Hello AT,
I have a small but functional apartment that includes a horrid kitchen. It's horrid for a variety of reasons, but the reason I don't like it today is that the drop-in stainless steel sink has this nasty gunk that keeps squooshing out from under the lip of the sink. I used to think I hadn't cleaned the area effectively, but I've realized that no, there is an infinite amount of gunk just waiting for time to squoosh some more of it out.
How can I end this sink-lip gunk siege? Nkomo
Dear Nkomo, We leave this one to our readers.... MGR
(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.)
I'd try using a grout softener (you can get it at a hardware store) so you can lift of the sink and really clean out the underside of the lip with bleach etc. Then drop back into place and re-grout. Shouldn't cost more than a few bucks for a couple of little tubes of gunk.
I was going to suggest an exorcism but brian w's idea sounds beter.
That goo is what was used to "seal" the sink. I've had the same problem. You have to take up the sink, clean out the goo, and re-seal with something that will not dosolve and goo out again in the future - most likely a white silicone type thing that comes in a tube.
The goo could be the caulk but it could be just nasty gunk.
Either way, it sounds like you need to re-caulk but also to get some more secure clips to hold the sink rim down onto the counter top. The counter top does not look too thick so you should be in luck and be able to buy standard sized clips from any hardware store. One side hooks onto a hidden channel under the rim of the sink and the other side tightens with a screwdriver against the underside of the counter top. With a freash bead of latex or silicone caulk under that rim, when you tighten all the clips (wipe off the excess caulk) you should get a nice tight seal with little chance of more gunk getting under there.
If the sink was *properly* installed, you are more than likely dealing with something called plumbers' putty, which is considerably softer and more pliable than caulk -- sort of like that green clay we had in grade school.
If you are feeling ambitious, lift the sink out and replace the stuff with newer, less gross bead of the stuff. Or get under the lip with a sharp edge and just scrape out what you can.
Is there some kind of grout/ mortar softener to make it easier to remove the marble floor tiles without having to break them?