A properly caulked bathroom will have clean corners.
Bathroom caulk finishes the bathroom and seals off all the hidden waterways where the shower, bath and sink water might otherwise drain, causing the dreaded mold. There is a wrong way and a right way to apply the caulk. One is a messy application that catches water and dirt, making a mess of your corners. The other is a smooth barrier that stays clean and dries quickly.
Instructions
1. Remove all the existing caulk. Use a scraper to get under an edge and pull it out. Try not to gouge any grout or fixture surfaces while scraping. Vacuum the gap left to get out any little bits of old might mess up the new application.
2. Wipe down the surfaces where the caulk is to be applied with rubbing alcohol. This will clean any bacteria or mold spores and create a dry surface the new caulk can bond with. Pour the alcohol onto a clean, dry rag and wipe the surface, turning the rag often for a clean surface. Typically, caulk is used around the tub and shower wall and floor, along the back of the sink, where the floors meet the wall and along shower doors where they intersect with the wall.
3. Cut the new tube of bathroom caulk with the utility knife at a 45-degree angle to create a 1/4-inch wide opening. Place the the caulk gun and use the ratcheting handle to squeeze the caulk up to the opening of the tube.
4. Place the tip of the caulk tube into the corner at one end of the area that needs caulking and pull it back steadily while squeezing the handle and holding the gun at an angle to the crevice. The bead of caulk should only be about 1/4-inch thick, but wider opening will need a slightly larger bead. Apply one straight section at a time.
5. Dampen your index or middle finger and drag it along the bead so that the caulk is forced into the crack and there is a smooth caulk surface from one edge to the other. If the caulk builds up behind your finger as you drag it, lift it off and wipe your finger on a rag to get rid of the excess. Try not to go over the caulk too often and clean off any caulk that gets on the other surfaces. Make sure there are no gaps in the caulk line. It should look smooth and perfectly straight.
6. Dry the caulk for at least 12 hours before getting it wet. It needs to form a skin to repel the water before it can be water resistant.
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