Rant: The guy at Home Depot told me to use 'universal' caulk for my bathroom shower

I listened to him last week and now I am scraping off this moldy mess already. Silicone is NOT the same as latex caulk. It says right on the tube for kitchen and bath use only IF it is 100% silicone. Why do they even sell the cheap stuff near the shower section? Has anyone else had to redo a whole bathroom because of bad advice from a store employee?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivan_mason4d ago

Bruh @keithbutler basically nailed it. I once tried to seal a window with that universal stuff and it looked like a science experiment gone wrong after two weeks. Learned real fast that silicone is king for anything that even sees a splash of water.

hayden_nelson858d ago

Wait, are you sure the guy specifically said "universal" and not just "kitchen and bath"? Because universal caulk usually means it works for both latex and silicone, but it's still not the same as 100% silicone. The real trick is making sure the area is bone dry before you apply it, otherwise even the good stuff will mold.

keithbutler8d ago

Man, you're totally right about the dry part. I learned that the hard way when I did my shower and it started peeling off within a month because I got impatient and didn't wait long enough after wiping it down. The packaging never tells you that moisture is the real enemy, not the caulk itself. I've started using a heat gun on low for like 30 seconds to really make sure the gap is bone dry before I even open the tube. Also, universal caulk is fine for some stuff but 100% silicone is the only thing that holds up in a wet shower long term. The kitchen and bath stuff is a good middle ground but it still ain't the same.