How to Keep your Caulk from Drying out

It drives me crazy when I pick up my caulk gun that I know has caulk in it, and nothing will come out because, despite the “Miracle Cap” I purchased and put on it, the caulk has dried out in the nozzle!  Here’s my trick for How to Keep your Caulk from Drying out.How to Keep your Caulk from Drying out

A few times, I’ve tried to force it to come out but instead of pushing the dried caulk out of the nozzle, it squishes out the other end making a huge mess of my gun.  (Like I need any help in that area.)  So I have to go digging around to find a nail long enough or a tiny screwdriver that will fit in the hole without mucking it up so the caulk doesn’t flow out smoothly.

Does this sound familiar or is it just me?

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The plug-caps tend not to work properly with the slanted cut nozzle, in my experience.

Doesn’t everyone cut their caulk tube nozzle off at a slant?  That’s “Caulking 101”– basic stuff…  Oh well, this is easier, less messy and cheeper anyway!

When you’re done caulking your project, squeeze a little more caulk out of your gun and don’t wipe it off.

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A little extra usually always comes out anyway, even after you release the pressure…so use that.

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Then smoosh it into a ball-ish shape, completely covering the hole in the nozzle.

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Now let it dry!  When you’re ready to use your caulk gun again, just pull that ball-ishy ball off the end and you’re ready to go!

how to keep caulk from drying out

Simple tips that make work easier are what make my world go ’round!

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21 Comments

  1. I love this! Nail thing rarely works for me so I share your frustration. I’m caulking right now and have spent half the time shoving a metal skewer in and out just to have it plug up again on the next squeeze. Thank you—simple and no opportunity for it to dry behind the plug!

  2. The long metal stick is used for punching the seal down at the neck of the caulking cartridge not for clearing it. I too will try the forming of a ball like tip…

  3. Neccia Mayhew says:

    Two Great tips to keep caulk from drying out.
    Glad Press and Seal this is great.
    The best I think is Twist on Wire Connectors, inexpensive different colors mean different sizes, used to secure electrical wires

  4. I read a tip in one of my woodworking magazines that explains using a wax ring for toilet installation. You push the tip of your caulk container into the wax and then remove the wax plug next time you use the caulk. It has been working for me.

  5. I live in Colorado, too, and do the caulk trick. It works really well. I go through caulk pretty quickly so maybe it doesn’t have time to dry out!

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