WD-40 versus silicone remover

A few people have said that WD-40 works just as well as silicone remover and so I set up this quick comparison. In one test silicone remover was used and in the other WD-40 was used. The WD-40 worked just as well as the silicone remover, perhaps even better! Thanks to whoever it was that suggested trying WD-40.

[@A031928]

I was removing large beads of silicone from a spa skimmer that needed to be removed. Some areas were difficult to get to so I went online for some advise and spraying the silicone with wd 40 and letting it settle in for 30 mins made the job very easy. Thanks for the pointer!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@user-vp4bi3sh8b]

Does everyone here like the WD-40 for that ?

[@twoshedsjackson6478]

I tried this and it worked just as well as the expensive silicone remover gel I have used in the past. Thanks for the tip!

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@backpacker3421]

WD-40 is almost impossible to *completely* remove from a surface. So, if you intend to reseal the gap, DO NOT use WD-40. The same properties that make it great at removing sealant will degrade any new sealant you put on. After a while, your new sealant will begin to peel away.

[@ewong7492]

Not impossible at all. Any solvent that removes oil-based compounds will remove it. Acetone, alcohol, mineral spirits, even scrubbing with soap and water will do it.

[@ohno316]

@@ewong7492 you're very wong 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dazza1825]

@@ewong7492 I agree, I have used WD40 for years to remove sealant, but like others have said...WD40 does leave a residue, to remove this completely before re-sealing is very important. Once sealant is removed....I spray MrMuscle kitchen degreaser and wipe, then after I just wipe with warm soapy water, and bobs ya uncle....Dry then reseal. NEVER had a problem.

[@suds6424]

@@ohno316 how so? how are you gonna call someone wrong without any explanation? it is very much possible to remove wd-40 completely with the things that he said

[@lukes2219]

Imagine thinking it impossible to remove wd40 lmao

[@serialskeptic]

Very convincing comparison ! Like I have said before, You certainly are gifted ! Thanks for another great video.

[@ultimatehandyman]

+BR Gurunandan Thank you ;-)

[@paulrose9180]

By sheer chance I was on my way out to buy some No Nonsense sealant remover to remove some residue from a tile when I noticed this video, played it, dug out my WD40, and saved over £4 and an hour of my life on a wasted journey. It worked a treat. I've had one of those removal tools for years but it wouldn't budge the last few bits of stubborn sealant. After applying the WD40 it scraped off the rest very easily leaving a smooth tile. I cleaned the WD40 off with plain liquid soap and it is squeaky clean, no remnants I can tell. Swarfiga would have been my next attempt. Thanks for the tip.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@ianvicedomini2648]

Wd40 seems more effective as the silicon comes away as a beed rather than in bits. I'm in the process of alterations in the kitchen so this video has helped tremendously. Thank you mate

[@ultimatehandyman]

It works really well. Just make sure that you clean the area thoroughly using methylated spirit before applying the new silicone. Thanks for the comment

[@davidllewellyn5168]

Simple but effective demonstration, this WD-40 uses seems unlimited! Thank you, plus the other positive comments were also helpful town ordinary DIY person.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment 👍

[@kiknthehead]

I've re-caulked many showers and tubs with great success without using any type of silicone removal product. I find that for the majority of jobs, just a 1or 2 inch sharp putty knife does a great job. Also, a Dremel with a chisel attachment does a real nice job to get the majority of the old caulking out. I've tried WD-40, but then had issues removing all of the oily residue with mineral spirits, otherwise the caulk won't adhere properly. Also, when you are done putting down the bead, spray the bead with a mixture of dish soap and water before you swipe the caulking. It will make for an easy and smooth finish. Good luck to all!

[@devilshaircut9]

The scraper tool worked the best ! :)

[@alfred1925]

Soapy water trick is great but you must make sure ther are no small areas the silicne missed, or these will become unstickable. Also dip your finger or tool in the stuff.

[@calebr8539]

What about on walls? I'm trying to remove mine around my countertops and walls but it's tearing the wall up

[@slicktmi]

Spray simple green and give a good wipe down removes the wd40 residue.

[@friedbergje]

If you apply it correctly, it's easy to remove, or if my wife does it, then its a nightmare to remove and looks like a Jackson painting before removal.

