Simple Steps on How to Remove Carpet Glue from Concrete Floors

The soft and warm feel that comes with carpet flooring is the primary reason why carpets are popular. Even though carpets are comfortable to both pets and house occupants, a crisis may loom when the material gets worn out, and you need to remove it off the floor. It is at this time that you will know precisely the meaning of adhesives that makes your flooring firm and seamless. Unlike other stickers that may take you a couple of minutes to remove, removing carpet glue from your floor may turn hectic. Thanks to the technological advancement that led to the manufacture of carpet glue remover. The chemicals may make your work a little bit easier but yet lengthy. Are you wondering how to remove carpet glue from your concrete floor? It doesn’t warrant some migraine. The following steps will solve the puzzle.

How to remove carpet glue from the floor

Eliminating carpet glue is possible and easy when you have suitable tools and follow the appropriate steps.

1. Mechanical way of removing glue from the floor

Using a scraper and a sharp razor, scrape off as much carpet glue an as you can. The process removes most of the glue from the floor surface. Sweep off the chunks of your scrapings and ensure the floor is clean.

2. Hot water removal

Boil enough water using a large pot for pouring on the stubborn glue. Then, pour the hot water on the patches of glue and leave the water to stay for about 2 minutes to soak and soften the adhesive. Use of hot water is worth tying as it is the cheapest means of removing glue from the floor surface.

Lower the container holding hot water near the floor surface to avoid the risk of getting burnt by a splash of hot water. Do not pour water directly onto the glue spot but line the places with a towel or a thick piece of cloth to retain heat for long. Lastly, use a scrubber to scrub off loose glue from the floor surface before it cools. Check if there’s some persistent glue remaining intact on the floor. If some glue patches are still present, proceed to the next step.

3. Use a glue remover

If the previous actions bore little fruit, it is the right time to go for commercial glue or mastic removers.

First, mix ammonia and liquid detergent in the ratio of 2:1 and dilute the liquid with a bucket full of warm water. Ammonia is one of the active chemical known to remove stubborn stains. When in a blend with detergent, it turns soapy and easy to use. Wear protective gear such as rubber gloves, goggles, and a mask to avoid direct contact with the corrosive chemical. Never mix ammonia with bleaches as the resulting fume is very toxic if not deadly. If the ammonia solution does not work, go for more powerful commercial glue remover that is effective.

4. Use of Iron

If the previous methods fail, you need not give up. Ironing method may give great results. First, identify the patch of carpet glue and clear dirt and debris that rests on it. Place a whole sheet of paper with no wrinkles. The paper should be straight and fully open. Avoid using crumpled paper. Run a hot iron on the surface of the newspaper in a straight gliding motion. Repeat the procedure multiple times. After ironing for a while, remove the paper and scrap the carpet glue using a long-handled scraper. If the glue persists, repeat the process.

5. Floor sanding

Floor sanding is only applicable to concrete floors. After you’ve successfully removed carpet glue from your floor, you will also need to remove the glue stuck in the pores. You can successfully do floor sanding by use of a  sanding machine. Also, caution should be taken not to go overboard with sanding as it may go deeper than you require, thus exposing the inner grit that may seem loose and unpleasant.

6. Final touches

Lastly, if you have gone through the five steps but you are still left with some stubborn carpet glue on the floor surface, you can use a heat gun to soften the glue and after that use an Iron. In the event of total failure of the steps outlined, staining the floor would be a better option.