I Tried Saving Caulk Tubes: Did It Actually Work?

[@Michael-Makes-Stuff]

I bought one of these after seeing it on your channel. For short term (weeks to a few months) it has worked great. It’s neat, easy to use, and kept the caulk it perfect shape. So I’m still happy I bought it. Honestly, I don’t know if anything can keep open caulk good for a year or more. Maybe in a temp controlled basement but in a garage I don’t think it’s possible. I’m glad you did this experiment though. It is helpful. Most of all I appreciate the HONEST review. This channel rocks! Thanks for all you do. 👍🏼

[@LewHodgett]

Get some 3/8” id clear vinyl tubing and cut off about 6”. Push it onto the caulk nozzle as far as you can, then squeeze out caulk until the vinyl tubing is mostly full. The caulk will start to harden at the open end of the vinyl tube, but it takes a long time for dry caulk to reach to caulk tube nozzle. Pull off the vinyl tube and pitch it when you’re ready to caulk again. I saw this in an old video online. I’ve had good luck with it, but I haven’t tested it for a year. A longer piece of vinyl tubing will probably buy you more storage time.

[@hassanbazzi3545]

Has been a year already? That was a disappointment. I never seen them anywhere and only on your channel. They look so convincing but you proved it differently. Thank you for sharing

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Man, I wanted it to work 🤷‍♂️

[@winstonsmith478]

@@EverydayHomeRepairsSince that device you used should have prevented the ingress of air, these tubes and their contents may be chemically DESIGNED to go bad over time and this is only prevented with NEW tubes by the fact that they are SOLD not terribly long after manufacture. OR another thing that might be happening which may be even more likely is that once ANY portion of the contents are exposed to air it sets off an INTENTIONAL chemical reaction CASCADE that progresses down the tube and ruins/solidifies the contents. That MAY NOT be nefarious since that could be the same chemical cascade allowing silicone not directly exposed to air in a silicone bead to harden.

[@mrgunn2726]

@hassanbazzi3545 Not sure his testing is entirely valid he omitted answers to couple of important questions; did you follow the manufacturer's recommended storage recommendations; did you exceed the manufacturers stated shelf life opened and unopened? If you did not control for the storage temp, humidity, angle of storage (vertical, horizontal, inverted), shelf life and other variables etc, it is hard to make a specific statement about the efficacy of the AirTite product.

[@hassanbazzi3545]

@@mrgunn2726 you know you probably correct. I know that he is very particular about theses mentioned and if you followed him enough and he is careful and sometimes ask for advice from others. The product is unique but he used it as any normal homeowner would. He was disappointed about the results but I guarantee that he will continue using it in a better environment. I still is convinced that I will probably purchase it if I found it in the store

[@aaron74]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs I wonder if the failure was due more to environmental conditions of the storage? Perhaps had you kept it indoors for a year, it'd have been just fine?

[@dragonstunna]

My dad would stick an appropriate sized nail in the hole, he was a carpenter for over 40 years, I don't know how long this method is good for since he used tubes more often than most people.

[@Ghost_Os]

I've kept tubes going for several years until they finally got used up with the nail (or bolt) trick. Works perfectly fine.

[@JoshuaPain345]

What’s worked for me is a plastic golf tee (no wood as the paint get eaten up) then wrapped with plastic wrap then taped up. A bit tedious when putting up and using again but I was able to reuse a tube of silicone in a few bathrooms over the past few years. It was almost 2 years old when I had to toss it, blew out the back when squeezing.

[@davidmiller6010]

I do have experience with this issue. Method I came up with: push a 3" drywall screw about 3/4ish way into the tip of the tube. Then turn it the rest of the way in like screwing in the screw all the way. This will get the caulk well wrapped into/onto the screw. THEN take either electrical tape of duct tape and wrap it around the tip, say 3-5 times. Try to get airtight both on the shaft of the tips' tube and beyond the head of the screw head. I like to fold the tape back against itself to give me a little lift flap to get a grip on when trying to remove in the future. Now, in the future, pull the tape off as best as you can, and use whatever means necessary to pull the screw out. Pliers work well for this. DO NOT unscrew the screw. You want to use the screws threads to extract the plug of firmed up caulk/adhesive. I've tried using a nail in place the screw before, but it only sometimes works. You usually only get a usable orifice the diameter of the nail, resulting in either frustration or very strong forearms! Most of the time, I can get 2 years or so of storage this way. I seem to have better luck with non- water based products like silicones, urethanes, adhesives, and roof tar. Water based, like latex caulk, I usually only get about a year of storage this way. But latex is crap, and I try to avoid using it if I can. Hope this helps somebody, and thanks for giving me the space here to share!

