Re-caulking the shower

As new homeowners, we are quickly learning the tricks of home repair and maintenance.  We've been in our home now for 8 months and the caulking job in our master bath was driving me crazy.  The caulk was no longer sealed to the tile in the corners and I didn't know if we were making things worse with water dripping down the walls and into the crevices.

See? Kinda gross

So I made a trip to our local Home Depot and got a quick how-to and what-to-use and came home to give it a go.

Supplies List:

tub and shower cleaner of choice - I like to use The Works. (don't forget your scrubber)

towel (to dry shower after cleaning)

flat head screwdriver

caulk - this GE brand silicone was suggested to me by a Home Depot employee.

caulking gun

paper towels or cleaning towel you won't mind throwing away

First, I cleaned the shower.  I didn't want anything to impede the caulk from sealing perfectly to the tile and soap scum or hard water buildup would definitely cause a problem.

I removed the existing caulk with a flat head screwdriver.  I thought it was going to be especially difficult, but finding the perfect angle for the blade was key and then it came right up.

Next, I did a little more cleaning where the caulk used to be, towel dried the shower and then left it to air dry for a couple hours.  Again, I wanted the best circumstances for the caulk to adhere well.

Snipping off the caulk tube tip, I was ready.  I found that cutting off a small amount at a time gave me the chance to determine the best flow.  Once I had the caulk ready to flow, I found slow and steady pumps on the handle combined with slow and fluid movements of the gun made for a cleaner, easier finish.

Applying the tip right to the crevice put the caulk right where I wanted and then i followed up by smoothing with my finger tip and occasionally wiping any excess on a towel. (I threw it away because once there is silicone on it, its a goner.)

 Remember:  you'll probably get some on your hands.  Remember: it IS waterproof so you won't want to wash a bunch of it off your hands and down the sink.  Be sure to wipe your hands well on a paper towel or a towel you will be throwing away and then wash with soap and water.