[@Qbranch1024]

That was amazingly helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to test that out.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. Thanks for the comment

[@TheNumbuK]

Thank you for the demonstration. It would of been cool to see a 3rd set up with no products used (control) and just the tool. So we could compare the time saved. :)

[@ultimatehandyman]

+TheNumbuK You are welcome. I could not afford to rig up another set up LOL. The grab adhesive test that I did earlier in the year used up most of my prop budget LOL Thanks for the comment

[@jackjill3205]

+Ultimate Handyman you could have used one half of one of the props witout any product applied to the silicone to be fully scientific and through come on man this is the 21st century get with it next time. Have you asked any of the silicone manufacturers the question: what best removes the silicone?

[@davidworsley7969]

+Jack Jill Who needs to when you clearly know everything?

[@jackjill3205]

David Worsley clearly you do, admitting that you don't know everything

[@khalilabdi9525]

Jack Jill lm

[@BrunoM77]

Great solution - thanks. Also, re-sprayed and cleaned of the final residue layer with steel wool.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@Grandpa_Dude]

In both demos, it was good, old fashioned elbow grease that really removed the silicone. I just did our shower stall and removed the old silicone with a scrapper. Quick and easy and no chemicals.

[@ultimatehandyman]

WD-40 definitely helps- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo&t 👍

[@missionmarkone7484]

I just did our bathroom with elbow grease and it looked like I had it easier than this guy did… although the builder who put it down in the first place wasn’t the brightest bulb in the pack and I suspect his work wasn’t nearly as good.

[@devinduncan6922]

a couple of perhaps important points. Firstly, without a control test (no chemicals) we can not tell if the WD-40 or the remover did anything at all. Secondly, and more important is that the both materials are topical (they go on the surface) so it is basic good method to remove as much silicone manually first... because (third point and the most important)... the idea is to remove the micron thin residue from the surfaces. If you want to reseal with new silicone the idea is for the silicone to bond to the clean surface... and it will not bond to old silicone. Even a paperthin coating left behind will ruin the bond and the silicone will fail. In the end you want the surfaces to be "squeaky clean". The WD40 will leave an oil residue that the silicone will not stick to. A good soap and water clean up might fix that... do not know myself. BTW... I used the benzenesulfonic acid based remover (appears to be same in video) which requires manual removal of most material first and then a minimum two times repeated coating and wipe (after 20 to 30 minutes)... I then clean up with Xylen to remove all residue. Squeaky Clean. Test surface materials first! The chemicals will melt most plastics!

[@ultimatehandyman]

I did a second test here without any chemicals- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo No silicone was removed before applying the chemicals as I wanted to see which chemical made it easier to remove the silicone. Of course before re-applying the silicone I would recommend cleaning the are with methylated spirits, like I did in the how to silicone around a bath video- kzbin.info/www/bejne/enyppqGLfs1sqMU Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@fesy734]

Great video as always. I've used an expensive product like that before to remove silicone around a sink, I followed the instructions 100% and it was useless. Made more of a mess, I don't actually used any products to remove silicone anymore, I use a window scraper with a sharp blade, being extremely carefully not to scratch and surfaces though! Also if anyone tries the wd40 method (I will next time) I hope they use soapy water and remover the wd40! Other wise they'll have a hell of a time trying to silicone on wd40!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Faisal Y Thanks Faisal, The silicone remover has worked for me in the past and has saved a lot of elbow grease. Thanks for the comment

[@BusterCapInYoAss]

Very useful demo, and I love WD40, thought the Labour of Love album was fantastic! They were never the same after Ali Campbell left. : )

[@ultimatehandyman]

+BusterMove Ha Ha, thanks for the comment

[@josephsaroce4991]

Hahaha..I liked that joke!!!!

[@1954BJohn]

Thanks for the test Chez - a surprising result that going to save me a few pennies. Have a great Easter!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+1954BJohn You are welcome John. I hope you have a great Easter too ;-)

[@S3thc0n]

My impression is that the silicone remover actually hurts the process, because it lowers the cohesive strength of the silicone, leading to it ripping apart and thus flexing around the tool. Probably better used for getting off silicone residue instead of chunks that force can be applied to.

