How to Get Old Adhesive Off Floors

Open all windows in the room. Plug in the hair dryer or heat gun. Warm a section of old adhesive with the heat gun, pointing the heat stream in one small area.

Put on the rubber gloves. Press a corner of the paint scraper into the heated adhesive to test for softness. If the adhesive is still hard, heat it a little longer. If soft, scrape it up with the paint scraper and scoop the old adhesive into a trash can or onto the disposable drop cloth.

Continue heating and scraping small sections of the floor until you've removed as much old adhesive as possible. If the heat method doesn't work at all or if it leaves some adhesive behind, apply the citrus- or soy-based adhesive remover to a small area of the room, per instructions on the container. Let the adhesive remover set for a few minutes, then test scrape it to see if it has softened. Apply remover to other areas of the room and allow it to set for as long as the package recommends.

Scrape the adhesive and adhesive remover until it all comes up off the floor, depositing the gooey substance onto the drop cloth or into the trash can. Scoop up as much of the substance as possible. Once the entire area has been scraped clean, sop up any remaining residue with paper towels. Discard the paper towels and plastic drop cloth.