Tips on How to Apply Caulking

Removing old mildew infested caulking and replacing with bright new caulking is as easy as 1, 2, 3…..

1) Remove Old Caulk
Place 3M Caulk Softener on existing tub caulk and let stand for 2 hours. This wonder bottle can cover 24 linear feet at an 1/8″ bead, so one bottle should do the trick for your tub surround. Once the caulk softener has been sitting for at least 2 hours, remove old caulk with a putty knife or the caulk removal tool that came in the Professional Caulk Tool Kit (shown below). After removing the existing caulking, make sure to clean the area with rubbing alcohol and NOT water, to ensure that you’ve removed all traces of mildew. Let the area dry. Next, fill the bathtub with water before applying new caulk to ensure the strongest seal around the tub. Optional (and recommended): use Seal Rite Tape to keep application straight and neat.

3M Caulk Softener – Easily remove existing caulking.	Professional 8 Piece Caulk Kit Remove, Finish and MORE!
Caulk straight lines with Seal Rite Masking System!

2) Apply New Caulk
First, make sure the area is completely dry to achieve better seal. It is best to apply caulking in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Load caulk tube into a caulk gun and cut tip to 45-degree angle or use tips included with the Professional Caulk Tool Kit. Start first on one of the shorter walls (usually the sides of the tub). When squeezing the trigger, keep moving and always pull the gun in opposite way the gun is pointing (see photo below). Keep constant pressure on trigger and don’t lift gun until you reach the corner.

Photo courtesy of Popular Mechanics Online

Clean tip of caulking tube with paper towel between walls. Ease up on the trigger as you reach the end point (corner). When you are finished with all sides, run the caulk finisher (included in the kit) to smooth down and remove any access caulk. **Make sure to smooth down caulking and clean up any excess caulking within 20 min of applying** Want an easy, clean, stress-free tool to help smooth down caulking? Try the Caulk-EZ Tooling Aid. An aerosol spray that goes on after caulking (before drying) which prevents excess caulk from sticking to your fingers and adjacent surfaces.

3) Let it Dry
Let caulk to dry/set according to the label of whatever caulking you are using, or if you are using the Colorfast Brand Caulking from our site, let stand for 24-48 hours before using the tub/shower. Remove Seal Rite Tape (if applicable) no more than 10 minutes after caulking applied.

Need to find a colored caulk that matches your grout or bathroom decor? Check out our website dedicated JUST to caulking!! Click the photo below or visit THIS link.

Stuck inside for the third or fourth straight day due to this crazy winter season? Your sanity may be getting a good wear and tear and so has your flooring!! From salt stains on your carpet to muddy boot tracks on your hardwood, we are here to help solve all of your flooring stain problems!

Cleaners For Carpeted Areas

You knew at the beginning of the winter season what was going to happen…. muddy boot and salt tracks in your entryway. Instead of endless tiring scrubbing, make this year’s carpet clean-up easy with our full selection of carpet cleaners. Find everything you need to successfully clean your synthetic, cotton, sisal and even fragile wool entry carpets!

Classic & Effective Carpet Cleaner	Convenient Carpet Cleaning Kit
Carpet Aid + works great on spot carpet cleaning!	Everything you need to fight stains on your carpeting! Mohawk Carpet Cleaning Kit
Browse ALL Of our Carpet Cleaners to find a cleaner that works for you!

Stain Removers for Every Surface in Your Home

Carpet & Fabric Stain Remover	Multi-Surface Stain Eliminating Kit
Get those pesky red tinted stains out of carpet and fabric with this Red-Out Spot Remover from Nilodor.	Multi-Surface Stain Removal kit from Stain Eliminating kit allows you to remove all types of pesky stains!
Check out our FULL selection of stain removers!

Rid Your Home of Obnoxious Odors

Finally, for those stains and smells from winter sickness (go away flu!) nothing gets the stink out like Installerstore‘s Odor Eating products!

Multi-Smell Destroyer	Commercial Grade Odor Remover
Ready-to-use Tech Skunk-X will remove (not cover up) skunk, pet, smoke smells and more!!	Deodorize multiple surfaces with Odor Exploder from Host.

Preventative Options for Next Winter

Make sure to check out our full line of door and entry mats! Commercial grade to just plain funny, we have everything you need to protect your floors next winter!

