How to clean silicone sealant?

Silicone sealant is widely used in the construction industry. Due to its high adhesiveness and resistance to external factors, the material is a high-quality sealant that seals gaps and crevices. But these qualities can also have a negative side in cases where the application of silicone was erroneous or involuntary. Here the question already arises of the need to remove traces of the mixture from the areas stained with it. In this case, it is necessary to remove the sealant, as well as to apply it, as carefully as possible.

Many manufacturers save on the production technology of the product, which is why it hardens for a very long time and retains adhesive properties for a long time. This fact can not only worsen the density of connections and insulation, but also endanger skin and clothing. Accidental contact with uncured sealant will leave a noticeable mark on the fabric and skin, as well as an unpleasant emotional aftertaste, ruining your favorite thing and adding worries about its further cleaning (if this has a positive effect).

Silicone is a unique substance available for use in sealing applications.It is non-toxic, so it is often used for grouting tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, swimming pools, refrigerators and ovens. Over time, it can still turn yellow, crack, and its sealing properties are violated. Then you need to carry out a planned replacement of the material, and for this you will have to remove the old one. This material is also used as an adhesive base for connecting different parts.

The complexity of removal lies in the property of silicone to penetrate deep into the cracks and pores of rough surfaces. The width of the surface covered with silicone can also complicate the work. Therefore, you will have to clean the sealant very carefully.

As for the composition of the mixture, in addition to the main substance, there are various kinds of additives in it. Bactericidal compounds that prevent the penetration and development of microorganisms in the joints of kitchen or toilet tiles, plus various solvents that give the substance elastic and sticky properties.

There are two groups of silicone sealants on the market - one-component and two-component.

They are sold in ordinary plastic or polyethylene tubes. They harden when the solvent in the mixture evaporates, but only thin strokes can dry completely in due time. Most adhesives on the counter are one-component, which in turn can be acidic and neutral:

• Acidic - have a pronounced smell of acetic acid, very inexpensive and effective.
• Neutral - practically odorless, more resistant to temperature changes, and their price is much higher.

The purpose of the adhesive-sealant, as a rule, is indicated on the packaging: automotive, construction, special and others. Two-component (compounds) harden when interacting with a kind of catalyst. They are rarely found in regular stores due to the fact that they are used mainly for industrial purposes. Fully hardens in any quantity and on any surface.

When a sealant gets into places where it was not planned to be applied, the task arises to remove it. But this is very difficult, because no matter how much effort is made, traces still remain. There are two main methods for cleaning silicone: chemical and mechanical.

The chemical method involves the use of substances that dissolve or soften the material. There is a wide range of solvents on store shelves that remove sealant residue without damaging surfaces. These are all kinds of gels, liquids or foaming agents.

As for dry cleaning, then, as mentioned above, solvents do an excellent job with this task. Their choice for work depends on the composition of the sealant, undesirably spilled on a clean place. If the glue contains vinegar, then a concentrated solution of acetic acid will serve as a solvent. If neutral substances give elasticity to the sealant, then it can be washed off by increasing their concentration, that is, using alcohol, amides, oxides, and so on.

In addition, the adhesive on a neutral basis perfectly eliminates acetone and gasoline. From universal means known Penta 840 and Antisil. In cases where you need to remove the old dried layer of silicone, special solvents are used.

Mechanical means must be sharp or rough. Therefore, it is often used here:

• blades;
• knives;
• spatulas;
• sandpaper;

• pumice;
• scrapers;
• screwdrivers and so on.

The bulk of the silicone is cut off with a sharp object, and the rest is rubbed with sandpaper or pumice. This is done very carefully, without damaging the surface to be cleaned. But if the soiled material is very wear-resistant, it will be possible to remove the silicone quickly and easily.

From improvised means for cleaning smooth glossy surfaces, you can use a kind of gauze-salt swab. To do this, wet salt is poured into a cloth or gauze and wrapped. With such a swab, a tiled or glass surface is gently wiped, on which there is glue residue. Also, if possible, the material on which the sealant has stuck can be slightly warmed up. The mixture softens and is much easier to scrape off. This method is well suited for glass and metal, but the main thing is not to overdo it.

Very often the clothes are exposed to sticking of silicone glue. Unlike other substances, it does not wash off with any stain remover. Immediately after contact, immerse the fabric in hot water. The heat will soften the glue and make it easier to remove from the fibers. If it is not possible to immediately throw things into the washing machine, and the sealant has already hardened, then you will have to resort to already known solvents. You need to soak the clothes in them for half an hour, and then calmly wash the stain.

The solvent can spoil the colored fabric, therefore it is advisable to resort to mechanical cleaning here. To do this, you will have to lay out your favorite T-shirt on a flat surface, and carefully, layer by layer, cut off the remnants of the mixture from the fabric to the very base. The solution deeply embedded in the fibers is scraped off with a brush or pumice stone. It would be nice to treat the remains with vinegar concentrate or other universal solvent, as well as gasoline or alcohol. Then, of course, it is better to wash the remnants of the softener in hot water.

