A carpeted floor gives your home a classy look, but it brings two different jobs. The first one is removing the old or damaged carpet and the second one is installing a new carpet. But if it is a concrete floor under the carpet, you may have to do one more job, cleaning the carpet underneath. You need to clean the concrete floors after removing the carpet.
If floodwaters get stuck in your home for long periods of time, your wall-to-wall carpet is more likely to be damaged. A damaged carpet can damage your floor also. So it needs to be removed quickly. Besides, you may also need to remove an old carpet to give your house a new look. Overall, whatever the reason for removing your carpet, cleaning the concrete floor after removing it is a vital task.
You may think that cleaning a concrete floor after removing the carpet is quite a tough job, and you must have to call for a professional, but it’s not true. You can do it yourself also if you choose the right method. In this post, we will discuss how to clean concrete floors after removing the carpet in an easy way. Stay with us.
How to clean concrete floors after removing carpet
A carpet is attached to a concrete floor by using adhesive or glue. Unfortunately, when you remove the carpet, the adhesive does not come off with the carpet in all areas. In fact, often, if left behind, some dried glue stains. These dried adhesives bonded to the floor in such a way that they seem impossible to remove. But by following some specific steps and the right tools, you can get the job done. Here are the recommended steps to take.
Step one: Scrape the adhesive
After removing the carpet, you will find plenty of dry glue marks on the floor. At first, you need to scrape off the concrete glue as much as possible. You should use a handheld floor scraper for this job. Handheld floor scrapers come with sharp blades that can effectively separate the adhesive from the concrete. Once you remove all dry glue, you need to sweep away the glue chuck.
Step two: Use a vacuum
Use a broom and a dustpan to sweep the floor. You need to remove all dust and debris along with the glue chunk. For better cleaning, use a light vacuum with a vacuum’s floor attachment. The floor should be completely free from all residue, dirt, and dust before applying a cleaning solution.
Step three: Apply boiling water
Boiling water can help for removing the rest of the dry glue from the concrete floor. You just need to apply a pot of boiling water to the dry glue to loosen it up. The amount of boiling water you use will depend on the specific glue used and its age. If still there is a significant amount of glue residue, you may have to use a large pot to boil enough water. Let the boiling water mix with the adhesive for 1-2 minutes.
Experts recommend using boiling water as it is the cheapest option and does not have any toxins. But you should remain very careful as a splash of hot water can burn your skin.
Step four: Scrub out the loosened adhesive
Boiling water will loosen the rest of the adhesive on the floor. Use a concrete floor scrubber to remove the moistened glue or do this job with the scraper.
Step five: Use glue remover
We hope the hot water can remove all the dry glue from the floor, but unfortunately, if it is unable, then you may have to use some heavy-duty glue remover or a mastic remover. The heavy-duty adhesive removers will chemically soften the residue and effectively remove them, but they are hazardous. If you have to use it, then adequate ventilation is required.
You should wear hand gloves, a mask and glasses to protect yourself. Do not forget to read the product labels, including warning, caution, and direction, carefully before applying.
Step six: Troubleshoot
If your glue residue is too stubborn and appears on the floor after trying all the above-listed methods, then you may need to go for something extreme. One option is still available; you can use a heat gun to soften the residue. If you do not have a heat gun, then you can also use an iron. You should be very careful to use iron, and you must cover the glue residue on the concrete floor with a thin towel before use.
If all of your efforts fail and some glue marks still appear, then you should try to use a highlight coat, multiple color scheme, scored pattern, and cover the residue.
Step seven: Mop the concrete floor
Take about one gallon of water in a bucket and add 2-3 teaspoons of liquid dish soap. Mix them well and use them for mopping the floor. Thoroughly mop the floor to remove all dust and dirt and make sure that you do not leave excess water on the concrete floor during mopping. Replace the water with clean water if it becomes too dirty.
Step eight: Dry the floor
After mopping the entire floor, it needs to dry completely. You should leave the floor to air dry overnight before performing any new installation or re-carpeting over top of it. If you leave it wet or saturated, then it can create a mildew problem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I clean a very dirty concrete floor?
A concrete floor looks so dirty after removing the carpet. At first, you should remove the adhesive from the floor. Now take a bucket of warm water and add some detergent and a quarter cup of ammonia into it. Use a stiff nylon brush to apply the solution to the floor. Wait for a few minutes and scrub away all dirt.
2. Can vinegar remove carpet glue?
Yes. White vinegar can remove carpet glue from the concrete floor. Make a solution using a similar amount of white vinegar and hot water. Apply this solution to the old carpet adhesive and allow it to sit for a few minutes. This solution will soften the carpet glue and start melting it.
3. What is the best cleaner for concrete floors?
Some good cleaners include liquid dish soap, castile soap, mild floor cleaners, and stone cleaners. You can make a solution using any of these cleaners and apply it to the floor with a mop. Wait for a few minutes and rinse the floor with clean water.
4. Do I need to remove old carpet glue?
Though removing old carpet glue is not a small task at all, it is essential for re-carpeting or any new installation. There are various effective methods to remove carpet glue from the concrete floor, but boiling water is the cheaper option.
5. Will paint thinner remove carpet glue?
If the carpet glue looks brownish in color, then it may be tar-based glue. The paint thinner/mineral spirit or turpentine can remove this glue. They will soften the glue and help to remove it from the concrete floor easily.
Wrapping up
Clean a concrete floor after removing the carpet can be a painful job if you do not follow the accurate cleaning procedure. If you ask for help from a professional, be prepared to spend a large amount, and if your budget is limited, then you should try it yourself. But don’t worry at all; the above-stated cleaning method will guide you to clean your concrete floor after removing the carpet easily. Just follow the steps and make your floor stains and marks free. All the best.
