I always have a few half-used tubes of caulk and glue lying around. Usually by the time I get around to using them again, they’re hard as a rock. I had tried just about everything when, during a recent bathroom remodel, I had both the caulk gun and glue gun at the ready. On a whim, I capped the partially used caulk tube with a dab of hot glue from the gun. I’ve used that caulk twice more over the past few months, replacing the hot-glue cap each time, and it’s as fresh as the day I opened it.
—Glenn Ravdin, South Hero, VT
Edited by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #220
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Keep in mind that many types of caulk have a 'Use By' date imprinted on the tube. Some caulks have a tendency to separate over time and become useless.
A wad of Plumbers puddy over the open end works great
I use Vaseline with very good results, but the tip needs a protective cover to keep the mess down.