How to Use a Caulk Gun

• Before you caulk the crack, make sure to clean and mask the area. 
• If the area you are looking to caulk has old residual caulk, make sure to scrape the old caulk off with a putty knife.
• If you need extra help scraping off the old sealants, look into using a caulk softener.
• Once the old caulk is gone, rinse the area using a rag, hot water, disinfectant and rubbing alcohol. Doing this will remove all dirt.
• Make sure you're using the appropriate caulk for the right situation. For example, if you're caulking tile, get specialty tile caulk for the job.
• Optional: If you need to narrow your caulk stream, place painter's tape around the area to add precision.

• At the end of the caulk gun there is a plunger that needs releasing. Press it to release. Then, pull the plunger back to make space to load in the caulk. Next, we'll tell you how to load a caulk gun.
• Load the caulk into the sealant gun with the nozzle facing outward and the flat side facing you and resting near the caulk gun's trigger end.
• Once the caulk has been inserted into the sealant gun, make sure it's secure and snug.

• As soon as you've confirmed the caulk is secure and level, make sure the gun's metal end hook latches to the back of the caulk to more firmly keep it in place. Refer to the manufactuer's instructions if you need further help.
• Now, tilt your caulk gun at a 45 degree angle and cut the tip with scissors. It's recommended you cut more of the tip off if the area you're sealing is bigger or wider. Cut less of the tip for a smaller stream of caulk to use on a smaller crack. Reminder: This is permanent, so definitely take the amount cut into account.

Tip: If after you've cut the tip, the caulk won't come out, use a nail to puncture the seal. It's possible that the seal of the caulk and sealants has remained, and it needs opening.

• How to use a caulking gun for the first time will not be as difficult as one may think. Before you seal the area you need, do a practice run. Squeeze out some of the caulk using the trigger onto a piece of paper. Practice as many times as you need to make sure the application is what you want.
• It's recommended that in order to apply caulk efficiently, hold the caulk gun at a 45 degree angle. Then, apply pressure to the trigger and while keeping your hands steady as you move over the area that needs sealing.
• Caulking requires a balance between slow and fast, so that the sealant isn't too thin or too thick.
• Make sure as you move over the crack with the sealant that both hands remain on the caulk gun at all times, one adding pressure to the trigger while the other holds the gun steady.

• Once the caulk has been applied, even it out with a spoon or your finger. Run the spoon or finger over the caulk to smooth it out along the crack. Doing this makes the caulking less obvious and more aesthetically pleasing.
• If at any point you run out of caulk while sealing, simply follow the previous steps to add in a new tube of caulk.