

I've got a project that has an old ceramic tub in it. I removed the old caulk as best I could (cut it out). Along the edges of the old caulk line, it's black with stain.

Is there a product that'll remove this stain, beofre I re-caulk it?

Thanks.

 

Try white vinegar. I use it all the time on residential sidejobs to clean up stuff. The acidity in the vinegar is aggressive enough to clean well without damaging or staining existing material. Plus people like the fact that it is a "green" product.

 

Jeff, I can just hear it now as you yell to one of your co-workers in another room...."Hey Bill, I have a dirty caulk problem in here!". Bill's jaw drops and he runs for cover.

 

Oxyclean? Might work in a paste, stuff cleans everything else.

 

Thanks, guys.

Brett??? Co-worker??? Whatyoutalkinbout?

I wish I could slap the crap out of the guy who bid this one. But, it would hurt. First one I've hit too low.

 

I used vinegar on my project last summer. Worked pretty good. I also applied my new caulk line a bit thicker as well. Looks great now.

 

Another vote for vinegar Jeff, also CLR works pretty well with an abrasive grout sponge.

 

I bought some No. 1 steel wool, today. I'm gonna try that with the vinegar, but I don't think it's gonna knock it all out. I got all the residual caulk off the ceramic tub with a razor. The vertical surface is a faux tile (some kind of cementitious product). The old caulk won't come off. Just won't. I'm gonna load the void with backer rod and lay down a little thicker bead. Hopefully, that'll do it. I wanna do a good job. But, I'm working for the owner, trying to fix it up to sell. I'm not building a Steinway, for sure.

I went by the project, today, and my supplies are frozen....lol. They're supposed to have some heat in there, starting tomorrow night.

'Preciate the tips. I'll hit it with the vinegar again. I'll take th eCLR, too. When I had a boat, I LOVED CLR. That stuff is awesome.

 

Good luck, let us know what works and what doesn't!

 

theres this stuff called "spitfire" its used by custodial maintenance crews.it'll clean anything.if that doesnt work try some tile and grout cleaner diluted with a little water.that should do the trick.
how i know is I worked as a custodian for awhile.also theres some other stuff that you can find online called "zap it". its a green product safe as water. we had a rep come out to the office and literally put the stuff in his mouth and then went right out to the parking lot and cleaned the brake dust off the rims. we couldnt get the stuff off w/ a pressure washer.
The tile & grout cleaner is probably cheapest.
good luck hope that helps!

 

I once used a "caulk remover" to do a tub in one of the houses we owned...that may soften it up a bit to make it removable.

Got it a Lowes.

 

It'll probably soften up, when it gets above 25deg. in the place!...lol

Thanks!

 

Speaking of temperature Jeff, I'm curious if a heat gun would soften things up a bit?