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.

[A]

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!

[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!

[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. :)

[rafaeldel]

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.

[fesy]

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!

[devinduncan]

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!

[backpacker]

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.

[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.

[patriciabock]

You have just saved me hours of scraping a grove around a headlight on my truck. Someone had tried to reattach the headlight cover with silicone! After getting that cleaned out I will be using Flex Glue to put it back on!

[Sthcn]

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.

[pauldixon]

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

[KevinArmstrong]

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

[twoshedsjackson]

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!

[edmcd]

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

[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

[shonidoyle]

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! 😫

[paulrose]

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.

[BrunoM]

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

[DiAllinson]

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

[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.