[@pr0xZen]

Yep. Silicone remover / siøicone stripper is really for properly stripping away that remaining film and patches. Really important if you are to treat the surface afterwards with something else, like for instance primer and paint/laquer. Using silicone remover directly on a bead makes no sense. It would take a very long time and expend _a lot_ of rather expensive silicone stripper. It's a bit like spreading lots of salt on top of a foot of snow, to melt the ice at the bottom. Always scrape away the bulk of it first - it's quick and "free".

[@shonidoyle1059]

Just tried out the wd version as had nothing else in. Works a treat. Sprayed it on. Left a few mins. And could already see the silicone pulling away itself before I even started. .only difference is I used a metal wall paper scraper because I didnt have the actual correct tool but that worked fine too 😊 I just dug in the edge corner of it to slice threw it. Deffo reccomend the wd version if you have nothing else in. Great vid for amateurs like me 😊 now to get back to painting my tiles! 😫

[@ultimatehandyman]

It works on most silicones, although it does not work on all formula's. I'm glad it worked for you ;-) Thanks for the comment 👍

[@karldyktynski6570]

How did you go painting your tiles? I was considering doing the same. Any tips?

[@mmbengs]

Impressive! Thx much for the very helpful video. Is the caulk removal took plastic for RV use?

[@thanxx]

Love your vids mate. dont normally comment much but after all i have learned from them i think its time i thanked you :)

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comments ;-)

[@flyace20]

thanxx n. MiuOIL $&

[@KevinArmstrong4154]

Sir, I owe you beer. 😊🙏. Got an expensive Patagonia hiking fleece, ripped it on a thornbush. Used it for scruff, while regretting the loss of a good piece of clothing. Wife felt sorry for this and treated me to a brand new one, with strict instructions never to use it in the workshop. Got the old and new ones mixed up one day and got silicone sealant on it. Your video solved the problem, spray, leave two minutes, buff off with a paper kitchen towel. If using it for tile sealant, would follow up the WD40 with acetone or isopropyl to ensure follow up silicone stuck though. Cheers mate

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@pauldixon6355]

after you had gone over the silicone with the scraper 1st or 2nd time apply the silicone remover again then scrape apply again then scrape. I bet it works even better by doing this way

[@dalemoore11]

Really

[@jimmycimitir7754]

Wouldn't that be the same case for the WD 40 ?

[@csquire3]

Great tip, wish I'd seen this last week !! Will remember for next time.

[@ogarcia515]

Good video. You went through a lot of work and money to create those demo samples. Thanks for the info.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm glad you appreciate the work that went into the video ;-) Thanks for the comment

[@rafaeldel4743]

I have watched all of these videos about silicone removal. Boy are they hard work. I have had some plastic gully laid along the length of my tiled patio in Spain 6 mtrs in fact and it has been baked by the hot sun for three years and it is/was thick and solid. I found a bottle of apple cider vinegar in the cupboard and literally drenched the whole run of silicone/mastic. After just five minutes it simply lost its adhesion and began to break down. I began to scrape it up. I was amazed! just need to go over it to remove the little residue with some white spirit. Job done. Don´t go wasting your money on so called chemicals to remove your old silicone. I reckon any kind of vinegar would work, just experiment.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@M0ToR]

definitely works, thanks for the tip, I was finally able to remove some annoying residue from the textured tiles on the bathroom floor

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@paultarter9708]

Thanks for saving me so much time and effort with your very sound advise

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@zedman442]

Will give this a shot, to be honest Ive used the silicon remover with mixed results, I just persevere with a window scraper. Tedious but you get there in the end. Thanks for the video!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Zed Man It would be interesting to try it out on some silicone that has been in position for a few years. I hope it works well for you ;-)Thanks for the comment

[@pandarosa6650]

I'm about to do this on a metal shower frame that I want to sell, so no scraping tools must be involved. Thanks for this video.

[@TOM3684]

Duz-all works great too! Its a rubbing compound with micro-abrasives for buffing out scratches but the wax base removes bug tar and I was surprised to see it made short work of the silicone caulk too!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the info!

[@edmcd5040]

This WD-40 tip makes removing old caulk quicker & easier for this 61yo woman who is losing strength & tires easily. Thanks!

