How to Remove Old Carpet Glue With a Hotwater Presure Washer

The adhesive that is used to secure carpet to the flooring can be difficult to remove.

Glue--or adhesive--is used to keep carpet from sliding out of place. Sometimes when you remove a carpet, it leaves behind traces of the old glue. Before laying new flooring, you must remove all traces of the old carpet glue. Unfortunately, removing old carpet glue can be difficult. If the carpet adhesive is stuck on concrete, you can use a hot water pressure washer to help remove the glue.

Things You'll Need

• Hot water pressure washer
• Adhesive remover
• Water
• Plastic tarp
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles
• Paint tray
• Long-handles roller or paint brush

Instructions

1. Rent a high-powered hot water pressure washer from your local home improvement store or equipment rental center.

2. Read the operator's manual and familiarize yourself with the directions, warnings and buttons.

3. Test the adhesive remover on an inconspicuous area of the concrete. If damage occurs, discontinue use.

4. Wet surrounding plants, shrubs and grass with cool water and cover them with a plastic tarp. This will protect the plants from any run off of the adhesive.

5. Equip yourself with thick rubber gloves and safety goggles.

6. Pour the adhesive remover into a paint tray. Saturate a long-handled roller or paint brush into the adhesive remover.

7. Apply a thick layer of the adhesive remover to the concrete. Allow the adhesive to sit on the concrete until the carpet glue has softened. This could take anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours.

8. Connect the hot water pressure washer to the water supply. Refer to the operator's manual for the specific instructions for your make, model and brand of pressure washer.

9. Turn the hot water pressure washer to "ON" or--depending on your type of pressure washer--pull the starter cord. Allow the hot water pressure washer to heat up for a few minutes.

10. Check that the trigger lock of the pressure washer is "OFF". Set the spray wand to a medium pressure setting.

11. Keep the spray wand held at a 45-degree angle and squeeze the trigger.

12. Move the spray wand in a slow and steady back-and-forth motion. Work in small sections at a time. Continue this process until all carpet adhesive has been removed. If needed, increase the pressure setting of the spray wand.

13. Allow the concrete to air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not allow the run off to enter storm drains.

References

• HomeDepot.com: Flooring Adhesive Remover
• Reader's Digest: The Right Way to Use a Pressure Washer
• Ultimate Washer: Gasoline, Diesel and Electric Pressure Washing Equipment