Caulking defends your home against the elements, but over time it weathers, becomes brittle and needs to be removed. Until now, homeowners had one choice only, and that was scraping and gouging out old caulk. The older the sealant, the harder and nastier the job became. Today there is a new way to "soften up" what was once a nasty home-improvement job. A new indoor/outdoor caulk remover is a gel-like goo that softens virtually any caulk. For easy, no-hassle removal, just pour a 1/8-inch bead on the old caulk. For latex wait about two hours longer than for silicone or acrylics (about seven hours), then just scoop it out; it will be as soft as new. Then trim off any residue with a razor blade or sharp utility knife. Caulk remover makes a tough job much easier. And that's the On The House Tip for today.