[@isabellavision]

^^This is what has worked well for me.

[@aaron74]

I wrap a scrap piece of poly-shopping bag, sandwich bag, whatever-tightly around the tip. Then I wrap a small rubber band around the tip enough times to make it SUPER tight. Then I squeeze some caulk into the poly and that drives away any air and creates a virtual airtight seal.

[@donz6901]

It's funny you posted this. Last June 2023, I had purchased these so called airtight containers off Amazon after watching KZbin videos. Well, in the cooler June weather, I tackled the cracks in my driveway after watching your videos and I bought the Tremco sealer as you did. I used half a 10 ounce tube and decided I would patch more cracks when weather cools in September. On September 8, 2023, just two and a half months later thereabouts, I opened the plastic container holding the sealer and put sealer into my caulking gun, and NOPE, the gun handle did not budge. Maybe I should have tried to repierce tip, but I didn't. I tossed sealer out, after opening just two plus months later. Luckily, I had three fresh Tremco sealer tubes to finish my driveway and patio cracks. I think I will go back to my old practice of shoving a metal screw into tip, which has worked for me. With the Amazon purchase, it was two containers. Maybe, I will try one more time at some point?

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Make sure the hole in the end of the neck is just smaller or the same size of the diameter of the smaller insert that seals the neck inside the Airtite tube. Another commenter just brought this up which might help the chances of the neck not drying out.

[@donz6901]

@EverydayHomeRepairs I added a response to the person that said, he keeps his caulk in house. Like you, I had kept the Tremco sealer in my garage over the summer, which I now know I should have kept in my cooler basement. Even the full Tremco tubes were like thick toothbrush, unlike when you used filled cracks nicely. I had to use my gloved finger to smooth out in cracks.

[@donz6901]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs By the way, I am a big fan of your videos. You have great tips.

[@LynyrdSkynyrd.4Ever]

For silicone I always use a 1/4" x 4 screw and make sure the silicone has flowed out around the screw head. It keeps for maybe 3 months but much longer than that, it starts to cure within the tube

[@wertacus]

I do the same. You can also drive a screw into one and pull it out straight after it's hardened up if you forget, but as you've said, it's not a forever solution

[@larryseibold4287]

yep. that nail plus about 5" of quality duct tape folded in half, tightly squeezed around the nail and phatic tip. I think that the silicone tubes have a very short shelf life, even unopened now due to the VOC restrictions. I think an unopened tube is good for like 12 months now. Many manufactures have difficult to read manufacturing dates, which make this a real problem. I would like to see lower cost 3oz squeeze tubes with 2x the shelf life.

[@williamouyang9629]

I bought one, used it, and left it in my basement, but assumed it went bad after seeing this video. Checked it today and it was working! About a year later. Saved me a trip to the store! Maybe it depends on the brand of caulk.

[@svridr2k]

I purchased these on your recommendation and they have worked very well for me. Esp for RV lap sealant that only gets used very very infrequently. Have 4 of them and have yet to have one fail to keep the caulk/sealant useable. I have no complaints.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nice, thanks for the feedback. I think my fail was the hole cut in the neck must have been slightly larger as compared to the plug and as such the neck dried out.

[@Salmomlox]

Thanks for testing this out for us.

[@JimYeats]

I love that we are coming up with additional sealing products to use to preserve a product that is literally a sealer. When you're done with the caulk just push out a glob and push it back onto the tip so that there is a nice clump. Now the tip is sealed and you have something to grab a pull when it's time to use it next.

