How to Get Silicone Caulk Off Your Skin

Silicone caulk is a waterproof material commonly used to seal the cracks where bathtubs, showers, and sinks meet the wall in your bathroom. It can be a tricky substance to work with, so research and practice is often advised to get the cleanest, most professional results. However, mistakes are easy to make even with practice and caulking can get everywhere. Getting this substance off of your hands can be particularly difficult, but if you're prepared and move quickly, it is possible to clean it up without much hassle.

Step 1 – Prepare Supplies

It's important to make sure that you have all of your materials within reach when you begin caulking because the key to removing silicone caulk is not giving it a chance to dry. If it does, you'll be stuck waiting for it to come off on its own while your skin goes through its natural process of shedding.

Step 2 - Prevent Caulk from Sticking

Spreading and smoothing a silicone bead often demands that your use your fingers. This can mean that getting caulk on your skin is inevitable. However, using the right techniques can ensure that as little material sticks to your skin as possible.

When going over the bead with your fingers, always dip your hand in water first. Making sure to keep your skin moist before it comes into contact with the caulking will help keep your hands clean.

Step 3 – Prepare Your Hands

Even following the proper technique will not ensure that you stay completely caulk-free, so you still have to know how to remove any that does stick. To begin, take a plastic bag and rub your hands over it. The plastic will help remove the excess slickness from your skin and make them easier to clean.

Step 4 – Use Rubbing Alcohol or Nail Polish Remover

Take a cloth and apply rubbing alcohol or the acetone fingernail polish remover all over your hands to remove as much of the caulk as possible. Be sure not to scrub too harshly as this can irritate your hands and dry them out.

Step 5 – Finish with Soap

Once you're done, wash your hands with soap and water and dry them. Following up with a moisturizer can help if the alcohol or acetone has dried out your skin too much during the process.

Step 6 - Try Baby Wipes

Normal baby wipes have also been known to work for removing silicone caulking. Keep in mind that this process will likely take some time and several wipes to complete; however, this method can be better for sensitive skin since you're not using harsh solvents for removal.

These removal methods can obviously be used on any affected skin, such as your arms, in case of accidents.