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. Before applying any new caulk, ensure you clean the area thoroughly using denatured alcohol. Thanks for the comment

[@adams333]

We don't have the same definition of : "pretty easily"

[@alyssac8258]

I thought the same exact thing and immediately checked the comments to see if someone already commented this. hahaha

[@caveman5831]

The old school definition of "easy" means u still gotta put a little elbo grease in to it. Lol..

[@LinebackerTuba]

bruh, if you can do something in about a minute, it's pretty easy.

[@codyp9536]

What do you want it to do ? Fall off in front of you while you stare at it.

[@arobekie]

Neither product removes silicone,it just lubricates and makes the tool a little easier to push along.I remove hundreds of metres of silicone each year from around baths ,basins and kitchen worktops,it can only be removed mechanically, I use a small woodwork chisel.

[@870deans]

it cleans off residue better than enything I make quite a mess when masticing baths. the only that gets dirty mastic smudges off it wd40!

[@870deans]

probably a solvent would too.

[@870deans]

+D Scooo is*

[@Sazazezer]

The real tip is in the comments. Woodworking chisel is what finally helped me the most in removing a lot of stubborn silicon off of stone tiles. Thank you good sir.

[@JonathanThompson1320]

@@Sazazezer Just pulled out my wood chisel set thanks to your comment. Now it's time to get to work!

[@DiAllinson]

Thank you, this is exactly what I needed to see today when searching for silicone sealant remover

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you found the video useful Thanks for the comment 👍

[@fkbu271]

Thanks for information, Never knew WD 40 could do that.. .....just awesome 😊

[@ultimatehandyman]

+fitka kefas Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@jancko995]

it s great for removing chewing gum too! ...bus driver trick

[@davidsmart8594]

One 'water displacement' product removing a waterproof sealant...what a world. Thanks for the video and tip. (...love WD-40 myself...pity you can't drink it...)

[@ultimatehandyman]

+David Smart LOL, thanks for the comment ;-)

[@mrman17]

+David Smart Smells nice as well...

[@davidsmart8594]

mrman17 Yes....but I got some on my jacket a few months ago and even after cleaning, the fish-oil base of the product is still apparent...

[@PhilReilly2778]

Thanks for that tip. A money saver as well as convenient! Phil

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Phil Reilly You are welcome.Thanks for the comment

[@lyndonbushnell8080]

i just had CRC spray & sprayed it on the wet Silicon & it worked well, Thank you for saving my new favorite ACDC shirt

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment

[@stefanmansukhani8797]

@@ultimatehandyman I just used CRC also works well also.

[@Stllno]

To remove the residue of either product, use methylated spirit or alcohol to ensure no oily residue otherwise the silicon sealant won’t bond

[@ultimatehandyman]

Absolutely! Thanks for the comment 👍

[@tparker18]

Great tip WD 40 worked well to remove the silicone when I replaced our bath! again your videos helped with that too.

[@ultimatehandyman]

+TParker18 Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@Myupliftmusic]

After seeing this i decided to try the WD40 on the excess silicone on my tiles i just laid. And yes people it really works. I applied it with a green scrubber so it would not effect my silicone grouting and left it to sit for 20 minutes and the silicone rubber came off with littlt effort with a blade. I 100% recommend it to anyone.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@lukepjd]

Great job as always mate! Happy easter!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Luke Davenport Thanks, Happy Easter ;-)

[@professor1972]

A very timely video as I was about to do this very job. Thanks very much

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Professor You are welcome.Thanks for the comment

[@pdn-vd5om]

I use several tools for this job. The WD-40 worked well, left my hands soft n'all!! This time, I used a 99p yellow handled blade and a lino- cut tool red, which is good for the small gap . What I have found is the sharper the blade with a good point the easier the job, slide under the silicone around the bath edge .passing under the silicone, keep the knife flat against the bath edge, both hands on the handle, and be firm, then go along the tiled edge above doing the same. Use the lino cutter to push out the silicone and then clean up and a put some pure bleach on a cloth or paper towel leave to dry well before applying the fresh silicone. Make sure the area and bath is really clean, before applying the fresh silicone, that way you can get to an excellent professional finish. Hope you find my tip useful. There really is no quick method to do a decent job. The WD 40 helped the knife run more smoothly and made the enamel look shiny and polished. So thanks!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@BLACKBIRDHEATER1]