Half-Moon Crest-Ridge Mat	Single Crest-Ridge Mat
Commercial Grade Half Moon Crest mat is fabric and rubber based making it durable for indoor and outdoor use.	This fabric and rubber Crest-Ridge mat are made of absorbent polypropylene and rubber gripper backing, which prevents falls.
View ALL of our entrance mats and humorous welcome mats!

Only 47 days, 4 hours and 10 minutes until Spring!

2014 Super Bowl Coupon Code Event

Now through February 2, use the following coupon codes to SAVE 5% on your entire order (excluding shipping). Vote for who you think is going to win Super Bowl XLVII by using the teams corresponding coupon code. Not a football fan? Choose “Neither.” Codes can be entered during the checkout process and will deduct 5% from the price of your items.

Coupon Codes:
Broncos for the win: DENVER14
Seahawks for the win: SEATTLE14
Not a fan? Vote None: NEITHER14

Valid on Installerstore.com only.
5% discount on items only (not shipping)
Coupon codes expire February 2, 2014
Cannot be used in conjunction with any other code/discount

There has been plenty of news stories regarding UPS and FedEx drawing fire after Christmas season delivery problems. Endless news stories of people waiting for packages at the door on Christmas Eve, but what stories seem to be buried among the complaints are those people who waited for their family members, still delivering packages late into the night.

So Installerstore would like to take a moment to thank UPS, FedEx, SpeeDee Delivery Service and the US Postal System for working through long hours, weekends and bad weather during this and every holiday season. As always, it’s great to know that we can count on you to go the extra mile.

Thank you again for all you do for customers around the globe.

With Love,

The Installerstore Staff

The first snow flakes of the upcoming winter have fallen, and we are definitely not ready for another Wisconsin winter!

The snow falling is a reminder of the approaching Holiday Gift season. There are only 17 days until Hanukkah and 43 days-13 hours-47 minutes and 53 seconds until Christmas!

Why not get an early start and purchase any of the following GREAT gift ideas! Standard shipping is flat rate! This saves gas money driving around for the perfect gift and a stress-free shopping environment!

Humorous Welcome Mats

We have a humorous doormat to fit any personality! From GO AWAY! to pet themes, you’ll definitely find a welcome mat to make the receiver laugh! Find a memorable Christmas or Hanukkah gift at Installerstore!

Floor Cleaning Mops and Kits

Do you need to buy a gift for a neat freak, or do you want to bring a GREAT present for a gift-exchange or Secret Santa? Why not give them the gift of clean! We have a wide selection of floor cleaner and care items that come in a convenient kit! The Bona Spray Mop makes for an excellent gift-exchange and the famous Capture Dry Carpet Cleaner is a great idea for a Secret Santa present.

We have THOUSANDS of other products available on our site for home improvements and much more!

Congrats to our customer Leslie from Maryland! Her “trio of terror” pumpkin carvings were chosen by our staff as their favorite. She will be sent our fabulous floor care package. Happy Cleaning Leslie!

Our customers have spoken, and they chose employee Marie’s Kitty Kat carving as their favorite! By voting, each customer saved 9% on their entire order.

Thank you to everyone who participated and be sure to check back next year for another Halloween sale and contest!

Don’t let the vile, horrible creatures living in your shower cause you to scream! Deep clean your shower tile to rid them of cadavers of showers past (soap scum) and morbid mold!

Installerstore has a wide selection of cleaner and care items not only for your shower, but all surfaces in your home!

An infestation of mold and mildew in your shower can send anyone running for the bunkers. To celebrate Halloween and educate on how to remove mold in your shower, we’ll use the hit TV show Walking Dead….

Sheriff Rid Grimes – Destroy Mold & Mildew

Destroy mold and mildew that has infected your shower tile and grout with Colorfast Tile & Grout Citrus Cleaner. It’s easy to remove mold in your shower with this all-purpose cleaner.  Not only does this cleaner kill mold and mildew, but it can also remove light mineral or hardware water deposits. Fill your favorite caliber spray bottle and blast that mold away!

Mi-Shine – Prevent Mold from Infiltrating

Now that you’ve destroyed the mold, you’ll want to prevent future mold in your shower. Aqua Shield Cleaner & Resealer slashes the growth of mold and mildew on stone, tile and grout. This one-step cleaner will penetrate and reseal grout, sealed stone, and tile.

