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Have you ever been in the heart/close to the end of a project, grabbed a tube of caulk or adhesive that you've used in a prior project (maybe just days agone!), only to observe out it's all dried up? Information technology's happened to me a number of times. In fact, when I started this blog, it happened to me nearly every time (that is, one time I learned that caulk, in fact, needs a caulk gun in order to work). Sometimes a long rod (similar the ones that are automatically attached to decent caulk guns) works great for getting the dried caulk out of the tube; sometimes, the tube is just too far gone to exist saved. Either manner, I get frustrated.

how to keep caulk and glue from drying out

Caulk and agglutinative aren't really the most expensive materials on the planet, but later on losing half a tube here and a quarter tube in that location, I got tired of the cumulated cost of constantly replacing them. Not to mention, having to run to the store mid-project, while not at all unusual around this house, was just a recipe for procrastination (and my most mutual source of projection delays… well, procrastination delays the project — lack of coffee delays the post!). So, anything I can do to keep the projection train chugging forth is a welcome change, which is why I'one thousand glad I picked upwards this nifty hack (in fact, I'm almost certain I picked information technology up from going to Haven or whatever, so I'm just going to say thanks to Pretty Handy Daughter and Sawdust Girl, who are often my sources for pleasant little tricks like this).

If you know yous're going to utilise the caulk or glue again soon (say, in less than a week), I've found that this is a crazy easy go-to method. And the best part is, it requires literally no other materials than what you lot're already working with.

How to Keep Caulk and Agglutinative From Drying Out

Step 1

With the caulk gun yet in your hand, just let a scrap ooze out of the end. It usually happens anyway with caulk, but adhesive (like Liquid Nails) can be a fiddling more stubborn and viscous. I endeavour to let it kind of create a fat piffling lump on the tip of the tube without touching it (because despite having a weblog where I regularly become my easily dirty, viscid hands issues me to no end).* But you simply take to make sure that the entire cease is oozing out enough then that no air can become down into the tube.

*Honey Lord, how many suggestive things can I say in a single paragraph?

Stride 2

In one case the terminate is covered, remove it from the caulk gun (or don't, if you lot're me) and just balance it in a spot where information technology can begin to air dry (both adhesive or caulk will get-go setting in a affair of minutes, especially when you alive in a warm climate like I do).

how to save caulk and adhesive from dry-out

Step 3

When yous're fix to use it again, just popular off the stale finish and continue on. Yous tin see in the shot below that the peak part is dry out, just the agglutinative direct underneath was still fresh!

wet vs cured adhesive

This method has worked pretty well for me, but I too go through caulk and adhesive outrageously apace, then I don't take to wait very long betwixt uses. That besides means that even though my method has worked well for me and probably would piece of work well for others who employ these products on a routine basis, those of you who don't alive, sweat, and breathe DIY might need a hardier method. And, simply like any DIY other project, at that place'due south more than one way to solve this problem!

Other methods for saving caulk and agglutinative tubes**:

**that people get into internet arguments about when deciding which method is all-time

  • Stick a nail downward the tube (my dad does this, simply they rust if you don't apply something similar galvanized nails, and then your pretty white caulk has a rust streak in it… no skilful)
  • Employ a golf tee (I tin can't help but remember if the tube has whatsoever existing force per unit area, the tee would easily sideslip out… and then probably also but a short-term solution)
  • Embrace the cease with a wire nut (I've never gotten a good seal from this, but some people insist it works)
  • Utilise a resealable latex cap (never tried this, but looks interesting)
  • Employ a resealable plastic cap (used these, liked them, but they are plush and I have way too many open up tubes for that kind of expense)
  • Duct tape the end (decent, only would probably still permit too much air in over time)
  • Jab the end of the tube into an inexpensive toilet wax ring
  • Invert the terminate in a bucket of h2o (fine I guess for silicone caulks, but not probable a expert idea with ones that are easy water cleanup)
  • Melt the tip down to seal it close over again (unremarkably with thin plastic, such as cutting from a milk jug, just exist careful not to burn yourself!)
  • A combination of the above methods (or, as I'grand sure there will be, other methods mentioned in the comments below)

Equally you can meet above, at that place are lots of unlike ideas, and each of them have their own merit. Try whichever sounds worthwhile to y'all and requite it a shot!

Hey there! I'm Sarah. My favorite things: one) tearing my house autonomously and 2) putting it back together again. I occasionally talk well-nigh other things, like life and food and travel, but it'due south mostly my obsession with DIY and power tools that you'll notice here!

Got a DIY question? Tag me on Instagram @uglyducklingDIY or use the hashtag #uglyducklinghouse to evidence off your projects!