Caulking the Bathtub

Yes, it is best to remove and replace the caulk. One continuous bead of caulking is the standard. Patching sections leaved vulnerable seams.

Always do the entire tub. Even if only one area is visibly failing, the rest of the caulk is the same age and will start to go soon after. Patching over old caulk never bonds properly and looks terrible within months. The right approach: remove all the old caulk completely, clean and dry the surface thoroughly, then apply a fresh continuous bead around the entire tub. It's a small job done right once — much better than chasing leaks and mould issues down the road. — Sam