Cleaning up carpet glue like a pro

Many a homeowner has moved into a new home and immediately begun to renovate the place to make it more their own. Old carpeting is often the first thing to go.

Pulling up carpet is a relatively simple task, but carpets that were glued down often leave their mark on the floor. Such remnants may be harder to remove than the actual carpet, but with the right approach and a little elbow grease, homeowners will be enjoying their new floors sooner rather than later. Companies such as Abbey Carpet & Floor in Bentonville and Rogers can help with the installation of new flooring, but some homeowners prefer to do the removal themselves. Here are a few suggestions.

Get the glue right

Before beginning to remove the adhesive from the floor it must first be determined which type of glue that will be removed, as this can dictate how to proceed with the removal. Tar-based adhesives are dark brown or tan, but if the floor is coated in a yellow-looking substance, then the carpet was glued down with a more general adhesive.

Use the right tool

Tar-based adhesives are best removed with mineral spirits, while general adhesives are best removed with a combination of elbow grease and adhesive remover. When removing a general adhesive, first try to scrape or chip off any glue spots.

Follow instructions

When using mineral spirits or adhesive removers, it’s imperative to follow the manufacturer instructions. Often, such products instruct users to apply them with a paintbrush or sponge in an attempt to dampen the glue. Once applied, these removers are typically left to sit for a predetermined period of time listed on the package.

Use the right tool

Once the recommended period of time for the remover to set has passed, begin to scrape the glue away. When doing so, be sure to use a plastic putty knife to avoid cutting the floor. There will still be some stubborn spots that the putty knife simply can’t remove. When such spots present themselves, apply a little more remover, wait the recommended time for it to set and then use an old towel to wipe away the rest of the glue. This can be hard, but stick with it to ensure the floor looks as good and glue-free as possible.

Allow dry time

The floor will need time to dry after the glue has been removed, so at this point it can be finished the following day. If weather permits, expedite the drying process by opening all of the windows. This not only dries the floor more quickly but also allows the room to be aired out, which many contain some lingering odors left behind.

Clean the floor

When the floor has dried it can be swept and vacuumed to make sure it is free of debris. For concrete floors, this can prepare for installation of new flooring, such as tile or hardwoods. Abbey Carpet can make recommendations on any further preparations, or can take care of them during installation.

Sand the floor

While the old hardwood floor may look beautiful, it will probably still needed to be sanded.

Abbey Carpet & Floor offers the finest in floor covering products and exclusive warranties along with the buying power of a national chain. Every Abbey Carpet & Floor showroom is locally owned and operated which provides the “hands-on” attention that customers in Northwest Arkansas deserve. Abbey Carpet & Floor is located at 2812 S. Walton Blvd. in Bentonville and 2834 S. Eighth St. in Rogers. They can be reached at (479) 464-4411 or (479) 631-2500 respectively, or by visiting abbeycarpetandfloornwa.com.