HOW TO APPLY CAULK AND SILICONE CAULK Applying caulk and silicone caulk is easy, but if you want to get great results with your caulking gun, you will have to follow a few simple steps. Here’s how to apply caulk and silicone sealants using a caulking gun. Remove old caulk and prepare the surfaces. You can use a specialized scraper to peel off any remaining caulk stuck to ceramic tiles or sink edges. Remove stuck-on residue by using a caulk removal spray and rag to wipe it away. Important: Make sure that any sealant remover residue is removed prior to the sealant application, as it could hamper or even prevent the sealant’s adhesion. Some caulk removers require treatment with special chemicals to remove their residues. Check the manufacturer’s instructions if in doubt. Use a bleach-based cleaner on a rag to sanitize the surfaces before applying new caulk. Once the surface is dry, you can move on. Tape off surfaces. Taping will help you avoid creating overly wide caulk joints. Use painter’s tape to mask off edges around where you want to caulk. Make sure the tape is laid tight to prevent any seepage. This will help create an even layer of caulk and reduce any unwanted spills or overflow. Apply the caulk. Open the tube of caulk by snipping off the tip at a 45-degree angle, or use the cartridge’s built-in snipper if it has one. Puncture the tube’s seal with a small nail or similar item. Position the caulking gun at a 45-degree angle. Press the material firmly, but carefully, toward the surface area. Move the tip of the caulk tube smoothly along the joint as you apply the caulk for a consistent coat. Smooth the joint. With the caulk in place, smooth down the caulk with an appropriate tool or rag. Do not use your finger as that might contaminate the caulk, reducing its lifespan. For latex caulk, you can just use water. For silicone, you may want to use alcohol to smooth the joint. Wipe away displaced excess caulk as you go. The goal is to create a smooth, clean applica