Gather caulk, caulk gun, utility knife, painter’s tape, damp cloth, and smoothing tool
Clean the trim and wall surfaces
Remove old caulk and loose paint
Fill nail holes and gaps larger than caulk can handle with filler first
Cut the caulk tube tip at a 45-degree angle
Puncture the inner seal of the tube
Load the tube into the caulk gun
Apply painter’s tape along both sides of the joint if needed
Hold the gun at a 45-degree angle
Apply a steady bead of caulk along the seam
Keep the bead small and consistent
Smooth the caulk with a wet finger or caulk tool
Remove excess caulk immediately
Pull off painter’s tape before the caulk skins over
Let the caulk dry fully
Paint over paintable caulk after it cures, if needed