Caulk is great for sealing the edges of toilets and sinks, but they’re not as great when they get on your clothes because they stick to the fibers of the clothes, making it pretty difficult to remove them.
When caulk gets into the fabric of your clothes, no matter how durable they are, it could damage them if you don’t get it out almost immediately.
10 Ways To Get Caulk Out of Clothes
When trying to get caulk stain out of clothes, it is best to attack the stain as soon as possible. The first thing to do is to access the state of the stain before attempting to apply any substance to remove the stain.
It is possible to get the stain out with a regular wash, but it won’t go off entirely; therefore, the method to remove caulk from clothes depends on the state of the stain.
Here are ten different methods of getting caulk stains out of clothes.
Method 1: Baking soda
If you want to remove dried caulk from your clothes, baking soda is the one ingredient you need. Here is how to use baking soda to get rid of caulk below:
Step 1: Mix baking soda and water to form a solution.
Step 2: Rub the solution on the caulk stain.
Step 3: Use a clean cloth to blot the baking soda.
Step 4: Wash as usual — either a machine or hand wash.
Method 2: Vinegar
Vinegar is excellent for handling caulk stains on clothes because of its acidic nature. To use vinegar to take out caulk stains from clothes, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Mix baking soda and water to form a solution.
Step 2: Apply the vinegar solution directly to the caulk stain.
Step 3: Leave the vinegar solution to set in the stain for about five minutes, but make sure the vinegar does not dry out.
Step 4: Wash as usual — either a machine or hand wash.
Method 3: Rubbing alcohol
Alcohol is pretty effective in removing stains, especially caulk stains. Using alcohol on the caulk makes removing it from your clothes easier. Here is a simple step to follow to use rubbing alcohol on caulk below:
Step 1: Wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.
Step 2: Use the wet cotton ball to dab the stains on the cloth and let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 3: Then put the fabric in the washing machine.
Method 4: Use A Stain Remover
Stain removers work best for any stain, no matter how stubborn they are. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use stain removers on caulk stains on clothes below:
Step 1: Scrape away the residue of caulk from your clothes. If you have difficulty scraping it, you can wet the stain to make it easier.
Step 2: Apply the stain remover to the stain and rub it in.
Step 3: Allow it to set in for about ten minutes before washing and drying the clothes.
Method 5: Use Hand Sanitizer
Some hand sanitizers are pretty effective in removing caulk stains because of the high content of alcohol in them, and it makes the stain less sticky and easier to remove.
To use hand sanitizers to remove caulk stains, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Apply the hand sanitizer directly to the stain
Step 2: Rub gently with a damp rag or tissue. Apply several times if you need.
Step 3: Wash and dry the cloth.
Method 6: Use Bleach
Bleach can also come in handy for removing caulk on clothes, but be careful when using it as it can change the color of your cloth. To use bleach to remove caulk from clothes, follow these simple steps below:
Step 1: Rinse the caulked surface of the cloth with warm water.
Step 2: Add 3/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of warm water.
Step 3: Use a sponge or brush to wash the caulk surface to let the bleach solution sit in.
Step 4: Leave the bleach solution on the cloth for about ten minutes.
Step 5: Wash and dry.
Method 7: Use Paper Towel And an Iron
A Paper towel and iron are ideal for removing fresh caulk stains. Here is a step-by-step process of using a paper towel and an electric iron to remove the caulk stain below:
Step 1: Remove the cloth and spread it out on the floor.
Step 2: Place a paper towel strong enough to withstand the heat of the iron on the stain.
Step 3: Run the iron on medium heat and place it on the paper towel.
Step 4: Do this repeatedly until the caulk stain sticks to the towel.
Method 8: Use Ice Blocks
Ice block hardens the caulk glue, removing the stain on clothes more accessible. This technique works on cotton, linen, and even synthetic fabrics.
Step 1: Place ice cubes on the stain and leave it until the glue freezes.
Step 2: Use your fingernails or a spatula to scrape the glue.
You can freeze your clothes if you don’t want to use ice blocks. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to go about it below:
Step 1: Put the cloth in a bag and place it in the freezer.
Step 2: When the stain hardens, use your fingernails or a spatula to scrape the glue out.
Note: Be careful while scraping so you don’t ruin the cloth.
Method 9: Use Acetone
You can use acetone to remove caulk glue on a cloth, as it does a great job of dissolving the glue and making it pretty easy to remove from clothes compared to other removal methods.
However, you have to be extremely careful when using it. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use acetone to remove caulk from clothes below:
Step 1: Soak old towels in acetone.
Step 2: Place the towel directly over the caulk stain on the cloth. The acetone will make the molecules in the caulk swell, so it gets soft and easier to remove.
Step 3: Use your fingers or a spatula to peel off the caulk.
Step 4: Wash and dry the clothes.
Method 10: Use Dish Soap
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use dish soap to remove caulk from clothes below:
Step 1: Scrape the caulk stain to peel off as much residue as possible.
Step 2: Mix a teaspoon of color-free dish soap with warm water to form a dish wash solution.
Step 3: Apply it to the affected area with a soft, absorbent cloth.
Step 4: Dab and rub at the stained area to set the dish wash solution.
Step 5: Rinse the affected area with water to remove the soap residue and leave it to dry.
Note: You will need to repeat the process until the stain is obliterated.