[@buckeyebug1353]

Interesting video. Those using foil are generally on the right path as you are fighting the water/solvents escaping the tube which cause most of the early curing with used tubes whether plastic or paper based tube. Generally the solvents used though are not planned to last more than 18 months even unopened due thermal cycling that you mentioned so you may have same tube with two different products with the same tube type and have differing results.

[@michaelfine9490]

I've been using aluminum foil tape wrapped around the tip for years. It can be a pain to remove sometimes but I've had good luck with it.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback. Did you have luck getting tubes to still work 1 year after the last use?

[@michaelfine9490]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs yes, I believe even longer than that. I've tried a few gadgets over the years but found the aluminum foil tape does the best job. And it's cheap!

[@AlexSherm]

I use electrical tape and that works probably not as well as foil tape though.

[@eosjoe565]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs I also think it has to do with the actual product. Some brands of caulk and silicon seem more prone to drying out in the tube than others.

[@JohannnesBrahms]

He is absolutely right. Always works with me.

[@knives357]

rubber gloves over tip and bottom. then trex tape (duct tape) the tip and bottom, then wrap the entire tube. gloves make it easy to just cut the tape and slide it off but makes a great seal. i also have these tubes, i found if you put them in tube then seal them in a vacuum bag they actually work great. them just on their own. not so much. i have 6. all 6 the product inside setup and i had to toss out. one tube of silicone didnt even make it 4 months.

[@bwselectronic]

I store it inside and put a 16d nail in the end, put a sandwich or a quart freezer bag tight on the tip then put a rubber band on it real tight. If it gets hard in the spout. I've taken a drill and drilled out the spout. Sometimes it works. Doesn't hurt to try.

[@boblab8097]

Thanks for this. I hate tossing half full tubes and was hoping for a solution. Apparently this product isn’t it. But you saved me the disappointment of having bought one only to get the same result.

[@jrrjenn]

Most of the manufacturers state that the shelf life of both the cartridges and the sausage tubes of caulk and sealant is only 12 months unopened and stored in ideal conditions.

[@itssnooker]

Expected results, I have tried several methods out of all, Vacuum Compression Storage Bags helped!! Just put the tubs in the bag and vacuum and seal it

[@shane250]

Oh, that's a neat idea I never thought of!

[@hermanfinster7692]

I have driven a coarse threaded 3 inch drywall screw into the plug and been able to extract it along with the plug with pliers.

[@garymcconnell7202]

I’ve had great success with candle wax. Wipe the tip leaving a indentation and drip a few drops of candle wax to seal.

[@audiophileman7047]

Something that has worked for me is to put a roofing nail in the tip and then place plastic wrap over the nail and hold it with a rubber band tightly. DAP also sells rubber caps to go over the tip. It's not a good idea to subject the sealants to temperature extremes. Keep them indoors.

[@jerrysidlar2166]

I have used a doubled up sandwich bag on the spot and wrapped a rubber band tightly over top of the sandwich bag. And I never had a problem up to a year later.

[@rickreed2785]

Thanks for the test. I can see where it it would be useful for short periods of time but that is about it. Glad someone tried this. Your it!

[@macmccollum6064]

Good to know. Had hopes that would work. Need more than just punch a hole in the end. Something that could be inserted, expanded, then pulled out might work.

[@TheFunnyCarpenter]

I like the little red condom type caps or a piece of painters tape.

[@rquest3059]

I use a 6 or 8 inch timber screw, push it into the caulk or silicone and fold duct tape over the tip.(sealing the tape against itself and around the tip) When extracting the screw, the threads help pull out anything that hardened. It can be inserted several times to pull out any blockage. I never had anything last more than 6 months.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Sounds like a solid approach, thanks for the feedback 👍

[@tremolobar]

I’m always scared to use caulking because I don’t want to waste it. I see the problem is universal.

[@ItsAlive111]

Get a smaller bottle for small jobs. They don’t fit a caulk gun but it’s nice to use and just throw away

[@hardlyb]

@@ItsAlive111 I find it hard to get some caulks and glues in anything smaller than the 'caulk-gun' size. Silicone and acrylic/latex come this way. And silicone caulk in toothpaste-like tubes actually will keep for a long time, if you clean the threads before screwing the cap back on. But lots of other stuff I use doesn't seem to come in smaller sizes, so I just try to make sure I've lined up several jobs, and remind myself that it's much cheaper to do it myself.