Thank you very much for all the helpful info !! Great Vids !!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+BLACKBIRDHEATER1 You are welcome. Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@terryroot1855]

Great tip and great demo. Thanks a lot.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@scottmclean6301]

great vid. iv heard that when re applying new sealeant the wd interfears with the bonding of the new sealeant. have u any experience with that

[@smileeyguy]

You would really need to remove any wd40 with a strong solvent as it contains a lot of lol i believe and clings very well

[@mauriciodeiana1111]

Algunas personas han dicho que WD-40 funciona tan bien como un removedor de silicona, por lo que configuré esta comparación rápida. En una prueba se utilizó removedor de silicona y en la otra se utilizó WD-40. El WD-40 funcionó tan bien como el removedor de silicona, ¡quizás incluso mejor! Gracias a quien sea que sugirió probar WD-40. Y me quedé con las ganas de ver como funciona el DW-40!

[@cheechU38K]

WD-40 does have a surprising amount of uses, worth a look on the net 🤔 The Swiss army of sprays

[@ultimatehandyman]

+cheechU38K Absolutely.Thanks for the comment

[@tonyl1984]

Works wonders if you have a shower/bath screen when it starts to creak when you move it back & fourth. Usually grab my can of wd-40 spray down the sides into rubber seals where it pivots & job done squeak gone 👍🏻

[@rjp985]

I have a can in my truck, house,and work shop. WD40 can also be used on things stuck to the hands and more than likely it'll come off with ease.Saying it has thousands of uses probably is an understatement.

[@ultimatehandyman]

+richardpinell Absolutely. Thanks for the comment

[@azali284]

Should've done 1 test without treatment just with the tool itself. Great video keep up the good work.

[@ultimatehandyman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo&t

[@petermould9853]

I left the silicone remover on for 2 hours the last time I used it. The silicone was so easy to remove with that scraper after that.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@vivianvandermerwe1380]

What is the best way to remove silicone on a flat tile either side of a joint. The tiles are not completely flat/shiny surface like porcelain, they have a slightly uneven rough surface. I am battling my ass off to get it completely off. Have tried with a scraper/blade and when it seems everything is removed, then few days later it attracts dirt again🤦‍♂️

[@sandydogy]

Hi what is the best to use for a bos com fitting and bos rubber that drips sligtly? I have replaced the push fit rubber for the shower pipe and also changed the bos com push fitting rubber, saves paying to have a whole new soil pump just drips sligtly. also someone has installed one of the cement weld bos the wrong way around is this removable with having a new soil pipe? Many Thanks Ian

[@ultimatehandyman]

The only thing I can think of is plumbers gold- fave.co/2V0iPpz Thanks for the comment 👍

[@zetecfiesta]

Hi Ultimate Handyman - Is WD40 safe to use around the grout when doing this job? My grout is light grey and I am scared of it leaving a dark coloured mark/stain on it. Thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

It's not something I have tested but another KZbin user said it did not stain his grout. Probably best if you can test it on an inconspicuous area first. After using the WD-40 it's also a good idea to clean the whole area using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol)

[@deankay4434]

100% silicone is dressed, removed or trimmed using mineral spirits as written by the manufacture on the tube. Silicone comes in several colors and is more durable than latex or acrylic mixes. WD-40 is used as a cleaner, water displacement as intended during WD-II for certain electronics but is also flammable. It may have mineral spirits in it, but is designed to evaporate and leaves no lubricating properties behind. I use it only on rubber hose removal and removal using a pointed tool designed for that job. The tool shown is a 90 degree cutter, but remember counter tops, shower drains and walls are not a perfect 90 degrees. DK, ASE Master Tech since 1978, retired.

[@mrnothing249]

Does all that scrapping silicon off process leaves scratches on the surface of tiles?

[@ultimatehandyman]

No, not at all- providing you use a plastic scraper. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@mrnothing249]

@@ultimatehandyman Thanks for answer.. Great!

[@TruthFairy671]

I just tried WD-40 to remove some stuck on silicone and it worked for me!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Make sure that you clean off any residue using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) before re-applying any silicone ;-) Thanks for the comment 👍

[@tigertruckerman]

hi there ultimate,i have to use grease on a new shaft for my strimmer which you recommend,thanks

[@ultimatehandyman]

+tigertruckerman Any grease should do, but I'd avoid high temperature grease as it can absorb water. A general purpose grease from a car shop should be fine.

