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By Mark Wolfe
Rating: 5/5
Lacking an effective way to reseal opened tubes of caulk, I’ve thrown away more than my fair share of dried-out caulk, adhesives, and sealants over the years. Some popular hacks have helped prevent the product from drying out for a while. I’ve tried plugging the tip with a screw, covering it with tape, and capping it with a wire nut, but they mostly fail within a month or so. The problem is, I often need to store partially used caulk tubes for several months between projects. In my search for a long-lasting re-seal method, I picked up a pack of Tool Time Caulking Caps, hoping that this purpose-made solution might be more effective.
Caulk Saver
Photo: Amazon
These caulk tube caps are made of durable, waterproof, pliable vinyl. They slide easily onto the plastic caulk applicator tip and have a good amount of grip to stay put. The manufacturer claims that they can keep water-based caulk from drying out for more than a year, and that they slow the curing process of silicone and polyurethane adhesives as well. So far, my experience seems to confirm those claims.
After sealing some cracks and gaps in my siding, I had a half-full caulk tube leftover. So I cleaned the exterior of the applicator tip and installed a caulking cap. Three months later, I needed the caulk for another project, and it was in near-perfect condition. A slight skin had formed on the leading end, which I wiped off, but the bead behind it was as good as new. The caulking cap came off in perfect condition, so I reused it. Another 4 months went by before I needed to uncap the tube again, and the results were the same.
I would have preferred to use something I already had lying around instead of buying another product, but since caulk caps are cheap, reusable, and increase my chance to use up other, more expensive consumable products, it’s a fair deal. I paid about $5 for a set of 5. Since I rarely have more than a couple of different caulk and sealant cartridges opened at any given time, they should last several years.
I try to work in a thrifty manner. With the price of different caulks and sealants running from $3 to more than $15, tossing a half-used tube is like throwing money in the trash. Avoiding that kind of waste is one of my favorite ways to control costs, and I’m happy to say that Tool Time Caulking Caps have helped. They preserve unused caulks and sealants longer than the “free” hacks I’ve tried, and ensure that I get the full value of those products.
Where to Buy the Tool Time Caulking Caps
Caulk Saver
Photo: Amazon