This simple how-to guide tells you how to replace toilet seals quickly and easily when they start to crack or look unsightly. Read on for tips on preparation, product selection, and caulk application.
The process of replacing toilet seals requires a bit of preparation, including selecting the right caulk. To caulk around a toilet, you need a product that is specially formulated for sealing projects in moist areas. Reach for Loctite Perfect Finish Kitchen & Bath Premium Sealant to create a long-lasting seal that resists mold and mildew formation. Loctite Polyseamseal 100% Silicone Sealant is another watertight option and also bonds to common materials in your bathroom, such as ceramics, porcelain, and enamel.
Once you have your caulk, follow these steps to get ready to replace the toilet seal:
- Gather materials. You need a utility knife/caulk removal tool, bathroom cleaner, water, rags, painter’s tape, caulk, caulk gun, and any protective gear your product instructions recommend.
Optional: gloves (for smoothing) and mineral spirits (good to have on hand for cleaning up). - Remove existing caulk. Run a utility knife or another caulk removal tool along the joint between the toilet and the floor to scrape out old caulk.
- Clean the toilet base. Remove any debris and use an all-purpose bathroom cleaner and a rag to clean inside and around the joint. The cleaner the area, the better your sealant can bond to it.
- Check toilet tightness and evenness. Tighten the bolts or straighten with a shim, if needed. If the toilet is leaking, remove it and replace the wax ring before continuing.
- Let the joint dry.
- Apply painter’s tape. Using painter’s tape around the base of the toilet will give you a cleaner seal and protect your floors against caulk.
Now it’s time to caulk around your toilet. Read your product instructions before beginning and wear any protective clothing they suggest while working.
- Prepare the caulk tube. Load the tube into the caulk gun and cut off the tip to the desired bead size.
- Caulk around the toilet. Keeping the caulk gun at a 45° angle to the floor, evenly push caulk out of the gun along the joint. Press the tip of the tube against the joint to ensure the caulk is pressed into the joint.
- Smooth the caulk. Dip your finger in water and run it along the seam to smooth the sealant, scrape off any excess, and force the caulk further into the joint. Rinse your finger as needed. Wear gloves for this step if you prefer.
- Remove the tape. Peel off the tape to create a clean seal. If you got sealant on the tape, be careful not to drip any on the floor.
- Clean-up. If any caulk has dripped on the floor, use a rag and the solvent mentioned in your product instructions to clean it up (usually mineral spirits). You must cut away cured sealant using a sharp-edged tool.
- Let it cure. Follow the instructions in the product information.