[@lffit]

thanks! a good channel for very useful advice!

[@mrbill2600]

NOW that you've cleaned the old caulking off ... will the the WD-40 residue have any effect on the installation of new caulking. In other words will the new silicone adhere to the tile and/or counter.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yes, you should always clean the area thoroughly using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) Thanks for the comment

[@VegasBlueBoy]

Is this what we call "Silicone sealant" or "Silicone caulk" ? The former (used for aquariums and some bath stalls) is more like "pure silicone" and the latter (I think) has more latex in with the silicone. (Please correct me if I've got that wrong?) Thanks!

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm not sure, sorry. In the UK it is just called silicone sealant. We do have caulk but it is only used by decorators to fill gaps before painting over it. Thanks for the comment

[@ChristiaanCorthals]

I used WD-40 and a hard sponge to remove the remaining silicone from a floor where a toilet has been removed. (after peeling and cutting off most of the silicone strip). This worked much better than vinegar.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@DEBZIEPOWERZ]

Hi Ultimate Handyman! Can I use WD40 to get silicone off my pvc skirting board in the bathroom? And does WD40 remove grout leftover on tiles? Thanks Deb

[@valerieelmitt8204]

Deborah McKinney the

[@SVETOGOR1]

In your experience, please tell me - best mold resistant compound to cover the gaps between tiles? thanks!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Dow Corning sanitary silicone is good, as well as Everbuild's forever white/forever ivory is also good.

[@SVETOGOR1]

***** I read many reviews people saying on the silicone mold appear after 6-7 month. Don't you think grout might be better? There is no MOLD proof compound on the market! Silicone soft and absorb water and soap in it - mold will come!

[@TF856]

Not the situation I was looking for. If you accidentally get silicone on other flat surfaces, how do you get it off after you scrape it and there is still silicone residue on there. What chemicals work to get the silicone residue off of the flat surfaces? How do you get all the residue off of glass and off of painted surfaces?

[@ultimatehandyman]

Not sure about painted surfaces! But for glass, you can use methylated spirits/denatured alcohol

[@amandatualevao8851]

My bathroom shower has like silicone around the cormers, but it all came off or lose from leaking. Whats the best paste or something to stop the water from leaking through to my room

[@ultimatehandyman]

You need to remove any loose sealant, then clean the area thoroughly using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol), then reapply the silicone sealant.

[@tailzzzzz]

Won't the WD40 get under vinyl if you're working along the bottom of a fiberglass tub and with vinyl flooring? Also worried that one or both will get scratched.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I always clean the area thoroughly using methylated spirits afterwards, as long as you use a plastic scraping tool, it should be fine. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@shedlife1783]

Interesting. I'd be worried about clearing up using WD40. I cut most away with a sharp blade then get the residual silicone with the remover. Nice vid.

[@ultimatehandyman]

As long as the area is cleaned thoroughly using methylated spirits/denatured alcohol before re-application it will be fine. Thanks for the comment

[@gdr88]

this video is the real no-nonsense. good work

[@ultimatehandyman]

+CrapGadgetReviews Thanks for the comment

[@johnaustin1825]

What do you think of Cauking Strip instead of Silicone?

[@ultimatehandyman]

Never used them to be honest. I've always applied silicone.

[@WELLBRAN]

brilliant idea

[@andyfidler8544]

Nice video. Answered the very question that cropped up before replacing a shower surround. Thanks. Must get me a silicone remover tools. Are they all the same? Any recommendations?

[@ultimatehandyman]

Mine is only a cheap one that I picked up. The seem to sell some fancy ones now on ebay, not sure which is best though- fave.co/2Vg8iqI Thanks for the comment 👍

[@andyfidler8544]

OK. Thanks. I got a Unibond one from Amazon - £2.75. Seems quite sturdy. In some area, after removing old silicone from the tray/tile border, I have a gap up to about 7mm. Fill with Polyfilla first, then silicone, two coats of silicone or one fatter one? What would you suggest, please?

[@ultimatehandyman]

@@andyfidler8544 I'd fill the gap with silicone, flush with the tray, then apply a larger bead on the top of that ( I would definitely not use polyfilla)

[@andyfidler8544]

Thanks. Makes good sense. I appreciate your advice.

