Can anyone please tell me what this gunk is? (On window frames) (Ed.)

[PotatoSoup]

It's the stuff stuck to the window frame that I'm on about. It looks like it was originally white but is growing black mould. It has the texture of old chewing gum and is a bit of bugger to get off. I want to avoid using it like the plague if I can, but I'm not sure what it is. If you know, please can you tell me?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It's the remnants of sealant. It may be silicone or acrylic. Silicone is soft and sticky feeling, acrylic is stiffer, more like paint that's set. There also may be caulk, plus a few blatherings of paint.

You can buy silicone sealant remover. It only softens it, it still needs scraping but it does the job.

You may get somewhere with white spirit. Paint stripper would melt the frame.

 

[PotatoSoup]

Thanks so much!! From your description, I think it's acrylic. Will white spirit get acrylic off? Thank you for the warning re paint stripper!!

 

[PotatoSoup]

I've just read online that I can use nail polish remover. Would that be ok?

 

[Fred Blogs]

Nail polish remover is acetone. Try it somewhere where it doesn't matter if you use it because acetone can discolour or even melt some plastics. Personally I would just use a scraper to scrape it off.

 

[crank39]

Acrylic/decorators caulk is a water based sealer so should dissolve away with water but scrape as much off as possible first, I dare say it could peel off like string if your lucky or certainly in bits, get the majority off and try some water

 

[PotatoSoup]

Will try water and avoid nail polish remover - thanks very much!!