[@hardlyb]

If you buy things like DAP silicone glue in the screw-top tubes, that stuff will keep for years if you keep the threads clean. And it's much tougher and sticks better than regular caulk. It's also a lot more expensive per ounce, but when I need to run a bead that's a foot long, I don't hesitate. However, I find that the better acrylic caulks are fine for using outside, if they're not in constant direct sunlight, and I use those for sealing around junction boxes without problems.

[@stans5270]

I have used several NEW caulking tubes that have been frozen on some unimportant projects and they all came out looking like the inside caulking. My hypothesis is that non-tackiness and thick texture was temperature related [the tube freezing].. As far as the poking of the old tube, I NEVER-EVER do that to a older used tube. I will squeeze the neck for pliability, if it feels harder than a new tube would, I use a 3" drywall screw and try to pull out the clogged tip, making sure that I don't push anything down into the tube that will later cause a clog. Think of a kid's toy that was flushed down the toilet. You use the plunger [or shopvac] to create negative pressure to try to get it out the way it came in, not to push it further along.

[@cariemck805]

I have tried lots of gadgets and methods and have had the best luck with a large wire nut.

[@djp_video]

I use the rubber caulk saving caps, and they seem to work really well. The ones that are sort of like balloons rolled up, or resemble something I can't mention in YT comments.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

😂, thanks for the feedback.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs I simply cut the finger off of a used disposable glove and use that.

[@mjc0961]

Pretty sure you're allowed to say condom in KZbin comments

[@snowgorilla9789]

You sayin you can't say PENIS on youtube, well shee it

[@MrKonscience]

"Raincoat"? 😂 I like those too. I was always afraid of how are you going to be able to clean the needle. Good to know tho!

[@TheSpatulaCity]

When the tip has hardened caulk / silicone, I usually cut the tip open too a bit larger diameter and screw in a deck screw into the hardened tip an inch or so and pull out the gunk. Silicone comes out easily in one piece usually.

[@wisjayne68]

I bought one after seeing your video. I keep mine in the basement where the temp is pretty much the same all year after 4 months the chalk was still good and the tip was not clogged up or hard. I think it would work better in a climate controled area like a basement. freezing or close to freezing temps isn't could for chalk or slicone.

[@mrgunn2726]

@wisjayne68 I agree he did not seem to control for control for manufactuerer's reqs on storage temp, humidity, angle of storage (vertical, horizontal, inverted), shelf life and other variables.

[@elarenqueencebollao4291]

You are honest, I like that. One of the few.

[@wlh227]

I have found that l, vacuum storage bags work pretty well for up to 5 to 6 months. I then store them in my laundry room which is always around 65 to 80 F year round.

[@geoffreycoan]

In the UK and Europe the nozzle is screwed onto the tube. I screw a bit if thin plastic such as a carrier bag between the nozzle and the tube. Keeps for ages, no problem. You can simply unscrew the nozzle, put a new nozzle on or clean it out

[@stephenbeck6410]

I store my caulk with a large nail IN the nozzle with plastic tape over the top. Always works

[@l.w.s2970]

I put caulk upside down in water up to the neck top. Have to refill the water sometimes. For me, worked well.

[@hardlyb]

For longer term use of expensive caulks, I try to purchase tubes with the screw-on tips. If you remove the tip after using, and then screw the tip back on after putting a piece of Saran Wrap (or a Ziploc sandwich bag pulled open) over the threaded end of the tube, I've found that most caulks/glues will keep for more than a year. And you can buy spare tips, in case the tip can't be cleaned, but I am almost always able to get the dried stuff out of the tip with a screw and needle-nosed pliers. Unfortunately, it's not that easy to find most caulks in those sorts of tubes. I bought a couple of the Airtite storage tubes to try to use them for polyurethane caulks, but your experience is discouraging, since that sort of caulk is harder to keep from setting than silicone, and will even set up in a still sealed tube after a while. For latex and acrylic caulks, which just dry to cure, as opposed to things like silicone, polyurethane, and more exotic stuff, I find that caulking tube caps - which look like thick, tiny, finger cots or condoms - work very well. And I imagine these Airtite containers would work for these, too, and provide somewhat more protection for the tube. One trick I've found is that if the hole at the end of the tip is large enough, and the caulk has set up enough, you can use a corkscrew or something like a Spax lag bolt to pull out the dried stuff in the tip. Once you get some of it out, you can usually pull it the rest of the way with pliers.