[@MrRickep1]

Any light on how well new sealant adhered after removal with these methods? Seems adhesion might possibly impacted by residual WD40

[@ultimatehandyman]

As long as you clean the area thoroughly using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol), it should be fine 👍

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Interesting find , Thanks man !

[@ultimatehandyman]

+ShawnMrFixitlee Thanks for the comment ;-)

[@yonitm24]

great tip/never knew tht wd40 works for removing silicone/keep up the good work!

[@ultimatehandyman]

+yonitm24 It was suggested by a couple of people on KZbin ;-) Thanks for the comment

[@davidefland1985]

Goo gone be good for stickers

[@Kntryhart]

It would have been interesting to have a third setup and just use the tool to see the result. I think it would have been comparable to the products used. Anyway you look at it, removing silicone is a time-consuming PAIN!

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yes, I should have done that, but I did a follow up video- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo Thanks for the comment 👍

[@trig]

Now I am impressed, but will it get silicon out of my Polo Shirts? Perhaps a second spray of wd40 after the first pass with the tool would make removal of the stubborn areas easier?

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Michael Tricker Not sure about the Polo shirt! Yes applying more would have helped, but I was trying not to apply more of any of the products or you could be sure that someone would say I applied more of one than the other, making the test unfair ;-) Thanks for the comment

[@joejoejoejoejoejoej]

Sorry I appreciate the time and effort you’ve taken producing this great video ; but all you need is a sharp craft knife cutting the top part where silicone meets tile , then bottom; where joint meets bath/tray/..... Then it’s a blunt-ish knife to gently get off the last bit....

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment 👍

[@geoffhillier8738]

Hi Joe, so are you saying you don’t have to cut deeply into the silicone?

[@kimb4285]

Thank you so much, that has helped loads.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome. If you do use WD-40 please ensure you clean off all residue using methylated spirits before re-applying the new silicone.

[@SkillBuilder]

Which one do they use in silicone valley?

[@ultimatehandyman]

Not sure about that Roger, I'm not allowed outside of Darwen ;-)

[@darktherapy]

Ultimate Handyman I thought your accent was from the Blackburn/Darwen area :-)

[@ultimatehandyman]

Yes, although many people often guess at Yorkshire ;-)

[@eddiefoy3701]

Hipster by Vegan Products :)

[@blueocean402]

Thank you so much for the demonstration. I’ve learnt something which can be done diy.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment

[@Benecya]

What tool ate you using to scrape the caulk off

[@ultimatehandyman]

It's a silicone remover, like this one- fave.co/2gTmJ31

[@shantanuchatterjee9056]

Thank you, saved a few £s and effort to get the No-nonsense silicon remover. Love WD-40 :-)

[@ultimatehandyman]

I'm glad the video helped Thanks for the comment 👍

[@bgregg55]

WD-40 worked pretty dang well. THX

[@ultimatehandyman]

👍

[@desw20]

this looks great. however, the real test is how well will a new bead of silicon adhere to the vinyl and tile. how much clean-up is needed. wd40 should penetrate deeply and is oily?

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Des Wheelock I think it would need cleaning off with methylated spirits before re-siliconing.

[@bwbark]

I wonder what would be a good solution to use to cleaning the WD40 residue off as to not effect the adhesion of new silicone.

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Bruce B Someone just suggested white spirits, but I'd probably use methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) as I normally use that before siliconing- as long as you give it plenty of time to evaporate.

[@bwbark]

Thanks for the info. I enjoy your channel, I love learning new approaches to old problems.

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Bruce B You are welcome. Thanks for the comments ;-)

[@amana1480]

+Ultimate Handyman Yes white spirits is too oily

[@DerekP2050]

what about just using the blade from a box cutter, and just lining it up by the tile and dragging it through? without any sprays?

[@ultimatehandyman]

That would not prove whether WD-40 works better than silicone remover Thanks for the comment 👍

[@jachinloi9501]

I noticed you sprayed the WD40 first, then applied the silicon on the same area? Are you comparing the two or are you using both for removal? Maybe I missed something ?