Polyurethane sealant sometimes needs to be scraped off steel tubs, panels, countertops, and other surfaces. A glass sanitary scraper or other means can help you with this.

It is better to remove silicone residues from enameled cladding and plumbing without the use of coarse powders and other mechanical means. These surfaces require careful handling as they are easily scratched. The cleaning process consists of a series of sequentially performed actions, strict adherence to which will ensure the desired result:

• First, the bulk of the mixture must be cut off with a knife or spatula.
• Then the remaining glue is abundantly covered with a solvent and left for half an hour.
• The softened sealant is removed, and the place where the stain was rubbed dry.

The result of proper processing is the "twisting" of the glue and its gradual lag.When this happens, the pellets are removed with a dry sponge or cloth.

Silicone adhesive does not adhere well to a smooth surface, so the use of a solvent and exposure to a rag or pumice stone is sufficient for cleaning. Not bad cope with cleaning and special plastic spatulas. If the tile does not have an enamel coating and is rather rough to the touch, the process of removing the sealant can become several times more difficult.

It is easiest to clean the plastic surface from the sticky mixture. After all, the surface of the plastic does not hold adhesive substances well, unless there are deep scratches and cracks on it. Solvent is used in showers, acrylic bathtubs, plastic pipes and trays. Before this, traces of silicone are moistened with water for an hour and then removed with degreasing solutions.

But if a primer was used when applying the sealant, this will significantly complicate the process of full cleaning. Indeed, because of this, it will be more difficult to choose the right solvent, and the glue will have to be softened in parallel with scraping.

Regarding the solvent itself, some of its types, for example, acetone, can soften not only the sealant, but also the plastic itself, so you need to be extremely careful here. Ideal for plastic DowCorningOS2, as well as WhiteSpirit. The substance does not affect polyethylene and acrylic.

As for the latter, it is also advisable to follow the sequence of actions to clean it:

• Applying solvent to the stain and waiting for the softening effect.
• Processing with a soft (wooden or plastic) spatula adhesive residue.
• Cleaning with a rag or sponge traces of the mixture.
• Degreasing and drying of the surface.

Working with silicone sealant requires personal safety measures, so it should only be applied in protection - gloves are put on the hands, and the body is dressed in thick clothing. But, despite this, there are cases when the mixture still remains on the skin, and it is difficult to wash it off in the end. In addition to the ugly look building material can cause redness, irritation and an allergic skin reaction, because of this, it must be washed off as soon as possible.

This method requires taking an ordinary clean plastic bag or a piece of oilcloth and rubbing the contaminated area with it. Most of the glue will remain on the polyethylene, and the rest will be easier to wash off with soap under a tap of warm water.

For this purpose, it is desirable to heat the water. The method works well on fresh sealant, and if you put your hands in a vessel with warm water, the glue will quickly soften. Then it remains only to rub the dirty area with a pumice stone, removing the stratum corneum of the skin.

They do their job well here too. Nail polish remover, table vinegar and gasoline, applied to a cotton swab, will clean up the pollution. Most importantly, after wash your hands well with soap, then apply a skin care cream.

Hands should be moistened in heated vegetable oil, and then rubbed with a small amount of washing powder. The liquid will soften the skin, expanding its pores, where small glue particles linger, and the powder will adsorb dirt, and the hands will be clean again. Most importantly, after do not forget to wash the skin thoroughly under running water with soap.

Regarding personal safety, work with silicone sealant should be carried out exclusively in protective clothing and always with gloves. Hands must be protected from possible ingress of glue, and therefore experienced craftsmen recommend washing hands with soap before work. This will create a special film on the skin that is able to repel the sticky mixture, preventing it from penetrating into small pores and lingering there. It is highly undesirable to allow contact with the sealant of areas with hair, because it is almost impossible to wash the hair from the sticky mass.

Regarding the protection of surfaces of solid materials from unwanted ingress of glue, it is better to take care of their protection. You can use adhesive tapes, special solutions that repel silicone. No one has canceled the accuracy of handling building materials. Do not inadvertently leave a tube of sealant near clean surfaces. If, nevertheless, a nuisance has occurred, it is required to correct it immediately: the more time the mixture is in air at room temperature, the harder it becomes due to the gradual evaporation of the solvent.

After all, it is better to prevent an unpleasant situation than to eliminate it later. The range of use of mounting sealant is very wide. Whether it is sealing gaps or joining two identical or different surfaces, it is always important to be careful. To begin with, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the composition of the glue in case it has to be washed off quickly.

For information on how and how to clean silicone sealant from different surfaces, see the following video.