Hi all When fitting a new kitchen 2 weeks ago, we used a clear silicon sealant to seal the s/steel sinktop onto the high gloss worktop. There are some smears of sealant on the worktop surface. Can anyone suggest the best way to safely remove it? Tried hot washing up water, also turps substitute, both to no avail.
The only thing that will reliably dissolve cured silicone is silicone eater. Available from screwfix and some of the sheds.
BTW, a future tip: when siliconeing, clean up afterwards with isopropanol. It's brilliant at removing uncured silicone.
Dry, rub off with fingers.
I've got same problem - still leaves a stain that you can see if you catch the light right.
I think that this might be silicone oil left over, rather than the actual sealant.
Haven't had this problem.
Yep - definitely an oily tint to it. Won't come off with anything mild and don't want to try anything brutal on a new worksurface.
I really doubt it's silicone oil, it far more likely to be polymerised silicone. However, if it is oil, it will readily dissolve in any alcohol (ethanol, propanol etc.). If it is cured silicone, then the only readily available solvent for it is silicone eater.
There is a substantial amount of silicone oil in silicone, to make it flexible. Easy to find out.
Even better - and I know you'll say that this is a girlie answer but it really does work - rub it with talcum powder. Or even flour. I promise you that it works no matter how long it's been there.
Mary
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That sounds likely too. Talcum is obviously absorbent, and a light abrasive.
Same way that sand can be very usefull for cleaning off paint from hands.
Hmm, this is not my understanding of RTV silicone rubber chemistry. AFAIK, you start off with what is essentially a high viscoity silicone oil, and you polymerise it completely into a rubber. While a small number of molecules will inevitably remain unpolymerised, I don't believe this is either intentional or important to the rubber's physical properties.
I could of course be totally wrong. This is me trying to remember a lecture from 10 years ago.
I was looking into breast implants (not in situ) and found
The first mention I find on rereading is page 51.
The above contains some interesting reading, including the lovely factoid that though it may be sterile saline that's injected into the implant to inflate it, there is free silicone in the capsule, which can diffuse out, and that glucose and other nutrients diffuse into the capsule, and bacteria and molds grow in it. Eww.
It also contains passing mention of injection of waxes and silicone lubricant injected in the aim of beauty, and the nasty consequences.
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Well who would have believed it - it works !! Talc that is. Thanks a lot Mary, good job done. I better watch what I rub with talc from now on - never realised its hidden powers.
truman .........
It's far better than oil for other purposes too not as messy ...
Mary
Go on, Mary give us a few examples !!
Nick
Sorry, this was the wrong ng. I wsn't thinking of doing it myself :-)
Mary
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