Found a tiny trick for getting sink caulk to actually stick

I was re-caulking my bathroom sink for the third time in two years because it kept peeling up near the faucet base. Finally got fed up and tried wiping the area down with rubbing alcohol first instead of just soap and water. That little change made the caulk grab like crazy, it hasn't lifted at all in three months. Has anyone else had luck with alcohol prep or is there something else I should be using for those tricky wet spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollyl451mo ago

Wow @the_emma, does the hot water trick affect how long it stays sticky before you can smooth it?

the_emma1mo ago

Oh man, rubbing alcohol is a game changer for sure, but here's something I haven't seen anyone mention. The real trick might be making sure the caulk itself is warm before you apply it. I mean, I kept having mine peel up in the winter bathroom drafts, and I started tossing the caulk tube in a cup of hot tap water for like five minutes before using it. It gets way runnier and seems to seep into those tiny gaps way better. Plus it cures a little slower, so you can smooth it out without it getting all stringy and weird. Maybe it's just me, but combining the warm tube with an alcohol wipe sounds like a total win.

robertb471mo ago

Huh, that warm water trick is actually pretty smart! I've been fighting with cold caulk all winter and never thought of that. Now I'm wondering if you could just run the tube under your arm for a few minutes to warm it up or if that would just make things weird.