[@vikingdm]

Best thing I've found is a red wire nut, particularly the ones with wings.

[@gerrymcintosh4477]

I opened a tube that had been sealed for over a year. I had plugged it with a screw and duct tape. Worked like a charm. Don’t know why yours plugged so much at the tip. 🤷‍♂️

[@raybr1727]

I had same result with these in a hot/cold garage in less time. I have had excellent success storing wall and trim paint in sealable containers and storing in my laundry room. I suspect storing caulk indoors with these devices may work well.

[@ProDIYer]

I put a 12-16 penny nail in the tip and wrap it with electrical tape. starting about 1/2 way on the tip all the way past the nail head and back 3/4 of the way down the nozzle. I know this has worked for at least 3 months and removes easily.

[@jenniferbmendezful]

I just stick in a screw and that works great for a few weeks, using and putting it back several times. But when I caulk I also make a hole in the back end to make it come out of the caulking gun easier. So two holes. The one on back end I don’t even attempt to cover and it still works for several weeks maybe 12 weeks.

[@returner323617]

I'm guessing that air entered from the noozle and then set the silicon at the top. The air that was in the tube seemed to be sufficient to make the silicon go slightly off, but not fully. So, perhaps the answer is to remove the noozle and use an air-tight fitting, having first evacuated any remaining air in the tube itself...

[@RJFerret]

I've tried doing the screw in the end to keep a clear hole, plastic with a wire twist-tie (better than rubber band) which I found more effective than the yellow prong caps, or any tape solution. Works great for Phenoseal or some products that seem to have a longer shelf life, but silicone goes bad in the tube in months in a climate controlled environment. I've given up on silicone, as the effort to store/maintain/transport only to need to buy a new tube anyway isn't worth the time/energy/cost. (I also don't have a vacuum sealer nor other use for one.)

[@luckyjim51]

There is a brand at Menards. White Lightning silicone that has a screw on tip with a cap. I have used it on other products also. I was a carpenter, so i was a daily user. Sticking a long screw in and tap works in the short term also....

[@tallbikercat]

I have had unused tubes of silicone harden when stored in the garage. There is a shelf life to these products in general, and temperature extremes exacerbate the issue. Several of the methods that people have posted below work for short to moderate storage times. I would not expect any tube of caulk to be good after a year in the garage, whether previously opened or not.

[@thomaswarnecke3991]

Ihave tried a screw as large as the opening in the nose and as long as the length of the nose to get into the body of the remaining silicone. It’s hard to pull out the screw though the product was still good a few weeks later.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback 👍

[@geyser3445]

I put a large bolt in the tip. Seems to work ok.

[@KlayJones]

I've had luck with plumbers putty molded to the tip amd left to dry.

[@steveadkins5266]

i’m thinking put cap on partially used tube of caulk,then vacuum seal it in a bag. could work when ALL oxygen is removed, then store in room temp

[@mrcryptozoic817]

For short term (couple of months) a large screw works well in a small opening. Longer than that, cut the nozzle in half and use a bolt that is nearly the diameter of the tube, then when you pull out the bolt (not unscrew it), you will have a clear opening to the uncured material. However, silicone in the 21st century? Aaargh! I've switched over to Lexel or Quad sealant and never been disappointed.

