Thanksgiving Decorating Made Easy

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Q. I have these two marble shelves in the shower, and the bases of them are cut into the tile. Caulk was used to seal them three years ago and they are finally starting to mold and peal up. What is a good way to remove the caulk and what should I replace it with?
A. You can use a heat gun/hair dryer to soften up the caulk and then cut it out, carefully so you don't scratch the marble, with a utility knife or straight edge razor blade. Replace it with new latex caulk. It will require maintenance again in a few years, that's all you can expect from latex caulk in a wet area like a shower, but it's better than grout, which may develop cracks that will ultimately lead to water damage.

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