TikTok's Genius Trick For Storing A Caulk Tube So It Doesn't Dry Out

Caulk is an important part of any homeowner's arsenal. It's part of many DIY projects, whether you're sealing gaps in window panes, re-caulking your tub due to mildew buildup, or sealing painter's tape down for a crisp line. Caulk has many uses, but you'll often find that you don't use an entire tube in one project. Unless you're renovating your house and taking on large-scale projects, you'll usually only use a couple of pumps of caulk and be done with it. But if you don't store it correctly afterward, the caulk in the tube will dry up like an opened bottle of glue, making it useless for your next small project. To avoid that from happening, all you need, according to one TikTok trick, is a piece of plastic and a rubber band. 

This is a great home hack to try since you likely have these two items handy in your house. For plastic, you can use anything from plastic wrap to a plastic bag, and for rubber bands, you can either use a traditional one or grab a hair tie.

For this TikTok trick, courtesy of @dannyhdnyc, all you need to do is wrap the tip of your caulk tube with a piece of plastic and secure it with a rubber band. If you're using a plastic bag, feel free to cut it down to size so only the caulk tip is covered in it. Once the rubber band is secured, roll it up toward the tip, leaving about half an inch. This ensures you squeeze out any remaining air in the plastic, which is what will make it harden in the tube. As an added layer of protection, next squeeze out a small dollop of caulking into the plastic, creating an air-tight seal. This is the final step that will ensure no air will be able to leak through into the tube during storage.

When you're ready to use it for your next project, simply unwrap the plastic, and you'll have a perfectly usable tube of caulk ready to go. If you don't use this tool frequently, it's also helpful to write down what day you opened it. That way, you'll know if you're past the expiration date. However, caulk typically lasts around five years, so you should be able to use it for quite some time — especially if you use this handy TikTok hack.