[@feuby8480]

I tried different methods. The one which worked for me for like almost a full year I think is putting a screw in the tip. Then I tried something I saw on the internet, saying to push a bit some silicon outside of the nose before "closing" it because then only the exterior silicon will harden. I'm really not sure about the 1 year delay because honnestly I just don't remember, but I don't use silicon really often and I don't really remember the last time I bought some. I remember buying some 2 years ago, and needing some early this year. I don't remember having buy some for that use, but I used some of what was left like 1 month ago, and it worked fine, so i'm pretty confident to say that this works for at least 6 month in some conditions. So that's my way to go for now, push a bit silicon outside, then screw it inside. I think I could actually go onto a big ziploc to make it work. Because it's used for food, and I know that the seal is good enought to prevent air going inside. One note : it was quality silicon for bathroom baths and showers, transparent. So maybe the quality of the product affect its storage abilities. You could partner with project farm on the methods to preserve silicon :D In your case, I don't know about the temperatures you mentionned because I'm using Celsius, but it may be because almost every product has a range of storage. If your garage isn't temp regulated around 20°C all year, it may be because of that. If it froze/unfroze, or went too hot too long and multiple times because no air conditionning that may be the problem. In my case, I store it like in our basement, and even if the room is badly isolated, as it is almost under ground level it's always cool there (probably around 20° in summer) and it never gets to freezing temps (lowest may be like 10-15 even if we don't heat it).

[@CaptM44]

Nice video! I would like to see it compared to a new tube cut in half. Also another year long test kept indoors climate controlled. I wonder too if there would be a difference silicone vs latex

[@MagicalAscension]

I use gorilla tape. Wrap the nozzle in it, then fold over the top and secure that with more. This works pretty well. Silicone is definitely the hardest thing to preserve, but I could expect the kind of closure I mentioned above to last a month and a half anyway, a good bit longer if we're talking about caulking or construction adhesive.

[@DeadFlanders]

I have a really good quality black duct tape that I use. I tear it into a couple of strips and do two layers over the end of the tube. I've had caulking last well over a year and squeeze right out.. For sure have to do two layers and make sure it is sealed really well, but it works. The only thing it has failed on is liquid nails, that stuff seems to harden no matter how well I seal it.

[@trevorjarvis3050]

I use a big blue wire nut and electrical tape.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like you have good luck with that method?

[@danb4376]

I have used electrical tape as well, with promising results. I put a lot on the tip, many wraps, fold over the excess and keep taping. It is always a crap shoot however, you never know if it will be usable again or not. I guess there is no harm in trying. Could some caulking store better than others? I wonder if the silicone is just so reactive that once it starts to cure it is hard to stop?

[@trevorjarvis3050]

@@EverydayHomeRepairs I do, yes. If you leave your caulk tubes outside in your garage all year, put a long finish nail down the tube first, then screw on the wire nut and tape tightly.

[@danielnmaryannyoder]

To unclog the neck, I like to screw a thin, long screw into the tip and down the neck and then pull it out.

[@tammyvinas2120]

Thank you!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet!

[@dragonfish01]

I think the diameter of the hole after you cut off the tip is part of the tube may be part of the problem ... the plastic rod that you push into the tube should be the size of the hole in the tube thus creating a tight seal at that point.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Very good point. Knowing that will vary widely between use cases and homeowners I wonder if you could integrate a flexible design that can accommodate different size openings 🤔

[@terryt2910]

Yeah. Since you did not use other methods as a comparison, I'm not sure what this test would have told us, other than it is possible to save old tubes for a year. And just because this failed doesn't mean that other methods would not be successful either. I am trying the method where you place a latex glove's, or other type's, finger over the nozzle and pump some contents into the finger surrounding the nozzle with the product. I put a rubber band around the base of the tip, too. In the past I've had some success with screwing in a large, course threaded screw deep into the nozzle, and then covering it with plastic, like a plastic bag, and a rubber band around the tip's base. You don't unscrew the screw when you want to reuse the tube, but rather you pull it out along with the dried stuff. This has worked pretty well for me, even over many months.

[@jumper233]

I use food saver vacuum bags. Works great for me.

[@michelmorales3296]

Usually, I use a piece of plastic bag tied with a rubber band, and it worked 😊

[@philpeters8200]

I recently tried to use a tube of silicone caulk (same stuff as shown in the video) that has been sitting for a while (maybe a year??). Good news - I was able to get it to come out of the nozzle. Bad news - this stuff would not cure in an outdoor application. A week later it was as gooey as when it was applied. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hmmmm, interesting. I will know in a few days if the tube I opened up cures.

