Removing bathroom sealant
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Discussion

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
ok, so I've removed the majority of sealant from around the shower tray by cutting into it and pulling it out. However, even after scraping the remaining residue that is on the tiles/shower tray/shower door frame, there is still a very thin layer that won't budge. I've tried bathroom sealant remover which does absolutely nothing (I will be returning this to B&Q for a refund), tried meths, tried white spirit.

Any ideas? The problem is a very thin layer that's hard to see but is there. I'm concerned that if I leave it it will attract mold etc.

Surely there must be a product that you wipe on and it simply wipes off the sealant? If not, why not?

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
What I didn't mention was that I have sealant residue on a chrome framed shower door frame. I don't want to use a metal blade to try and remove the final very thin layer. As I said, the liquid sealant remover is completely useless.

fido

18,510 posts

279 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
Use something very sticky like sellotape and try to roll it off .. if you get my drift. Or a soft plastic scraper.

illmonkey

19,630 posts

222 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
Hummm... Meths. Should sort it, and a safty razor to scrape it off.

ETA: Damnit, I should read topics more carefully. If meths doesn't work, try rebuilding the wall?

dickbastardly

450 posts

232 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
Comes very recomended!!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-sealant-remo...
Cheap to!1
Andy

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
Hummm... Meths. Should sort it, and a safty razor to scrape it off.

ETA: Damnit, I should read topics more carefully. If meths doesn't work, try rebuilding the wall?
Tried a plastic scraper, tried meths, tried white spirit frown

Sureley there must be something that easily dissolves sealant? Waht do they do atthe factory where they make the stuff? It must be everywhere in their manufacturing/pacakging processes?

ianreeves

259 posts

228 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
dickbdly said:
Comes very recomended!!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-sealant-remo...
Cheap to!1
Andy
+1 didn't think it would work but it's very good !

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
ianreeves said:
dickbdly said:
Comes very recomended!!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-sealant-remo...
Cheap to!1
Andy
+1 didn't think it would work but it's very good !
It contains Orange Terpenes, does it smell of orange? The reason I ask is that the one I used from B&Q smelt of orange. I suspect it might be the same stuff and if it is, it doesn't work frown

Emsman

7,205 posts

214 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
nail varnish remover.

If you are talking about an almost clear 'membrane' like layer that remains after the actual sealant has been removed.

Just make sure that you clean it well after/ before applyng new, remove all of the erm, remover, else the new stuff wont take to the surfaces.




Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
Emsman said:
nail varnish remover.

If you are talking about an almost clear 'membrane' like layer that remains after the actual sealant has been removed.

Just make sure that you clean it well after/ before applyng new, remove all of the erm, remover, else the new stuff wont take to the surfaces.
Yes, a very, very this membrane. on the chrome shower door frame it looks like a matt stain where the sealant was before, even fingernails won't remove it. I'll give the nail varnish remover a go.

B17NNS

18,506 posts

271 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
dickbdly said:
Comes very recomended!!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-sealant-remo...
Cheap to!1
Andy
This does work.

Apply liberally and leave to do it's job.

I tend to re-apply every half hour or so to keep the surface moist.

The longer you leave it the easier it comes off. Also (as you have done) remove the bulk with a blade first.

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Thursday 7th April 2011
quotequote all
dickbdly said:
Comes very recomended!!
http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-sealant-remo...
Cheap to!1
Andy
Yep, cheap at £2.85 but £5 delivery yikes. True cost must be £1 to deliver a 100mm bottle!


Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Tried the Screwfix sealant 'remover' - absolute rubbish. It is in factthe same garbage sold by B&Q but in a different pot - looks the same and smells exactly the same, waste of money. It didn't remove a single part of the very thin film of sealant left after scraping off the majority of the top layer.

I'll try the nail varnish remover next. If that doesn't work, I'm stuffed.


Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Nail polish remover - rubbish. It has no effect whatsoever.

guffhoover

564 posts

210 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Napalm?

Silver993tt

Original Poster:

9,064 posts

263 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
guffhoover said:
Napalm?
Well, I even tried nail polish remover with a (plastic) scouring pad on the metal shower door frame. Not single square mm was removed.

There must be a chemical that you can apply that fully dissolves the sealenat and then is simply wiped off? I've got chrome shower door frame that's had about 1-2cm of sealant over applied bythe idiots that previously installed it. I've shaved away all of the sealant except for a very thin film than you can see and feel when a finger is run over it. It has left dull patches on the shiny chrome. I can't use a blade on this since I'll damage the surface.

L22KMD

88 posts

188 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Try tar and glue remover.

Emsman

7,205 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
Nail polish remover - rubbish. It has no effect whatsoever.
Hmmm. Sorry about that. I have never failed with nail polish remover.
Try a stain devil?
A lot depends on the mastic used I guess.