How to Remove Carpet Padding From a Plywood Sub-floor or Wood Floors

Cut the carpet pad in 2-to-3-foot-wide strips across the room, using a utility knife. Not only will this make it easier to pull up the pad but it will also make it easier to dispose of the pad.

Grip one edge of the carpet pad with needle-nose pliers and pull up to release it. Use your hand next to finish pulling it up. Go slowly. Otherwise the pad can tear into small pieces and make the job more difficult. Most of the pad will separate from the floor and any staples or adhesive holding it down. Pull back until the entire strip of carpet pad is removed.

Roll up the strip of carpet pad and tie each end with string or twine to keep it from unrolling.

Work from one end of the room to the other until all the carpet pad is up.

Put on rubber gloves and pour mineral spirits on any areas that still have carpet padding or adhesive. The mineral spirits will loosen the adhesive so the rest of the padding can be removed. For stubborn areas, lightly scrape the floor with a 10-inch putty knife to remove the padding and adhesive.

Start in one corner of the room and work in narrow rows to pull up all the staples in the subfloor or hardwood. To remove each staple, grab it with the needle-nose pliers and twist. If the floors are hardwood, place a 10-inch putty knife on the floor against the staple to prevent scratching the floor with the pliers.