Caulking cracking around tub and tile and liner-Help Please.

I think this is the proper forum for this. If not, moderator please move. Thank you.

I am at my wits end here. I have a bathroom. Removed all the old rubbery caulking that was on the walls and around tub and and around toilet. It was black and ugly. Mold and mildew more than likely.

I used Goo Gone to remove the old caulking. Scraped the tile etc with a razor blade to remove all residue of old caulking. Scrubbed the tile walls around tub and toilet with Dawn dish soap and rinsed to remove the oil residue from GooGone. Put a fan on it for 2 days straight. Surface and area around/under tile and around tub and toilet were bone dry. Then rubbed surface to be caulked with alcohol to be sure it was clean. Let that sit with fan for one day. I then used the product below to caulk the seems. Wow, everything cracked!! Almost every thing seemed to shrink and then crack. I was heart broken as I took so much time to be sure the surface was prepared properly. What happened??

When I applied the caulking I ran the caulk on the tile along the tub and floor etc. Took my finger to smooth it out. Came back the next day and found all of it just about cracked!! What did I do wrong??

This is what I used.

These are the results

 

I don't recognize the tube what brand is it?

 

You might want to step back and post a picture of the overall area you are caulking.
I've laid many a caulk bead and don't recognize your joints. It looks like you are trying to fill a large gap and that's going to be difficult no matter what caulk is used.
Kwik-Seal adhesive caulk is very good for some things, but 100% silicone is better if this is a normal sized joint.

 

Urgh!! I am so frustrated!!!!

Here is a link to the product I used. I used it in a caulking gun, not the squeeze tube. The gaps were not that large.

I did not want to use the silicone as it is hard to clean up as you run your finger and smooth it out.

I can take more pics (further back) but it won't be until maybe Thursday, Aug 25th as I will not be back there until then. I was trying to help my friend out who owns a few rental properties. This particular bathroom in this unit (prior owner) smeared the caulking all over the place (like a small child with finger paints); sloppy as heck. So I tried to redo it for him and this is what I ended up with.

 

Caulking is somewhat of an art, it's easier if the gap is not too large.
Use silicone caulk. Clean off all the old caulk and wipe the surface with denatured alcohol using cloth rags.
Finishing and getting a nice bead is the key. Some use finishing tools like a Dap Cap, I prefer a finger but that works best for the experienced.
Apply a nice bead and wipe it with a cloth rag dampened with denatured alcohol. Change the rags often and don't try to wipe too long of a section at once.

 

Handyone: Thanks for the tips. Much appreciated. Most of the gaps were not that large at all. They even cracked. I just don't understand what happened. I prepared the surface so carefully. I really took my time running the caulk too.

I really don't like using silicone as it is so much harder to clean up and sticks to my fingers. I will work with the denatured alcohol. Just a question. Why denatured. How does that make it work better? Or does it allow you to smooth out the surface of the bead without it sticking to the cloth or your finger? I too prefer using my finger because I can feel if caulk is building up too much on my finger whereas with a tool it is harder to realize until it builds up too much and falls off on the floor.

Thanks

 

The denatured alcohol wipes off the excess while you're smoothing the joint. Take short strokes.
Stretch the thin rag over the tip of your finger, it's almost like using your bare finger. Move the rag over your finger or change rags often.

I hardly ever use a finishing tool, but my favorite is a Dap Cap, it works better than any I've seen.

 

I've never used a tool to dress the caulking - just my fingers with maybe a rag/sponge along with the appropriate thinner. I normally use mineral spirits to keep my finger/rag clean when applying silicone caulk.

 

Denatured or mineral spirits. Got it! Thanks. I guess I have a lot of work ahead of me now removing the old caulking. Wow!! Lost all that time now. I am so disgusted!!