Bathtub caulking?

Question

What's the trick to caulking a bathtub. No matter how careful I am, i can never do a good job. Also, what is best type of caulking? Despite manufacturers' claims all I have tried eventually go black.

Answer 1

the best thing to use is a spongue to wipe off the excess caulking this works the best

Answer 2

Sounds like you have a hard water problem.Talk to you public works dept.

Answer 3

Choose a  type of caulk that is mildew resistant, for starters.  Cut the tip about 2/3 the width you want the caulk to be.  Make the cut about a 45 degree angle (tho some claim 60 degree, just play around with it and see what feels right).  You can smooth and round the tip with sandpaper.

Fill the bathtub up with water so that the gap is at its largest and leave it until the caulk is dry.  This will help reduce the tension that causes caulk to crack.  I am a real perfectionist when it comes to caulk, so I always lay a line of masking tape above the caulk line and on the bottom.  I pull up the tape once I am happy with my handy work.  If you wait until it is dry you might yank up the caulk.  Which might result in bad language.

Once I lay the bead, I use a wet finger, or even a dampened plastic spoon to smooth the line.  If you are using silicone caulk, use a latex glove moistened with denatured alcohol.  The trick is to keep the right amount of pressure and the right amount of speed.  Generally the smaller the bead the faster the clip.

Hope this helps.  Happy caulking!

Edit:  

One thing that helps mildew in bathrooms is to run the exhaust fan regularly.  Check in the attic to make sure the fan is really running to the outdoors.  We found that ours did not even have duct work to the outside and pumped air right into a large tuft of insulation.  The other thing you could do to prevent the mildew is to spray bleach or tilex regularly on the caulk.  I have actually wet a piece of papertowel with bleach and layed it on the problem area for a period of time.  Definitely run the exhaust for this ~ it stinks to high heaven.

Answer 4

Caulk doesn't last forever so you are going to have to replace it.  The black is mildew so use caulk that is specifically made for bathrooms (bc it should be resistant to that).

When you run the caulk along the line, go back over it with a wet cloth to smooth it out.  Or I found this little tool next to where you can buy the caulk that makes a perfect little line by running it over the caulk.

good luck