[@subbernh5192]

This happened to me with a new tube purchased from HD. Realized that I'd tried using it past the expiration date which is usually stamped on the bottom of the tube or the side; got my money back and a new tube.

[@T-Mo_]

I keep the cut off tip. Flip it around and push into the end. Then put some gorilla tape around it. Works pretty well.

[@markeckman3662]

I had a similar experience. With my year old tube of self leveling caulk for the RV the stick would no come out of the tube.

[@cleveaaj]

Plastic bag over top secured with a "slipped" constrictor knot. Good for a few months.

[@wzka]

I successfully use these but I keep my caulk in the house and not the garage with fluctuating temperatures.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, that is why I wanted to mention that the tube went through some serious swings in temps. Thanks for the feedback.

[@donz6901]

I should have added to my post. I had stored half filled tube in the container in my garage over the hot summer and as mentioned, I could not get any sealer out of tube. Also, I had four full Tremco sealer tubes in my garage waiting for cooler weather and even the full unused Tremco tubes were like getting thick toothpaste out of tubes, unlike the smooth Temco I have seen used on cracks. I guess I have learned a lesson and keep caulk in my cooler basement than a hot garage.

[@dronenb]

An old gutter nail is about the perfect size and length to clear any goop from the neck like that, YMMV.

[@eosjoe565]

Have you ever tried those replacement tube tops where you cut off the top couple inches of your tube and then slip-on the replacement top? The theory is that the material lower in the tube is still good. As far as I know the tops are reusable. I have a couple of them but haven't had a tube get hard yet to try them.

[@thezfunk]

I found some caulk condoms on Amazon. They slide over the end...like a condom. They seem to be working for me after quite a few months. Easy to use/reuse.

[@susanelizabeth2222]

I put screws down the neck. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, a lot of people have mentioned air getting in the plunger end as well. At least in this case it was a fail at the neck.

[@hassanbazzi3545]

I have never seen that funny emoji 😊

[@gmchughtai667]

I just put a long enough screw that it reaches the body and it has always worked for a long time.

[@defuller1]

I use the red caps (condoms) with a pretty good success rate, though not for a year! It will keep most products usable for a few weeks, though.

[@jodirauth8847]

I use a large nail that is close to the size of diameter of the tip. A very long spike and than I foil tape it.

[@fl_omar]

Pure silicone caulk has an expiration date...even if unopened it becomes useless just sitting on the shelf. It looses it's adhesive properties.

[@dougk5456]

I have used a hot melt gun and start a spiral just below the tip and keep spiraling up and cover the tip. I have saved silicon tubes for 6 months and the silicon is still okay. Not sure if it will last for a year.

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

Tuck tape is the way to go. It's made to keep air out. Couple wraps around the tip keeps them good for as long as I've ever had them sit.

[@meboyotube]

I found a good fitting drywall screw worked best. I screw it down into the tube and then i crank down on the gun a couple times to fill and air gaps. Then when you back out/pull out the screw you also pull out anything blocking the tube. Not sure about a year but i know it works for at least six months or more. Of course you kinda mess up the tip. If I had assorted sized nails it would work better i think.

[@perniculous]

I bought 2 of these after seeing them on the channel, but I found that the rod plug at the top is WAY too large to fit into how big of a hole I cut off the caulk tube. Maybe for outside caulking but not for inside.

[@edjacobs8876]

For my diys i buy the toothpaste squeeze caulking. It lasts.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, for the small jobs those work well 👍

[@ambulocetusnatans]

I like those little cans of Flex-seal that look like Cheez-whiz cans.

[@Impatient_Ape]

If your tube storage solution isn't *airtight*, then as the temperature in your storage space oscillates up and down, the air near the tube tip gets refreshed as pressure pushes air slowly in and out of the enclosed tip space. I've had good luck with plastic wrap and a rubber band, but only if I squirt a blob of goo into the plastic wrap first and cover the tip with it and try to minimize trapped air. NOTE: If you're storing liquids in airtight plastic containers in a place like your garage where the temperature swings can be extreme, then the oscillating temperature will cause the shape of the sealed plastic container to oscillate too because of the pressure differential. This repetetive flexing can often result in the container developing a crack, and then you have a leak. It will happen even quicker if that plastic container spends a lot of time in direct sunlight.

