Remove Adhesive from a Hardwood Floor

If you are ripping up any type of floor covering, you might be thrilled to discover beautiful hardwoods beneath. Your excitement may then be diminished, however, by the fact that you are left with a sticky glue or adhesive covering the wood. Because most adhesives start out in liquid form, the best way to thoroughly remove them is by returning them to that state (much the same way you would re-melt candle wax to remove it). There also are commercial products like strippers and adhesive removers available on the market. Another option is to use dry ice.

Steps

Removing Adhesive with Hot Water and Towels

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place a pot with 4-6 cups of water on the stove, and wait for it to boil. (You could also use an electric kettle to bring your water to a boiling point.)
2. Place clean towels on the surface of the adhesive. Use old towels that are already stained or dingy, but still clean. Lay them over the area where the adhesive must be removed.
3. Pour water over the towels. Pour the water slowly over the towels, allowing it to saturate through the towels to the adhesive. This keeps the hot water contained and allows it to rest over the surface of the adhesive, heating it up and loosening it.
4. Leave towels in place. Leave the towels in place for 3-5 minutes. Then wipe the surface of the floors with the towels. The adhesive should be melted enough to start coming off.
5. Scrape any stubborn adhesive off with a paint scraper. Gently run the paint scraper over the surface of any remaining adhesive. Be careful not to seriously scratch or damage your floor.

Removing Adhesive with a Hairdryer

1. Locate a hairdryer. The purpose of using the hairdryer is to reheat the adhesive for easy removal. Any household hairdryer or blow dryer should work, but it is best if it has a high-heat setting.
2. Plug in the hairdryer. Plug the hairdryer into a nearby outlet, and check to see if it turns on. If the hairdryer does not start, you may need to press the red “reset” button(s) found either on your hairdryer plug, your outlet, or both. Additionally, you may need to use an extension cord to reach your work area.
3. Apply heat to the adhesive. Using the high-heat setting, direct the hairdryer toward the adhesive. Place the hairdryer as close to the adhesive as possible without touching it. Continue until you see the adhesive begin to give and melt.
4. Wipe the area with a dry towel. Once again, using an old, but clean, towel, begin to wipe away the melted adhesive. You may want to re-heat the adhesive and wipe again.
5. Use a scraper to lift any leftover residue. Carefully move your paint scraper over the surface of any remaining adhesive. Move gently enough to avoid damaging your floor.

Removing Adhesive with a Commercial Product

1. Purchase a commercial glue/adhesive remover. These products are especially helpful for removing tough carpet adhesive (which have replaced tack strips in recent years). You can find a product like this at any hardware store.
2. Wear gloves. Commercial adhesive removers are very strong. It is important for you to put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from any chemicals. It may also be a good idea to wear some protective eyewear.
3. Pour a small amount of adhesive remover onto a damp sponge. Begin with just a small amount of adhesive remover (this product is very powerful), following the instructions listed on the package. Then, using your sponge, apply the adhesive remover to the adhesive on your floor.
4. Give it some time. Leave the adhesive remover on long enough to loosen the adhesive (approximately five minutes, or according to the manufacturer's instructions).
5. Use a scraper to remove any residue. Once again, work carefully with the scraper, using soft motions and taking care not to scratch or damage your hardwood floor.

Removing Adhesive with Dry Ice

1. Gather supplies. You are going to need gloves, protective eyewear, a metal cookie sheet or tray, and a ½ lb. (227-gram) block of dry ice. Dry ice can be purchased at many grocery stores, as well as some hardware stores.
2. Put on your gloves and protective eyewear. As with the commercial adhesive remover, dry ice is quite powerful. It is necessary for you to protect your hands and eyes by wearing rubber gloves and protective eyewear whenever you handle dry ice.
3. Place your ½ lb block of dry ice onto a metal cookie sheet or tray. Using a gloved hand, center your ½ lb. block of dry ice onto a metal cookie sheet. The cookie sheet should be large enough to cover the area where you’d like to remove the adhesive. (If it is not, you can always repeat this process.)
4. Place the tray directly on top of the adhesive and allow it to sit for 1 minute. The dry ice will harden and then crack the adhesive. This is perhaps the quickest and cleanest method of loosening and removing floor adhesive.
5. Remove the tray and use a scraper to lift off the cracked pieces of adhesive. As always, use gentle pressure and soft motions, as you do not want to damage your floor.

Tips

• If a hairdryer is not providing enough heat, try a heat gun. Hold the heat gun over the adhesive at a distance that begins to melt the adhesive. Be careful not to hold the gun too close to the hardwood floors, or else you may end up with scorch marks.

Warnings

• Never store dry ice in an airtight container, as it can cause the container to burst.
• Always wear gloves and protective eye wear when working with dry ice, as it will cause burning of the skin if handled. If you come in contact with dry ice and are burned or receive frostbite, consult medical personnel immediately.
• Dispose of dry ice by allowing it to evaporate outside, or place it in an open container safely away from children or pets.
• When using chemical removers, work in a well-ventilated area or use fans to eliminate any fumes.

Things You'll Need

• Clean towels
• Paint scraper
• Rubber gloves
• Sponge
• Commercial adhesive remover
• Dry ice
• Metal cooking sheet
• Protective eyewear
• Hairdryer

Sources and Citations

See also

• Scotchgard Carpet
• Clean Altro Flooring
• Clean Laminate Floors Naturally
• Clean Old Hardwood Floors
• Clean Laminate Wood Floors Without Streaking
• Clean a Wool Carpet
• Clean Polyurethane Wood Floors
• Remove Furniture Dents from Carpet
• Assemble a Swiffer WetJet
• Keep Your Carpet Clean

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