[@ultimatehandyman]

A few years ago, I made this video- kzbin.info/www/bejne/iouaqWmCmNKfZ7s People kept saying that WD-40 worked as a silicone remover, so I tried that and compared it to silicone remover. Then of course people said that the tool was doing all the work and not the WD-40, so I then made this- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo&t Thanks for the comment

[@greengranolaguy]

How do these compare to no silicone remover/WD-40? I’m left wondering if either is better than nothing at all since there is no control experiment.

[@ultimatehandyman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bH2np61jqNaCpJo&t

[@annamenzies8573]

Thank you Handyman! hope I can buy that tool you are using easily and that it is not too expensive.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Silicone removal tools are normally very inexpensive. Thanks for the comment

[@TheFuzzy0ne]

How would you clean everything after before applying fresh sealant? Meths? IPA?

[@ultimatehandyman]

I would definitely use methylated spirits. Thanks for the comment

[@petersavage1989]

With that special tool is there any need to use either silicon remover or wd40? Is it not the tool that is removing the silicon?

[@ultimatehandyman]

+Peter Savage I'll try it with no chemicals soon. Thanks for the comment

[@maggiem5960]

Hi, nd thanks for ur video, ive been on over an hour trying t get old mouldy wet silicone off shower cubicle, god only knows how old this silicone is on my shower cubicle?I dont have the tool that uve got so using a palette knife, ive managed to get most of the old mouldy silicone off apart from a few stubborn bits, i didnt really wanna wet the silicone anymore than it already is wet with the mould and water underneath the mould, so im not gonna try using the WD40, also ur silicone looks relatively new looking, i wonder if it would come off as easily if it were old and mouldy and wet like mine is? Appreciate ur advice, Thankyou. Just wanted to point out that it wasnt me that applied this rubbish old silicone on the shower cubicle. i've bought the tape to apply so im hoping once i get the old rubbish silicone off, once its dried out im hoping im gonna be able to apply the tape, desperately need it to work coz i need a shower desperately lol, aint been in the shower since god knows when, she says smelling a bit off lol, ive been getting washed at the sink though.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Some silicone is harder to remove than other silicones, I once really struggled removing silicone from around a window and had to cut it away using a multi-tool If you use WD-40 please ensure you clean the area thoroughly to remove any traces of it using methylated spirits (denatured alcohol)

[@Rich-hy2ey]

Another problem is that this works for exposed silicone, but is not useful for closely-glued items mated together using silicone rubber sealant. Silicone doesn't require air to cure which makes it a popular adhesive for gluing things where air is excluded.

[@ultimatehandyman]

Thanks for the comment

[@conradyo9274]

Thanks for the knowledge sir.

[@ultimatehandyman]

You are welcome Thanks for the comment

[@bdplumbingheating9535]

Bit off the subject but how can I remove pink grip off plastic cladding its on my canopy

[@GretatheEvilGremlin]

+Barry Dermott Try using paint brush cleaner, but don`t use anything which is thinners based solvent, or the plastic cladding will be doomed. I assume it`s not solvent based pink grip on the plastic cladding!

[@JupiKitten]

Can you use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to remove the wd40 before reapplying or does it have to be denatured alcohol?

[@ultimatehandyman]

It is not something that I have ever tried, but I assume it would work, (it should clean up any residue, then evaporate) like the denatured alcohol. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@JupiKitten]

@@ultimatehandyman thanks for getting back to me ^_^

[@vsf125]

Interesting use of WD40 but it would of been useful to know, how long you leave it on before removing silicone?

[@ultimatehandyman]

I did not leave it on long, perhaps 10 minutes or so. Thanks for the comment

[@theanysim]

How do I need to clean the WD40 to prepare for the new silicone to be laid?

[@ultimatehandyman]

Methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) works well, with a clean rag. I often use blue paper towel, as in this example- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKCYe4muq7yonrM 👍

[@ivandrago8299]

I've got an Acrylic Bath, will WD40 damage it? Also is that scrapper you're using plastic or metal?

[@ultimatehandyman]

No WD40 should not damage it. I know several people that have done this now using WD40. The scraper is a silicone removal tool made from plastic. Once the old silicone is cleaned off you clean the whole area with methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) and leave it a couple of hours before re-applying the silicone.

[@ivandrago8299]

***** ok cheers mate. Gonna order the wee gadget for applying a new bead.