Can you redo your sealant?

[BoredBetsy]

The sealant around the kitchen sink area is looking like it's seen better days. How hard would it be for me to remove it and redo it?
I'm worried that it'll look crap.

It's easier than you think. Just peel away the old stuff, clean up all the tiny bits, then apply new sealant. Go slowly and don't squeeze too hard!

It should be straight forward. Remove the old stuff, make sure the area is clean and really dry.
When you apply the new sealant just do a long thin strip of it and smooth it off with a wet finger tip. If it looks awful you can always remove it and have another go.

Use a sealant smoother/finishing tool to get a nice smooth finish -they cost £5 max from places like B&Q or Amazon

Thanks. I'll give it a go. I think even an uneven clean sealant is going to look better than the thinning blackened stuff currently there

I found some very helpful YouTube videos on this (when looking into doing this in my bathroom)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2-FHRIF3qm_j_BgIGMt_EuT-JZHRoPD2

First one - how to remove sealant

Thanks for the videos

I used meths to clean the area around my bath when I redid the sealant.

I tried several times and failed int he bathroom though. . Then someone recommend unibond sealant remover it dissolves the old stuff then the new stuff goes on perfectly. Get the mould resistant stuff. Smooth over with a finger dipped in water mixed with washing up liquid rather than just water and buy the finishing tool too!

You can buy a tool at B&Q to remove the sealant, it has a triangular shape at one end which scrapes the old sealant off.
When I've resealed I use my wet finger and run it over the wet sealant in a straight line to the end.
Give a nice smooth finish

White spirit also good for removing old sealant & cheap

It's easy. If I can do it anyone can.
Best tip I have is when you've put the sealant on dip your finger in warm water that has few drops of washing up liquid in it, it makes smoothing the sealant easier and gives a better finish.

My brother's in the trade and he told me to do similar - rub a wet finger on a bar of soap.

Perfect timing, OP - was just looking at the revolting sealant in my new (to me) bathroom and thinking I should replace it. Excellent tips here!

Using a wet finger causes mould I've been told 🤷🏻‍♂️

Unpopular on here I know, but Johnson's baby wipes, the ones with baby oil in are brilliant for cleaning up excess sealant - from the tiles, your hands and anywhere else it ends up.

I also read that using fingers can cause mould so I used a plastic smoothing tool instead

This scraper was good for getting rid of sealant and the smoothing tool was used to make the sealant neat without using fingers

Following!

I managed it the other week and I'm completely useless at it usually!
Got this which was really simple, no sealant gun needed. It was a tight space and much easier to use

2079321 Anti-Mould Sealant / White Silicone Sealant for Kitchen and Bathroom / 1 x 147 g Tube amzn.eu/d/4VBMjKV

Placemarking so I can watch the videos later!

Eh? How?

Sealant is designed to get wet.

Bacteria from your skin can get into the wet sealant

Ok well 35 years in the trade and my brother still thoroughly recommends it, as do many online tradespeople 🤷