How to Remove Carpet Glue From Concrete?

Last Updated on December 5, 2022

Are you planning to replace your outdated carpeting with some modern and newly designed hardwood flooring? Your plan might seem ruined when you notice the concrete surface is covered with carpet glue.

You now have an additional duty of removing carpet glue from the concrete surface, which can be quite difficult. This situation might be frustrating if you have never dealt with it before. After removing the floor cover, your

However, this is a very easy and simple task. You can remove any kind of adhesive material from the concrete floor if you know the right procedure. In this article, we have shared all the details you can get help with removing carpet glue from concrete.

How to Remove Carpet Glue From Concrete: Step-By-Step Guide

You can preserve the concrete flooring with a new layer of flooring to cover up the glue, but for a fresh and new start, you must get rid of all sticky substances. You can do it yourself without panicking and needing anyone else’s help. Only a few minutes are required to get glue removed from concrete.

Required Tools

There are the following tools you will need during the process:

• Scraper
• Hot water
• Scrubber
• Glue Remover
• Floor buffing machine or floor sander

Scrape Off Glue

If your floor is covered with only a minute amount of carpet glue, it can easily scrap off without much trouble. You can borrow or buy a floor scraper to scrape all glue and dispose of all the waste.

However, you must follow some careful measures while scraping as you may not want to damage the floor surface. With this technique, you can remove glue from most of the area, but still, if there is some amount left, you can try the other method we have mentioned next.

Add Boiling Water

Sometimes, the carpet glue is water-based and can be melted easily with boiling water. The hot water will make the glue soft, and you can simply wipe it without any effort.

This one is the easiest and cheapest method to clean concrete surfaces. No machine or chemical will be required for the process. All you need to follow are some care tips to avoid splashing boiling water over yourself. Wait a bit to allow the glue to get soft, and then scrub it off.

Important Instructions: It has been reported by some people that they have used hot water mixed with citrus-based chemicals and vinegar to get rid of carpet glue successfully. But we would highly recommend not to use these chemicals as they can easily react with concrete flooring and disrupt its surface.

Use Glue Remover

If, after trying both tricks, you haven’t gotten rid of carpet glue from the concrete floor, this next step might prove helpful for you. 
Buy a good-quality carpet glue remover or mastic remover and prepare a mixture by adding ammonia inside the liquid detergent. The quantity of ammonia and detergent should be 2:1 ratio while adding some water to the mixture to dilute it further.

Ammonia chemical is quite popular to eliminate tough stains from any surface. When you mix it with a detergent, a soapy mixture forms. However, you follow some preventive measures, such as wearing protective gear to keep yourself from getting in touch with harsh chemicals.

Use A Floor Sander

One of the best treatments for carpet glue is using a floor baffling machine or floor sander. There could be glue inside the pores of the floor, which can only be removed using a floor sander. You can either rent a sander or buy a new one for yourself.

This method has several benefits, such as getting rid of glue from a large floor surface without much time. But there are some downsides of sanding that include swirl marks left on the concrete floor if you have aggressively used the machine. Therefore, we’d highly recommend hiring a professional for this task to avoid any long-term damage to the floor.

Remove Glue Via Hot Gun

You can easily get a hot gun to dissolve or melt glue from the concrete surface. Iron can be a great alternative if you can’t afford a hot gun. You do not need to press the iron directly over the glue; rather, place a towel over the surface and then iron it.

Essential Tips to Remove Carpet Glue From Concrete

All the steps mentioned in this post are useful enough to help you get rid of carpet glue from every inch of the concrete floor. However, here are some essential tips you should also consider during the process to get the best results:

• Always wear protective gear such as gloves and glasses and also take other preventive measures to avoid any accidental damage.
• You should never use harsh chemicals as they can damage the floor surface.
• It is also not suggested to use bleach or mix it with other chemicals to remove the glue.
• If you find anything difficult or get confused during the process, give a call to a professional for a quick response.

Will Vinegar Remove Carpet Glue From Concrete

Initially, removing dried glue or other adhesives from the concrete floor seems quite impossible. However, you can remove it not in single but multiple ways. Using vinegar to get rid of glue from concrete is another efficient method.

Vinegar has many benefits in cleaning the home mess and can dissolve sticky substances. All you need is vinegar, hot water, a towel, a scraper, and a sponge for this process.

Add an equal portion of vinegar to hot water and mix it in a bucket or pot. Pour the mixture over the affected surface and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Then with the help of a scraper, remove the glue that might be loosened due to the mixture. Use a sponge to clean the surface to check if the glue has been removed.

Use Acetone

Acetone is also recommended to remove carpet glue from floors, but its toxic nature can be harmful. When solvents such as paint thinner are present on the concrete floor, you must follow careful measures. Acetone easily reacts with these chemicals and releases toxic vapors. 

It is advised to wear a respirator to keep yourself safe from inhaling toxic fumes. To move further with this method, take 1/4th cup of acetone and dip a brush to apply the solution over the concrete surface. The acetone will instantly melt glue, and the surface will be cleaned without much scrubbing.