It’s one of those jobs that you never think about. Well, until it needs doing, at least.
Replacing peeling bathroom sealant may not be as routine a task as vacuuming, dusting or folding away laundry, but it is a thing worth doing to keep your tiles and flooring protected from the splashes and spills that are commonplace in any bathroom. Without the watertight seal, your wet room is vulnerable to developing mould, mildew and other highly undesirable houseguests.
How can you tell if you need to replace sealant?
Running around the edge of baths, shower stalls and toilets as well as on the bathroom floor where it meets the wall, silicone sealant to there to stop moisture getting behind the cracks and ruining paintwork, flooring and tiling. You can tell if your silicone needs replacing if it’s peeling away from the join or if it looks brittle, dry or cracked in appearance. This means that the silicone has become compromised and is no longer doing its job effectively. Yellowing sealant is also a sign that you should probably remove the old stuff and apply new.
How to correctly remove old sealant
One of the UK’s market-leaders UniBond suggests using its Silicone Sealant Remover, which makes a somewhat tricky job much easier. Once you’ve applied the product to the old sealant and let it work for three hours, simply use a gentle scraping tool to get rid of the aged silicone. Clean the surface so it’s free of any debris or residue, using methylated spirit if you plan to reapply fresh sealant.
Alternatively, you can use a hairdryer to soften old sealant first and peel it away, cleaning the area thoroughly before going in with a fresh new layer.
Where to apply new sealant
You should reapply new sealant to any areas that you’ve just freed it from - it was there for a reason. You can also use it in areas where you’ve noticed cracks where water could drip through. Edges and ledges are a good rule of thumb.
How to apply new sealant
It’s an easy DIY job that will leave you feeling smug and satisfied once done. The main thing you’ll need is a caulking gun, along with your sealant of choice. Tape off the area you’re about to seal with masking tape first, then snip the tip of your sealant at a 45-degree angle to make it easier to apply to corners. Using a caulking gun (a pump to help you make a precise application), apply gentle pressure from the middle of the sealing area out, smoothing things down once applied.
Leave it at least 24 hours to ensure a full cure before exposing the new sealant to water.
Plumbworld offers more detail in its dedicated blog here.
If you’re ready to refresh your bathroom sealant but you’re not entirely sure which option to go with, we’ve put together a roundup of the best formulas below.
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UniBond Bath and Kitchen Sealant Transparent 208g
Don’t want to fork out for a caulking job for a small sealing job? No worries with this product from UniBond which dries to a transparent finish and offers mould-resistance without the need for a pumping gun. The low-odour sealant is durable and long-lasting, promising to protect all areas of the bathroom for years to come.
Buy now £10.00, Dunelm
UniBond Re-New 2.0 Sealant
Replacing mouldy old sealant can give your bathroom the refresh it’s been crying out for, and all at a significantly lower cost than a total renovation. The beauty with this product is that you don’t even need to scrape away the old stuff - simply layer this renewer on top to rejuvenate the underlying silicone. The tube comes with an integrated smoothing tool and should be used without a caulking gun, allowing you to get on with the task at hand and enjoy results quicker. A good option for renters, the formula should repel, kill and prevent the development of mould for the long-term.
Buy now £8.99, Robert Dyas
Gorilla 1144010 All Conditions Sealant Silicone White 295ml
For indoor and outdoor use, Gorilla’s sealant offers long-lasting protection against the scourge of mould and mildew across surfaces like porcelain, metal, laminate, stone, ceramic wood, glass and more. The robust formula promises to stay looking like new for longer and incredibly, can be exposed to water after just half an hour! It almost sounds too good to be true, but 8000+ Amazon reviews give it the thumbs up.
Buy now £10.40, Amazon
BLAZOR Bath Sealant Strip
If you’re feeling nervous about applying traditional sealant, adhesive strips are an excellent alternative. This waterproof and anti-mould tape can be cut to size and used to protect cracks in exactly the same way as liquid and gel sealant. Simply run your thumb along the middle of the tape once it’s in place before trimming off the excess and reinforcing the sticky back by blowing a hair dryer over the top. Once done, leave for a full 24 hours before reintroducing moisture into the space. Made from polyvinyl chloride, one roll will cover 8ft.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Wickes Kitchen & Bathroom Silicone Sealant - White - 300ml
A sound choice for kitchens as well as bathrooms, Wickes sealant dries white, making it easy to use with most interiors. It offers excellent adhesion across baths, showers and sink-sides, covering up to 11m of ground if using a 6m bead. You’ll need a caulking gun for proper application but they’re fairly inexpensive things that you can find for under a tenner at Amazon.
Buy now £6.00, Wickes
UniBond Triple protect White Silicone-based Bathroom & kitchen Sanitary sealant
It’s not that we’ve got a thing for UniBond, it’s just that the brand is one of the best sealants out there. This clear-finish product comes with a 35-year guarantee as a bolstering vote of confidence and is touch-dry in just 20 minutes. It will stick to most building surfaces and protect against mould too. The formula is easy to smooth to ensure a seamless finish.
Buy now £15.00, B&Q
No Nonsense Ready to use All weather Clear Sealant, 310ml
Something of a miracle product, this solution goes against everything we know about sealant application. It can be applied on damp surfaces and in wet or dry conditions, still curing effectively to protect against future moisture. As well as the bathroom and kitchen, it can be used in spaces like the conservatory and shed windows too. Best of all it’s paintable too, so you can match it to your interior walls to achieve a seamless finish.
Buy now £7.99, B&Q
Dryzone Anti-Mould Silicone Sealant
A high-quality sealant with a low odour and speedy curing time makes this one of Amazon’s bestselling products in its category. Applied with a caulking gun, the nozzled bottle gives a precise application and promises to be touch-dry in around 20 minutes with a full cure to be expected in 24 hours. As well as making your bathroom or kitchen look sparkling new, it will protect against future mould too. Available on express delivery for Prime subscribers.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
