How to Remove Adhesive from a Hardwood Floor

Co-authored by Ryaan Tuttle

Last Updated: April 4, 2022 References

If you are ripping up any type of floor covering, you might be thrilled to discover beautiful hardwood underneath. 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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

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
Soak towels in the hot water. Use old towels that are already stained or dingy, but still clean. Saturate them completely with hot water. Be careful not to scald your hands.^{[1]
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3
Place the wet towels on the floor. This keeps the hot water contained and allows it to rest over the surface of the adhesive, heating it up and loosening it.^{[2]
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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.^{[3]
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5
Scrape any stubborn adhesive off with a floor scraper. Gently run the floor scraper over the surface of any remaining adhesive. Be careful not to seriously scratch or damage your floor.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Removing Adhesive with a Heat Gun

1
Locate a heat gun. The purpose of using the heat gun is to reheat the adhesive for easy removal. Plug in the heat gun and ensure it will reach your work area. You may need to use an extension cord.
2
Apply heat to the adhesive. Direct the heat gun toward the adhesive. Place the heat gun as close to the adhesive as possible without touching it. Continue until you see the adhesive begin to give and melt.
3
Wipe the area with a dry towel. Use an old, but clean, towel to begin to wipe away the melted adhesive. You may want to re-heat the adhesive and wipe again.
4
Use a scraper to lift any leftover residue. Carefully move your floor scraper over the surface of any remaining adhesive. Move gently enough to avoid damaging your floor.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Removing Adhesive with a Commercial Product

1
Purchase a commercial glue/adhesive remover.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 13 January 2021.} 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.^{[6]
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2
Wear gloves, protective eyewear, and a mask. Commercial adhesive removers are very strong. It is important for you to put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from any chemicals. You should also wear protective eyewear and a mask.^{[7]
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3
Test the adhesive remover. It’s a good idea to test the adhesive remover first to see if it works well. Choose a small area, like a closet, to see if the adhesive remover works well or if it has a negative reaction, such as staining your wood.
4
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.
5
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).^{[8]
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6
Use a scraper to remove any residue. Once again, work carefully with the scraper, using soft motions and taking care not to gouge your hardwood floor.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

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.^{[9]
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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.^{[10]
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3
Place your ½ lb block of dry ice on a metal cookie sheet or tray. Using a gloved hand, center your ½ lb block of dry ice on 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.^{[11]
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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.^{[12]
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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.^{[13]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What should I do if the adhesive is still wet?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

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If the adhesive is still wet, let it dry first and then take it off. Don't ever try to wipe it up. Definitely let it dry first.
Question

After cleaning a laminate floor with Goo Gone how do I clean off the oil it left behind?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

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Use a de-greaser to remove the oil. Apply a small amount of de-greaser to the floor and scrub it thoroughly. You may need to repeat the process several times to remove all the oil.
Question

We have adhesive pads on our chairs to protect the wood floor. Eventually the pads dislodge and the adhesive is rubbed into the wood floors as the chairs are pushed in and out. How can I remove the adhesive from the floor?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

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Apply Goof Off adhesive remover to the area. Use a clean cloth to scrub the area. This may require some elbow grease. Repeat until the adhesive is gone.

Warnings

When using chemical removers, wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area or use fans to eliminate fumes.

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Never store dry ice in an airtight container, as it can cause the container to burst.

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Dispose of dry ice by allowing it to evaporate outside, or place it in an open container safely away from children or pets.

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Always wear gloves and protective eyewear 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.

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