What is Selleys All Clear, and where should you use it?

Selleys All Clear is a crystal clear multipurpose co-polymer sealant aimed at water leakage and seepage around the home. It suits interior and exterior work on most building surfaces — window frames and glazing, roofs and gutters, stone, brick, cement and timber, shower screens, sinks and basins, and many plastics.

The feature that sets it apart from a conventional silicone is that it works on wet, oily and dirty surfaces. That makes it the product to reach for when you have found a leak in the rain and cannot get the substrate properly dry and clean before you seal it. Read the qualification on that claim carefully, though, because it does not apply to every surface — the detail is below.

Technical specification

Property	Typical result
Technology	Co-polymer sealant
Colour	Clear
Density	0.86
Skin time	15 minutes (weather dependent)
Shore A hardness	35
Elongation at break (ASTM D412)	500%
Modulus at 100% elongation (ASTM D412)	0.50 MPa
Service temperature	-10°C to +80°C
Packaging	80 gram tube and 250 gram cartridge, both clear

These are indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.

What the key numbers mean in practice

All Clear behaves differently from a silicone in one important way: it skins immediately, and maximum toughness is achieved over several days. The 15-minute skin time in the table is weather dependent, but the practical instruction in the directions is blunter than that — smooth the surface immediately after applying. There is no relaxed tooling window here. Plan the bead, run it, and tool it in one continuous movement rather than laying down five metres and coming back to finish.

The distinction between skinning and toughening also matters for when you can put the joint into service. The surface sets straight away, but the sealant continues to develop strength over several days, so a fresh bead should not be stressed, scrubbed or loaded immediately even though it feels firm to the touch.

Elongation at break of 500% with a modulus at 100% elongation of 0.50 MPa describes a soft, highly extensible sealant. A low modulus means the bead stretches without pulling hard on what it is stuck to, which is what you want on a joint between materials that move at different rates. A Shore A hardness of 35 puts the cured product firmly in the flexible-rubber range rather than the rigid-filler range.

The service temperature range of -10°C to +80°C is worth checking against your application before you commit. It comfortably covers gutters, roofs and glazing in Australian conditions, but it is narrower than some sealants at both ends, so it is not the product for a joint next to a heat source.

Working on wet, oily and dirty surfaces

This is the headline feature, and the manufacturer attaches a specific condition to it. All Clear can be applied to clean, wet non-porous surfaces such as metals, glass and glazed tiles. It is not intended for wet porous surfaces such as concrete and timber — porous surfaces must be dry.

Where you are sealing a wet non-porous surface, the TDS gives a method:

• Remove as much water as possible, preferably with acetone.
• Keep the nozzle close to the surface so the sealant contacts it immediately.
• Flatten the bead into the joint immediately.

Adhesion improves as the joint dries. In other words, the wet-surface capability is there to let you seal a leak now rather than to save you from surface preparation — the surface still has to be free of dust, loose particles and soap residue, and can be cleaned with turps if required.

Where to use it

All Clear is described as ideal for interior and exterior applications on most building surfaces, including:

• Window frames and glazing
• Roofs and gutters
• Stone, brick, cement and timber
• Shower screens
• Sinks and basins
• Many plastics — with the exceptions noted under limitations

It is mould and mildew resistant and water resistant, which is why it holds up in the damp locations on that list.

How to apply it

1. Work in a well ventilated area. Avoid contact with skin and eyes, and avoid breathing the vapours.
2. Prepare the surface. It must be free from dust, loose particles and soap residue. Clean with turps if required. Porous surfaces must be dry.
3. Cut the cartridge, fit the nozzle and cut it to size, then load the cartridge into a caulking gun.
4. Apply with the caulking gun, forcing the product into the gap. Press it into cracks or the surface by pushing the sealant ahead of the nozzle rather than dragging the nozzle behind the bead.
5. Smooth the surface immediately with a tool dipped in turps.

Painting over it

All Clear is paintable, and unusually it is paintable immediately with water-based paints. For oil-based paints, undercoat first with a water-based paint.

Limitations — where All Clear should not be used

These are the manufacturer's stated limits:

• May damage some plastics, for example polystyrene and polycarbonate. This is the one that catches people out, because the product is otherwise recommended for many plastics.
• Not for permanent water immersion — fish tanks are given as the example. It is water resistant, not an underwater sealant.
• Not suitable for use over silicones. If there is an existing silicone bead in the joint, cut it out rather than sealing over it.
• Not suitable for polystyrene foam.

The plastics warning is worth taking seriously in glazing work in particular, since polycarbonate sheeting is common in roofing and shed glazing and is explicitly named. Where you are unsure what a plastic is, test on an offcut before you run a bead across the real thing.

Clean up and storage

Uncured product is removed with mineral turpentine. Once cured, it has to come off mechanically — by cutting and scraping. Since the product skins immediately, cleaning up as you go is not optional advice so much as the only practical approach.

Store in cool dry conditions, below 30°C.

Hazard classification

Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Danger.

• Flammable liquids — Category 2. H225: highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• Skin irritation — Category 2. H315: causes skin irritation.
• Eye irritation — Category 2A. H319: causes serious eye irritation.
• Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure — Category 3 (narcotic effects). The data sheet lists this category without a matching hazard statement, so none is quoted here.

