If you're cleaning up your home for sale or maybe you're just moved into a new place and have noticed that the caulk around the tub makes you embarrassed to have people tour your home or make you scared to take a bath, don't fret too much about it. While ratty old caulk looks terrible, it's not that hard to replace.

The hard truth is that if prospective buyers come into your gorgeous house that's staged all to perfection and you've got ratty, mildewed caulk in your bathroom then that may be all they focus on. Old caulk can make your bathroom look dirty, unhygienic, and uninviting. The problem has a pretty simple solution which will leave your bathroom looking polished and clean.

What you need to do first is remove the old caulk; a razor or other narrow scraper works well for this. Once all the old caulk is off the surfaces you will need to clean them, particularly if the area was mildewed. Use a bleach solution to kill any mildew then rinse and let dry. If your old caulk was not providing a water tight seal then you should allow for extra drying time so that you don't trap that moisture behind a new bead of caulk.

Once the joint is dry you can apply the new bead of caulk For best results a strip of masking tape on either side of the joint to act as guides to keep the residue contained. Place the tape first, and then run a bead of silicone caulk over the joint; work carefully so that the bead is even. Bead about two feet at a time, then with a dampened fingertip, smooth the caulk over the joint. Repeat as necessary until finished.

Be careful to not get any caulk residue on your clothes as it will not come out of fabric. For drying time, consult the instructions on your particular product.

When you've spent so much time and energy cleaning and staging your home, a little step like re-caulking your bathroom can really make a big difference in how your bathroom is perceived. Give your home a little more sparkle and help prospective buyers create only good perceptions.  Carlos Montes