What Dissolves Carpet Glue?

Types of Adhesives

• In order to dissolve or remove carpet glue, you should figure out what type of adhesive is on the carpet. Dark brown or tan adhesives have a tart base, whereas glue adhesives with a yellow appearance are standard types of glue. Adhesives with a tart base can be removed with mineral water; test the mineral water on a small corner of the floor first. Yellow adhesives can be removed with standard glue removers. However, there are safer alternatives available to using chemical solvents.

Water

• You can remove some types of basic carpet glue through more natural methods. Water is perhaps the most basic carpet dissolver. Steam-cleaning and hot water methods can both get the job done. Latex is soluble, and mixing it with water will cause it to dissolve.

Heat

• Carpet glue will also dissolve with heat. A heat gun will melt and dissolve the glue, making it easy to scrape off. However, some precautions should be taken, depending on the type of flooring underneath the carpet. For example, you should use a plastic scraper when removing carpet glue from wood. This prevents the wood from becoming damaged.

Tips

• There are some considerations to keep in mind when dissolving or removing carpet glue. Prior to starting this home renovation project, you should have the proper safety gear, including safety glasses and gloves. The material and method used to dissolve carpet glue differ for each situation, depending on the thickness and type of adhesive. Adhesive removers sold at home improvement stores are typically solvents, which make them highly flammable so take all necessary safety measures, when working with these types of adhesive removers, including working in a well-ventilated area.