Daryl Fixon – Remove Traces & Stains

Lock Up all traces and stains on your bathroom grout with SKM Grout Pen. The colorant comes in an easy-to-use marker which covers up stains in your grout. Refresh the color of our tile grout or change it completely! This savior product comes in standard tip and wide tip.

Does just looking at your bathroom stone vanity give you a scare? Who ya gonna call…. INSTALLERSTORE! Our website is FULL of stain busters and restore products for your stone bathroom countertops.

This eco-friendly stone countertop cleaner can be used on marble, granite, tile AND MORE! Safely clean your bathroom countertops daily without worrying about the horrors of discoloration on your natural stone! Stone Savior Countertop Cleaner is safe to use around food-handling areas!	Bring your stone back from the dead with Aqua Mix Stone Clean and Shine! This stone cleaner spray shines stone to enhance the natural beauty of your stone! Use Aqua Mix Clean and Shine on sealed polished natural stone, including travertine tiles!
Exorcise water stains with Aqua Mix Poultice Stain Remover! This stone poultice cleaning powder is an effective stain remover for stone and tile surfaces in your bathroom and kitchens. The cleaning powder contains fine, non-acidic, absorptive clay which removes watermarks, deep-set oil and grease stains!

Installerstore’s Annual Halloween Coupon Code Event!

Here is your chance to save 9% on your order AND help an Installerstore staff member win a special prize! Now through October, you can pick your favorite Installerstore employee’s pumpkin carving and use their corresponding coupon code to save 9% on your entire order! Your vote also  helps that employee towards winning a special prize! But hurry! The coupon code event goes only through October! Winning pumpkin carving will be announced November 1.

Installerstore Employee Pumpkins Simply choose your favorite carving, and use their corresponding coupon code during checkout to save 9% on your order!

Don’t forget about your chance to enter your own pumpkin carving for a chance to win a prize bundle!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day!

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of every October, and is unique from the US Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving not only comes earlier in the year than the US, but it came earlier in history as well.

The very first Thanksgiving in all of North America was celebrated in 1578 in Newfoundland. During Martin Frobisher’s, an English explorer, voyage to set up a new English colony, his ships were scattered. He was eventually reunited with his fleet, and all those who had survived the storm celebrated their reunion with a day of thanks. French settlers of the 16th Century, led by Samuel de Champlain, would continue the feasts and days of thanks. In the following years, Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving almost annually, but they couldn’t decide whether to do so in October or November. To separate Thanksgiving from what would become Canada’s Remembrance day, and to bring the celebrations close to the true Canadian harvest dates, Parliament settled on the second Monday of every October as the official day of Canadian Thanksgiving.

American Thanksgiving vs. Canadian Thanksgiving

There are many similarities between American Thanksgiving and their Canadian counterparts. Like their Southern Neighbors, Canadians eat roasted turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie. The recipes for pumpkin pie do differ between the two countries, with Canadians adding nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves to the recipe for a delicate spicy flavor. In many seaside provinces such as Newfoundland, seafood makes up a majority of the meal. But an outstanding theme for both countries is the overall family atmosphere and giving thanks for a wonderful meal and  enjoying a few more weeks without winter.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Installerstore.com.

2013 Customer Pumpkin Carve-Off – Win Prizes!

Now through October, submit a photo of your Halloween Jack-o-Lantern for your chance to win a Special Prize Pack (retail value $100)! Submit your photos by emailing them to katie@installerstore.com or post them on our Facebook Page (found here: www.facebook.com/Installersstore). When emailing submission, don’t forget to include your contact information (for prize notification only). Our Halloween loving staff will vote on their favorite Jack-o-Lantern, and one customer will  be crowned the “Winner of the 2013 Installerstore Customer Pumpkin Carve-Off.”

The winner will receive this fabulous Floor Cleaner Bundle: RETAIL VALUE OVER $100!!

All you have to do is submit a photo of your pumpkin artwork to qualify!

We do have these simple rules…. 1) Keep it PG (keep it nice) 2)The carvings must be done by you. Please do not steal photos from the internet. 3)Photos must be submitted by October 31 (Winner will be announced Nov 1) 4)Most of all, HAVE FUN! This is what Halloween is all about!

Need inspiration? Try searching the web for Free Pumpkin Carving Templates. Here is a link to a great site with Free Pumpkin Carvings:  http://www.pumpkinpile.com/patterns.php