Does Silicone Suffer From Discolouring?

Silicone is a valuable compound that is non-conductive, non-allergenic, and incredibly flexible and convenient. Therefore, let’s take a deeper look at silicone to gain a better understanding of its benefits for your tiles, and how to clean it and keep it looking fresh.

Silicone is often used in the medical industry, and it is also useful for sealants, particularly for tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.

Considering that silicone is quite often used as a substitute for grout when it comes to tiling, it’s important to understand its properties and how to keep it clean.

Is Silicone Safe?

Silicone is a synthetic polymer. Many people are wary of synthetic substances these days for a number of reasons.

The main reason for this is that there is a growing emphasis on using natural fabrics and substances that are easy to recycle.

While it does make sense to use paper, cotton, hemp or wood whenever possible, there are some jobs that ‘natural’ fibres can’t do so well.

In those cases, it makes sense to use synthetics that are as safe as possible. Silicone fits the bill as it is lightweight and durable, and it has been extensively tested to ensure that it is safe for use.

Tests show that silicone is not dangerous for the environment and that it is not toxic. It is also not likely to accumulate in the water, in the air, or in soil.

This means that it is a better choice than plastic for many applications.

How Durable is Silicone?

Silicone is very durable and can withstand high temperatures (up to 270 degrees Celcius in some cases).

It works well as a sterile elastomer so it can be used in food preparation environments without issue. It does not tend to crack or break, so it will last for a long time.

Does Silicone Suffer from Discoloring?

Unfortunately, clear silicone will eventually discolour.

If you have clear silicone in your home (perhaps being used as a sealant or caulking for your tiles or tubs), then you may notice that over time it becomes yellow following exposure to light and humidity.

The good news is that this yellowing is temporary and it can be removed with normal household cleaning products.

Simply spraying some household bleach onto the silicone and allowing it to sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off will get rid of the yellow colour.

This will also kill off any mould or mildew that has built up on the caulking and the surrounding area.

Is Silicone a Good Choice for Sealing?

Silicone has a number of applications, from health care to aerospace, construction and personal care. It is a good choice for sealants, caulk, and also for any situation where heat tolerance is important.

Since silicone does not crack, warp or peel the way many other substances do, and it is so durable, it often considered superior to acrylics.

It is easy to clean and greatly reduces the maintenance burden. Silicone is a very versatile substance that is often under-appreciated when it comes to its use in the construction industry.

It has numerous benefits for construction, including offering opportunities to improve energy efficiency and to make more attractive and unusually shaped structures.

If you’re renovating your kitchen or bathroom, be sure to consider using silicone instead of acrylics.

It’s a small detail in the design but you may be surprised at how much difference it will make in the long term by making the room easier to clean and to take care of on a day to day basis.

If you do have tiles and are looking for a professional and highly specialised tile and stone care company, then look no further than us at Slique.

Slique has highly-developed systems and processes, which means we provide a tile and grout cleaning service that is second to none.

Please call us today on (02) 9648 0395 or contact us through our website for all your tile cleaning needs.