How to Remove Adhesive from Laminate Flooring

A well-installed laminate floor will provide a flat, flush, smooth surface in your home. Unfortunately, something like an unsightly adhesive spill, even a small amount, can be enough to ruin the look of your beautiful laminate flooring.

Thankfully, even if the glue has dried, with a little effort, these methods will clean away the adhesive without damaging your floors.

1. Nail Polish Remover

If there are only tiny spots of glue on your laminate floor, this can be a good quick fix. Dab a small amount of nail polish remover on a cloth and gently rub at the adhesive. The liquid and the rubbing will soften the adhesive and allow it to come off easily.

Warning: Using an acetone-based nail polish remover will be even tougher on adhesives, but be aware that such a solvent will also be accompanied by heavy fumes.

2. Heavy Solvents or Thinners

Removing large areas of glue takes something more aggressive. Mineral spirits, paint thinners, or even lighter fluids are all capable of removing dried adhesives.

Soak a clean cloth in the liquid and spread it on the adhesive. Leave for several minutes to allow the liquid to soak into the glue.

Remove the cloth and scrape away the adhesive using a paint scraper. At this point, the chemicals have done most of the work, so you only need to lightly scrape your surface. Being too forceful with the paint scraper can damage the laminate underneath the adhesive.

Repeat this procedure a number of times if necessary. Remember that you the scraping part of the process should be a gentle one. If you find yourself needing to scrape hard, it’s time to reapply more solvent and wait.

Once all the adhesive has been removed, wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth to remove the last of the solvent.

Warning: All of these substances give off strong fumes and are flammable. Keep your room well-ventilated and avoid the presence of any open flames when using any of these to remove glue.

3. Iron and Cloth

What makes the previous two methods so effective is that they both actually soften the glue and make it more manageable instead of simply trying to lift or eradicate it outright.

Placing a damp cloth over the adhesive and applying a hot iron to the top of the cloth is another way to soften glue using steam. You will still need to physically wipe or scrape the area to remove it all, but the heat from the iron is a fast option that doesn’t involve harsh chemicals.

Warning: If you are concerned about your laminate flooring standing up to the heat of your iron, even with the damp cloth in between, do not try this method. The other options will work, they’ll just take a little longer.

4. Razor Blade

If the adhesive you’re attempting to clear is super glue specifically, the easiest way to remove it is using a single-sided razor blade. Slide the blade between the glue and the floor and gently remove as much of the glue as possible. Once the remaining amount has been reduced to a small residue, use nail polish remover as instructed to get everything off.

5. Dry Ice

Sometimes the reason that glue accidentally gets onto your surfaces is because it’s carpet glue that you’re intentionally using for your carpeted areas.

Carpet glue is unique and older carpet adhesives can be particularly tricky to remove from laminate floors. The simplest solution is to put dry ice on the carpet glue. Put it on a metal tray on top of the glue and leave for a few minutes.

Unlike the previous techniques which soften the glue, this will freeze the glue solid and make it very brittle. You’ll be able to gently chip it away after you remove the tray. If you can’t get it all, repeat the procedure until you have removed it all. Clean off any residue with your solvent.

Warning: Dry ice is harmful while in direct contact with the skin. Make sure you’re wearing heavy-duty gloves before attempting to handle dry ice.