Asked on Oct 10, 2017

How do you remove carpet backing stuck to wood floor

Janelle
by Janelle
We just pulled up carpet and the padding has many bits of it stuck to the wood floor. How can we safely remove it?
  20 answers
  • Roxaneg Roxaneg on Oct 10, 2017

    Take a putty knife and carefully scrape up as much of the remnants as possible. Use Denatured Alcohol on the spots doing a small section at a time.

  • LJ LJ on Oct 10, 2017

    Scrap with the aforementioned putty knife. I keep a screwdriver (flat) and pliers on hand for any lingering staples.


  • Kauai Breeze Kauai Breeze on Oct 11, 2017

    I am still finding amazing uses for "Goo B Gone". Dab a little on a spot and let it sit for a few minutes, then see if it scrapes off easily. If so, put some in a small spray bottle and tackle the carefully so you don't gouge the wood.

  • Camilled2012 Camilled2012 on Oct 11, 2017

    Use Ronosol lighter fluid. Works wonders!!! Learned this from a very "high end" interior design co. in Palm Beach, FL many years ago. Have used it on residue from labels to anything "tacky" on furniture, wood floors or whatever. Does not damage finishes . I've even used it on my car, inside and out. It literally dissolves the glue and if there's a lot of glue or adhesive left, you may have to do several applications. I squirt it on the floor, table, glass or plastic bottle and rub in a circular motion. U may want to use paper towels so they can simply be thrown in the trash with all the "goop" on them. Never had a problem using this product & will not run out! You can also just squirt some on a paper towel, but use it quickly because it does dry fast. Hope this works for you as well as it has for me. 34 years and counting!

    • See 1 previous
    • Grace Gleason Grace Gleason on Oct 14, 2017

      This is scary! Any lighter fluid is extremely flammable!

  • K K on Oct 11, 2017

    Did you check to make sure that it is water soluble? My brother bought a house with a glue on carpet and when we pulled it off we thought the floor was doomed since the backing stuck to the floor. Then the dog threw up on the black mess and the backing came up when I wiped up the vomit. You may need to leave the water on it for a minute or too to help dissolve the glue. The floors came out beautiful and he did not even need to refinish them.

  • David Luca David Luca on Oct 11, 2017

    wd40 and a stiff brush

  • Karen Krysowaty Karen Krysowaty on Oct 11, 2017

    We used water and a scraper. Let the water set for awhile and then scrape. Should come up fairly easy

  • Wendy Roithner Wendy Roithner on Oct 11, 2017

    I would try the water first, as it is always on hand. If that doesn't work I would try Goo Gone. Test it on a small spot. If it works continue as Kauai Breeze mentioned. As a bonus the Goo Gone will leave a citrus sent and it may even moisturize the wood.

  • Dixie Mains-Zobal Dixie Mains-Zobal on Oct 11, 2017

    Put your sneakers on and just rub your feet back and forth. It will come right up.

  • Sandra Bilsland Mann Sandra Bilsland Mann on Oct 11, 2017

    Use your hair dryer to loosen and you should be able to sweep or vacuum the residue.


  • Leah Leah on Oct 11, 2017

    When a professional putdon or new carpt, he used a long handled scraper. It came right up. No damage.

  • Chrissy Wells Chrissy Wells on Oct 11, 2017

    Murphy's Oil, let sit, and wipe, loosens the backing and is good for the floor too.

  • Lin15108467 Lin15108467 on Oct 11, 2017

    i used goo gun...it works for everything with glue.



  • K K on Oct 11, 2017

    I think it would work, but cats are small and you would need a bigger puddle so dog is better.

  • Kor24924493 Kor24924493 on Oct 11, 2017

    hair dryer on high and scrape. Try rubbing alcohol , or try getting somebody else to do it,

  • Paula Payne Paula Payne on Oct 11, 2017

    I used WD40 on my brick floor to remove a rug pad that had left markings on the floor.


  • Jjkircher Jjkircher on Oct 11, 2017

    Try vinegar and water that's what we used to get the glue off the walls from wall paper

  • Camilled2012 Camilled2012 on Oct 11, 2017

    Scraping wood is only going to scratch it unless it doesn't matter. Your friend must have used a putty knife or something metal. Plastic pot scrapers are cheap at the grocery store. You want to soften the stuck on backing and the adhesive that's holding it down. Concrete floors are totally different from wood. Common sense and some elbow action should solve the problem!

  • Gai7514267 Gai7514267 on Oct 12, 2017

    I used Bona floor cleaner and a green kitchen scrubby. I was told they would have to be refinished, but they are beautiful ! Bona also sells a conditioner which I used after cleaning. It has been 7 years and they still look awesome !

  • Gof9454182 Gof9454182 on Oct 14, 2017

    I used a steam mop. Also worked good on removing latex paint from 1940s oak flooring

    and Lineolum. Let it steam for a few then let it set a few minutes on really tough spots use a plastic scraper & pull it toward you don’t push...that will cause it to gouge into flooring.