Removing Dry Silicon From Marble

This is a nice tool for beginner diyers because it has an angled tip to remove silicone caulk from corners.

Removing dry silicon from marble.

Silicone caulk is a flexible type of sealant that s often used to seal openings in high humidity areas like kitchens and bathrooms. If there s any wetness fresh silicone won t adhere properly. Another product that is effective in removing stubborn adhesive stains is wd 40. Silicone is not dissolve able when dry so usually you need to scrape or peel it off.

Gently lift and push against the silicone to remove it from the surface. Softening the residue by prolonged exposure to mineral spirits loosens its bond with the substrate. Unfortunately rust stains are the most difficult of stains to remove from marble. Water stains can be easily removed from marble.

Usually you can rub the silicone with your finger and it will peel off. It also has a flat surface that can scrape caulk without scratching tile bathtubs or shower surrounds. Buy new mildew resistant caulk that s formulated for use in bathrooms and only apply it to surfaces that are bone dry. In most cases this should be sufficient to remove the water stains however if this does not work then we recommended trying a marble cleaner specifically designed to remove hard water stains and soap scum.

If you try these methods and still do not have success contact a professional to assess the problem. You can either use regular marble cleaner or try removing the stain using grade 0000 steel wool. Wash the spot with a mixture of water and soap to remove any chemical residue before you pat it dry with a cloth or towel. There are other tools you can use to remove silicone caulk.

Wipe the area down with a wet rag and buff dry to make the granite shine like new. Continue to do this until the slick natural stone surface is completely smooth and free from the rough silicone. Next scrub the surface with an abrasive pad soaked in mineral spirits to get rid of any silicone residue which will prevent the new sealant from sticking. Dry the surface around the water stain then rub in a circular pattern over the stain until the stain buffs out of the marble.

Has the silicone stained the marble or is it just stuck on it. One item you may have on hand that helps soften silicone is mineral spirits which is suitable to get silicone off of hard surfaces like tile marble or concrete for removing it from plastic or painted surfaces however you should use isopropyl alcohol which won t harm the surface regular alcohol you may have for home use may not be strong enough to do the job. One of them is the homax plastic caulk removal tool.