How to remove silicone?

Posted by: CrackersMcCheese

How to remove silicone? - 24/03/2016 23:04

5 years ago I had the smashing idea of using silicone to stick my toilet roll holder etc to the tiles, rather than drilling my lovely new bathroom tiles.

However, now it's time to change these items and I cannot get rid of all of the silicone. I have removed most of it with a Stanley blade but I am left with a silicone corona that I notice everytime I walk in the room. It also gets dirtier quicker.

I've only tried scrubbing with a metal pot scourer but that had no effect and I am hesitant to try anything harder incase I scratch the tiles. Would sandpaper work? I suspect that if a solvent existed it would be extremely dangerous and not available to me anyway.

Any advice?

Posted by: tfabris

Re: How to remove silicone? - 24/03/2016 23:28

I don't have any advice, but I wanted to mention that "Silicone Corona" is the name of my Brian Eno cover band.
Posted by: K447

Re: How to remove silicone? - 25/03/2016 00:06

Originally Posted By: Phil.
... I suspect that if a solvent existed it would be extremely dangerous and not available to me anyway.
There is a silicone remover product available in retail. It is specific to silicone and is not as effective on other types of adhesives or caulking compounds.

We have used the DAP product.
DAP Silicone Sealant Remover

Apparently WD-40 can be applied to good effect. I use WD-40 for general goop removal but not (yet) for silicone.

Google search turned up these products which I had not seen before.

DSR-5

McKanicaź Silicone Caulk Remover Gel (0354)

I use a Razor scraper to shave the surface as much as possible. I find the single edged razor blade scraper to allow a very close 'shave' of the surface, which often removes all but the thinnest residual film of unwanted material.
Posted by: Shonky

Re: How to remove silicone? - 25/03/2016 06:25

In Australia this stuff worked reasonably well but I still had a bit of the ghost of the silicon still there. It didn't matter much in my case though. The best thing I found was simply a razor blade/scraper run along the surface of the tile.

http://www.selleys.com.au/sealants/silicone/remover/
Posted by: mlord

Re: How to remove silicone? - 25/03/2016 12:32

I just rub the silicone with my thumb/fingers, and it eventually all rolls off. Rough textured leather gloves also work for me.