Sealing around kitchen sinks or sealing a sink drain with silicone will keep your sink in good condition and prevent future problems. Using a high quality, waterproof sealant prevents water and debris from entering the gaps.

How do you silicone caulk a sink drain?

1:102:38“silicone” INSTEAD of “plumbers putty” on kitchen drain basketYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace a bead of silicone. All around that mating surface. But try not to get it on the threads atMorePlace a bead of silicone. All around that mating surface. But try not to get it on the threads at all place it down in and press firmly.

Can silicone caulk go down the drain?

Wipe your finger on a damp rag to remove the caulk rather than rinsing it in the sink. Rinsing caulk down the sink could cause the caulk to dry in the drain, leading to clogs in the future.

Why should you not use plumbers putty on plastic?

The putty can attack the chrome plating on the plastic drain and cause it to come off. Usually, plastic drains have a foam or rubber gasket to place under the drain flange so you do not have to use any sealant.

Do you need to silicone sink drain?

Both plumbers putty and silicone caulk provide a watertight seal for a sink drain. You must seal the area between a sinks drain body and the actual sink surface. Otherwise water will leak out between the two and begin dripping under the sink.

Can you use silicone instead of putty?

Also, silicone is not as easy you work with and is not as dense as plumbers putty, so its not as good at filling wide gaps, and plumbers dont need time to dry just like caulk does.

What is best to use to remove silicone caulk?

The best way to remove silicone caulk short of using a digestant is to treat it with a silicone sealant remover, WD-40, vinegar or alcohol, wait for it to soften and then attack it with a knife or paint scraper.

Do you caulk around a sink drain?

You must seal the area between a sinks drain body and the actual sink surface. Otherwise water will leak out between the two and begin dripping under the sink. Some plumbers and installers favor plumbers putty for installing drains, while others lean toward the more modern waterproof material called silicone caulk.

What happens if you use plumbers putty on plastic?

-DO NOT use plumbers putty on plastic or metal threaded pipes to seal between joints. This is a job for Teflon tape. -DO NOT use plumbers putty on porous matter such as granite or marble—the composition of plumbers putty will stain these surfaces.

Can you use silicone instead of plumbers putty for sink drain?

A clay-like substance called plumbers putty is the most popular choice for sealing sink drains, but you can also use silicone caulk.

Should I use plumbers putty with a rubber gasket?

8 Answers. Increasingly, Im finding that plumbers putty is not recommended for sink drains, especially if it has its own rubber gasket. In places where the manufacturer does not supply a gasket (and the flange is not metal) they suggest silicone caulk. Be sure to read the directions for your drain assembly!

Does vinegar dissolve caulk?

Vinegar makes an excellent cleaning product and can even tackle tough projects such as old or residual caulk. The acid in vinegar helps break down hard, sticky or old caulk and dissolves it so it can be effectively scrubbed away.

Why does sink drain flange have holes?

Bathroom sinks are designed with overflow holes to avert the disaster of a sink overflow because someone left the water running with the sink stopper closed. They are designed to service the overflow passages inside the sink and not to protrude from the bottom of the sink, so theres no danger that they will ever leak.