It is classified as Dangerous Goods: Class 3, Flammable Liquids, UN 1133, proper shipping name ADHESIVES, Packing Group II — by road and rail under the Australian Code and New Zealand NZS5433, by sea under the IMDG Code, and by air under the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Read that dangerous goods line before anything else on this page, because it is the one most likely to be a surprise. A cartridge of sealant does not look like a Class 3 flammable liquid, and most of the sealants sitting beside it on the shelf are not: 670 Fast Grab and 675 Crystal Fix are both undeclared for transport. All Clear is UN 1133 Packing Group II, the same transport entry and the same packing group as a solvent-borne contact adhesive. If you carry it in a work vehicle, store it in a garage, or ship it, that is the classification that governs.

The flammability is almost certainly the price of the feature the product is bought for. The page above explains that All Clear bonds to wet, oily and dirty surfaces and skins immediately rather than over a working window — behaviour that belongs to a solvent-carried co-polymer rather than a moisture-cured silicone. The solvent flashing off is what gives the instant skin, and it is also what produces the vapour that carries the H225 and the narcotic-effects classification. The SDS does not state that causal chain; it is inference from the chemistry, but it is the reading that makes the rest of the safety advice coherent.

The narcotic-effects category is about where this product gets used, not about how much of it you use. All Clear is the emergency-leak product: a roof space, the underside of a gutter, the inside of a shower recess with the door shut, a cupboard under a sink. Those are small, poorly ventilated volumes, and Category 3 narcotic effects means headache, dizziness and drowsiness from a single exposure to accumulated vapour — the kind of impairment that is genuinely dangerous when the next thing you do is stand up on a roof or come down a ladder. The instruction already on this page to work in a well-ventilated area and avoid breathing the vapours is not boilerplate; this is the classification behind it.

The prevention statements the manufacturer attaches are unusually heavy for a consumer sealant, and they are the clearest signal of how ignitable the vapour is: keep away from heat, sparks, open flames and hot surfaces with no smoking (P210), ground and bond the container and receiving equipment (P240), use explosion-proof electrical, ventilating and lighting equipment (P241), use non-sparking tools (P242) and take action to prevent static discharges (P243). In practical terms on a domestic job: no grinder, no heat gun, no soldering and no smoking in the same enclosed space as a freshly run bead, and let the space air out before anyone brings a flame near it.

Protection

• Ventilation — use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area (P271). Avoid breathing vapours, mist or spray (P261).
• Ignition sources — keep away from heat, sparks, open flame and hot surfaces; no smoking (P210). Keep the container tightly closed (P233).
• Gloves — nitrile rubber is indicated as suitable for intermittent contact; glove construction and site conditions vary, so make the final assessment yourself.
• Eye protection — safety glasses or goggles; eye and face protection is specified (P280).
• Clothing — overalls and safety shoes.
• Wash hands, face and all exposed skin thoroughly after handling (P264), and keep out of reach of children (P102).
• Storage — store in a well-ventilated place, keep cool, keep the container tightly closed and store locked up (P403+P233, P403+P235, P405), away from direct sunlight, foodstuffs, incompatible materials and sources of heat or ignition.
• If it is in a fire — suitable extinguishing media are water fog or fine water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, standard foam, or a dry agent such as carbon dioxide or dry chemical powder.

First aid

Exposure	What to do
Eyes	Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then keep rinsing. If eye irritation persists, get medical advice or attention.
Skin	Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse the skin with water or shower.
Inhalation	Move the person to fresh air and keep them comfortable for breathing.
Swallowed	Rinse the mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre.

If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.

Common questions about Selleys All Clear

Can I really apply it to a wet surface?

To clean, wet non-porous surfaces such as metals, glass and glazed tiles, yes. Not to wet porous surfaces such as concrete or timber — those must be dry. Remove as much water as you can first, preferably with acetone.

How long before it skins?

Skin time is 15 minutes and weather dependent, but the directions say to smooth the bead immediately. Treat it as a product that skins straight away.

When does it reach full strength?

Maximum toughness is achieved over several days, even though the surface sets immediately.

Can I paint over it?

Yes. It is paintable immediately with water-based paints. For an oil-based paint, undercoat with a water-based paint first.

Will it stick to plastic?

It is suitable for many plastics, but it may damage some — polystyrene and polycarbonate are named specifically, and it is not suitable for polystyrene foam. Test an offcut if you are unsure.

Can I use it in a fish tank or pond?

No. It is not for permanent water immersion, and fish tanks are the example the manufacturer gives.

Can I apply it over existing silicone?

No. It is not suitable for use over silicones. Remove the old sealant first — Selleys Sealant Remover is made for that job.

Is it mould resistant?

Yes, it is described as mould and mildew resistant, and water resistant.

What temperature range will the cured sealant handle?

-10°C to +80°C.

How do I clean up excess sealant?

Mineral turpentine while it is uncured. Once cured, cut and scrape it off.

What sizes does it come in?

An 80 gram tube and a 250 gram cartridge, both clear.

What should I use instead for a wet area or a painted joint?

For bathrooms and kitchens, look at the wet area silicone range. If the bead needs to be painted as part of a finished surface, Paint Over Sealant is designed for that. The full range is under multi-purpose sealants.