Do You Use White or Clear Caulk Around a Toilet?

Many homeowners often get confused about whether to use a white or clear caulk around a toilet when remodeling their bathrooms. In this article, we’ll help you make the best caulking decision that will make your remodel come out perfect, just like you imagined it. Although different situations call for specific types of caulk, we often recommend using white instead of clear caulk around a toilet. It will blend flawlessly with your toilet (which we assume is white). On the other hand, clear caulk might look shiny and give the impression of wetness at the toilet base. Worse, clear caulk will turn yellow over time due to exposure to sunlight and heat.

Besides aesthetics, both white and clear caulk work great around the toilet. Just make sure it is 100% silicone. Also, make sure the caulk is applied neatly and sparingly to get a crisp transition between the toilet base and the bathroom floor. Read on to learn more about using white or clear caulk around a toilet.

Should You Use White or Clear Caulk Around a Toilet?

Consider applying white caulk instead of clear caulk around your toilet due to the following reasons:

More Aesthetically Appealing

It would look better if you used white bathroom caulk because it would blend in with the white bathroom fixtures. And since most toilets are white, finding a white caulk to match a white toilet base is simple. However, using clear caulking will not enable you to have a seamless white finish from the toilet to the floor. It will look like there is a little gap between the toilet base and the floor.

White Accentuates Gaps

The gap between the toilet bowl and the floor is usually small. And when white caulk is applied well, it will stay hidden. But when you cover the gaps with clear caulking, it makes them look bigger than they really are. It will appear like there is a big hole between the base of the toilet and the tile that goes across the top of the toilet.

Using white caulk and not clear caulk is advisable because we are looking for a smooth transition and not making a big deal out of it. You will not even notice the gap when you use white caulking.

White Caulk Doesn’t Give Impression of Sogginess or Wetness

It is all about making impressions, and putting clear caulk on something makes it look like it is sitting on the water. And for homes with children, you’ll easily assume they may have missed the target. That is why we prefer to seal things with white caulking, which is easy to clean when it becomes dirty.

White Caulk Won’t Turn Yellow Over Time

By using white caulk instead of clear caulk, you will avoid the horrible yellowing of the top of the toilet bowl. This will happen to clear caulk when it is exposed to sunlight, heat, or mold. It will be much easier to avoid this by using white caulking from the start.

White Matches with Floor Grout

Some people have to choose between matching the color of their toilet or the color of their tile floor. You would not get a coordinated look if you used clear caulk to match the tile grout color. That is why you should settle on a shade of white caulking that will match your tile floor grout.

White Implies Purity

What is best for toilets should be judged based on its purity. Many products are diluted, which makes them difficult to use. You might find a home improvement store selling diluted silicone caulk with other ingredients or water. This is fine for short-term use but not for a long-term fix. 

It might work for you if you are using it for a while. However, if you use it on your toilet, it will not work properly. For toilets, you can only use 100% silicone caulk. Anything else you try to use will not give you the results you are looking for. You will eventually have a product that becomes humid and starts leaking water after a year or so.

High Durability

If you need to decide when to use clear or white caulk, it’s important to know the difference between durable and non-durable. Both are highly durable. Since it all comes down to the formula, you must decide how to judge the quality of a material based on the purpose for which it was designed. If the material is 100% silicone, you should be fine. Both materials will work well as long as the underlying material is strong.

Drying Finish

The main difference between white and clear caulk will be how it looks once it dries out. White caulk looks great and is easy to see. That means anything that you apply at the edge of the toilet bowl will not be visible unless you go right down to the base of the toilet. People like to use white caulk around the toilets because it looks good.

It really comes down to how you like the look of each type of caulk. White is much easier to clean and looks nicer, making it the most commonly used type on the planet. It is easier to inspect as it looks clean and easy to remove. On the flip side, clear caulk is harder to fix than white silicone, as it is hard to see where the leak is coming from. White silicone caulk is a lot easier to fix because it is very easy to see where the leaks are coming from. 

FAQs About White or Clear Caulk Around a Toilet

Is It OK To Caulk Around A Toilet?

Yes, it is OK to place a clear or white caulk around a toilet to protect the surrounding wall, and it’s also fine to put a waterproof seal on the base of this fixture. When creating a waterproof seal, use 100% silicone caulk as it provides a superior seal.

When should you use clear or white caulk around a toilet?

It is best to use white caulk where there is a gap between the two surfaces of a house, and it is not advised to use clear caulk to fill the gap. Clear caulk is great for sealing gaps that have formed on the surface of glass, windows, and pipes by using a transparent sealant.

Does white silicone caulk come out clear?

Do not get frustrated when the clear caulk looks white when it is wet. It always looks white or cloudy when wet but will dry to become clear after the number of days written on the packaging. It is important to avoid areas that are soaked because if they get wet, it will not work. If it does not dry completely, you may have to do a new job because the sealant won’t work as expected.

Does clear caulk turn white when wet?

This can happen when silicone does not cure properly or does not dry properly. Always let the clear caulk dry out completely to be able to do the job it is supposed to do. 

Can I use clear silicone for the toilet?

You can use both white and clear caulk around the toilet base. It comes down to personal taste. You can use any kind of white silicone caulk as long as it is 100% silicone. The rest is just a cosmetic difference. However, most people use white caulk to seal their toilets.

Should I use clear or white caulk in the bathroom?

If you want to caulk a glass door in your shower, you’ll want a clear formula. White caulk on bathroom glass fixtures is annoying — it can look out of place and disrupt the flow of the room. Clear caulk looks great on shower fixtures and back plates, even if they’re made from metal.

Does clear caulk turn yellow?

Clear silicone can begin to turn yellow and blacken after years of exposure to water and humidity. It also causes other problems, such as rust and mold. It can happen when clear silicone is exposed to rust or when mold begins to grow. Removal of yellow from clear silicone is as easy as using mild soap and water. There is no need for expensive cleaning products.

When should you use clear caulk?

This little caulk bottle can become an extremely useful tool in your arsenal. Use clear caulk to seal holes and cracks in materials around your home, such as wood trim, window frames, tiles in the shower, and around the sink.

Should I use silicone around the toilet flange?

Caulking around the base of the toilet helps prevent it from becoming dirty. If toilet water, mop water, or other wastewater (or other unpleasant waste liquid) soaks under the toilet, there is no way to clean it up. Caulking around the base of the toilet prevents this from happening.

How do I fill the gap between my toilet and the floor?

Apply a thin, even layer of caulk to the floor around the toilet bowl to fill in the gap and conceal the shims. If necessary, smooth the caulk with your finger. You should finally wipe your finger clean with a clean cloth.

Final Thoughts

There are two types of silicone caulk that you can use: white and clear. It just depends on what you want to do. It really doesn’t matter as long as the caulk is 100% silicone (no other silicone products). However, most people use white silicone caulk because it’s easier to see when there’s a leak. Choose the caulk that works best for your toilet. Some people also prefer the looks of white silicone caulk, but if you have a different type of toilet (i.e., black, pink, or purple toilet), clear silicone caulk might work better.