[@randycox3522]

maybe you were waiting a year for test purposes but i suspect most of us would be going to that tube sooner than that. I'd be curious to see results at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months...

[@Michael-Makes-Stuff]

I have one of these and for 6 months or less it’s been terrific. But that is in a temp controlled basement and not a garage.

[@lastgameplay]

cool video

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thx!

[@sjpropertyservices3987]

Thank you for sharing

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet!

[@tomporter1930]

The best bet I ever had was a good old 10 or 12 common nail

[@FunnyKid736]

Cool!

[@theshemullet]

Could you use a vacuum sealer. Pop it in a vacuum bag, seal it and then see how it works

[@energymarketchile]

What about inyecting a few mls of water in the tip before sealing it?

[@alextwfsk8er]

Plastic wrap or a bag around the tip and a rubber band. Squeeze some into the plastic snd when its time to reuse the tube break off the hardened tip and should be good to go.

[@XSpImmaLion]

So, I like the looks of this product, it's neat and all, good for cleanliness, but I don't think it'll work to preserve the product itself. Not a chemist myself, so if anyone knows how the reaction works better feel free to correct, but here's the thing - afaik, this type of silicone cures with condensation, with ambient humidity alone. It's not oxygen or contact with air, like most glues work. Little bit of ambient humidity is enough to start the reaction. And as some will know, dealing with humidity and condensation is hard even with vacuum pumps. Thing is, once you break the product open, it's almost impossible to stop the reaction from happening. And since it's slow acting, it doesn't matter if when you stopped using, the product on the tip was new, it already started reacting. That's why you always end up with a blocked tip. The product on the tip is bound to harden because it's already been exposed. So, you can shove it into a plastic case, try to block the tip as best as possible, perhaps even shove it into a vacuum bag and seal it up... that tip will likely still get clogged. Different formulations might give you more or less time. But what I think you can do is buy a replacement cap, cut the entire top of the tube, clean things a bit if needed, and then put the replacement cap up and use whatever is left. That is, if you don't take too long for the next use... it's just the kinda thing that once the reaction started, it becomes a matter of time. In the end, it's a balance. Sometimes the work needed to preserve whatever is left on the tube simply isn't worth the hassle.

[@hermanchow1405]

I JUST DIPPED THE TIP INTO A HOT WAX (TWICE) , IT WILL STAY FRESH FOR 6 MONTHS TO 9 MONTHS , IT WORKS GOOD FOR ME ANYWAY !

[@mrgunn2726]

Interesting video, but it omitted answers to couple of important questions; did you follow the manufacturer's recommended storage recommendations; did you exceed the manufacturers stated shelf life opened and unopened? If you did not control for the storage temp, humidity, angle of storage (vertical, horizontal, inverted), shelf life and other variables etc, it is hard to make a specific statement about the efficacy of the AirTite product. Now was your test more akin to a real world test, probably, as users we often fail to RTFM and ignore things like the manufacturer's use and storage instructions. Would have liked your video to have identified the variables you controlled and did not control for.

[@shane250]

There are orange things (caulk savers) that look like the tiniest condom that you put on the tip of the tube. They're like 20 for $8 on Amazon. I put a nail in the opening, than that caulk savers, and even my construction adhesive (PL) lasted over 6 months (I never tried a year).

[@matt-i3r6w]

Can you recommend a product that does work after a year?

[@alangiaconelli2919]

I use a 1/4 drill to clear out tip

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Been using pad tape (carpet pad) and other nonsense for years just fine. Some electrical tape wrapped tight enough, a finger from a rubber glove taped on. Worked tons better than your purpose made containers.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

Yea, I do the rubber glove trick all the time.

[@philblakely]

I use the little condoms for this. It doesn't do anything for the bottom, but that's usually sealed up pretty well and isn't an issue. At least for 4 months. I haven't tried a year yet. "Caulk Cap Caulk Saver Cap"