Best Way to Remove Old Carpet Glue From Your Floor

Many homeowners seem to be clueless when the time comes to remove the ugly old carpet glue stains from their floors.

Stubborn glue patches will always diminish the beauty of the floor and devalue the overall facade of your home. Whether your floor is made of wood, tiles, stone, or concrete, the idea should be to use the right tools and steps.

Adhesive removers, paintbrushes, steam, and old rags are some of the basic items that you might need to complete your work.

However, the type of tools that you choose to remove the glue should depend on the type of floor. Some of the adhesive removers may have adverse effects.

Dusting Your Floor

The process of removing carpet glue from the floor should begin with dusting the entire area that the carpet had covered. Dusting will expose all the areas that bear the patches of dried glue. Besides, it is also crucial for preventing the development of new stains, which may result from the mixture of dust and adhesive remover.

Some of the carpet glue may be easy to remove through simple scrubbing with a plastic putty knife. The dried and caked patches will easily come off if you apply some modest pressure. In fact, it is easier to deal with the loose glue first before you engage alternative methods to deal with the tougher glue stains.

Adhesive Remover

You should find out from your flooring expert about the best product that suits your floor. Some removers are uniquely meant for tile while others are made to work well on wood. You can also check up the manufacturers’ specifications and recommendations from top-ranking online stores.

Apply your chosen product to the target areas and rub gently with a paintbrush until it becomes gentle and sticky. At this point, you should remove the old glue using a plastic putty knife or any other appropriate tool. The idea behind using this knife is that it is less likely to cause unwanted scratches compared to sharper metallic knives.

Removing The Residue

Once you are through with removing most of the glue, you should shift your focus on the small residues that may have escaped your first effort. This process entails applying some adhesive remover on a clean rug and using it to remove the traces of paint that may compromise the overall shine of your floor.

It is important to carry out the glue removal procedure during daylight or when the surface is well-lit. You need enough light in order to see the tiny traces of glue. You should also ensure that your windows are wide open so that you are not overwhelmed by the strong smells.

Using Steam or Hot Water

Some types of adhesives will easily soften if you direct a jet of steam towards them, or buff them with a rug dipped in hot water. It is important to direct the steam at the precise points of the glue in order to achieve great results. The advantage of using steam or hot water is that it also removes other stains.

However, this option is not recommended for wood floors because water has the potential of ruining the appearance and exposing it to rot. Cupping is also one of the possible adverse consequence of using hot water.

5 Things to remember about this task:

• Do not use blades to remove the glue.
• Consider reapplying the sealant after removing the glue.
• Consult experts about the ideal adhesive remover.
• Use the adhesive remover sparingly.
• Wear protective gloves for your hands’ safety.

Conclusion

The removal of old carpet glue can be a labor of love if you know the right tools and steps to follow. Much of the task requires knowledge of the appropriate adhesive remover for use on particular types of floor. You should avoid using adhesives that may destroy the surface of your floor. Water and steam may be used in exceptional circumstances.