How To Remove Glue On Laminate Floor: 10 Easy Ways

Your laminate floor looks great except for those unsightly glue marks. The good news is that it’s possible to get rid of the glue stains without damaging the laminate. Remove glue on laminate floors by using one of several methods.

Some of the best ways to remove glue on laminate flooring are to use a vinegar solution, rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, solvents or thinners, a commercial adhesive remover, dry ice, steam, or carefully sand it down. As a last resort, use acetone.

Before you decide on which method to use, always perform a spot test first, and always follow proper safety precautions when cleaning laminate. Also gather some tools that will help the process go faster, such as a putty knife, plastic scraper, or an old credit card.

How Does Glue End Up On Laminate In The First Place?

Glue can land on laminate flooring for any number of reasons.

The most common is that it is leftover from the installation of the flooring. Even the neatest and most careful installation job is going to leave the floor with at least a few droplets that need to be removed, so the floors don’t start to discolor or show wear and tear too soon.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a durable, hard floor that was invented in 1977 by a Swedish company. The idea was to use waste wood to create flooring through high pressure that creates several layers.

The layers include:

  • The base layer, or core
  • The image layer
  • The wear layer

Because of the way laminate flooring is made, glue can stick easily to the surface and become a difficult problem to clean up.

Removing Glue From Laminate Floor: 10 Easy Methods

The best method to remove glue on the laminate floor is going to depend on how severe the residue is. Always start gently, and move on to more drastic measures only if necessary.

We have tried to order the following 10 methods in terms of how drastic the measure is, so if you are still struggling to remove the glue after trying the first couple of methods then you can jump further down the list.

1. Vinegar Method

Vinegar is great for cleaning laminate, and it can tackle glue as well with ease.

  • Mix ¼ cup, 59 ml, of vinegar to 4 cups, 946 ml, of lukewarm water
  • Pour the solution into a spray bottle
  • Spray the glue with the vinegar solution
  • Let the solution sit on the glue for about a minute. Don’t let it sit for too long since it could seep into the floor joints and cause the flooring to warp.
  • Wipe up the solution along with the glue stain
  • Buff the area dry

2. Rubbing Alcohol Method

  • Often isopropyl, rubbing alcohol, is all you will need to get the glue off of a laminate floor.
  • Apply a liberal amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth
  • Rub the glue stain with the alcohol-doused cloth
  • Apply more alcohol as needed
  • Scrub well to try to get the glue out

3. Acetone-Based Nail Polish Remover Method

  • Wet a new cotton ball or cotton cloth with acetone-based fingernail polish remover
  • Rub it on the glue on the laminate floor
  • Let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the acetone to penetrate the glue.
  • Make sure the glue is completely saturated with the polish remover.
  • Use a putty knife to gently scrape under the glue. If you cannot find an edge to get the putty knife under the glue, use a cotton ball with acetone-based polish remover to dab the edges of the glue until there is enough of the glue stain lifted to fit the putty knife underneath
  • After the glue has been removed, wipe down the area with clean water using a cotton swab to remove left-over acetone.

For small drops of adhesive:

  • Find an inconspicuous spot on the floor and conduct a spot test.
  • Put a small amount of acetone-based fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball.
  • Hold it onto the test spot for one minute.
  • Allow the remover to completely dry for about 5 minutes.
  • Check the test area to see if there is any discoloration.

4. Commercial Adhesive Remover Method

Alternatively, you can use gentle adhesive removers that you can buy at a hardware store.

Try a ready-made product meant to remove stains like glue on laminate flooring, such as Goo Gone. Find a brand that works well with your specific needs.

  • Pour a small amount of the adhesive remover product onto a clean cloth
  • Rub it into the glue stain
  • Let it sit for 5-10 minutes
  • Wipe the area dry
  • Clean the area
  • Allow it to completely dry

5. Heavy Solvents or Thinners Method

If glue is covering a large area of the laminate floor, you will need more than a cotton ball and acetone nail polish remover. Try to use mineral spirits paint thinners, or possibly even try lighter fluids.

  • Dampen a clean cloth with the solvent you choose
  • Apply the solvent or thinner over the entire glue stain
  • Allow the liquid to sit for a few minutes until it penetrates the adhesive
  • Use a paint scraper to remove the glue adhesive that may have softened a bit with the solvent or thinner on it
  • Don’t use too much force while using the paint scraper, or you could damage the laminate
  • If this method is working well, you should be able to scrape away the glue easily. If the glue is still hardened and difficult to scrape away, reapply the solvent allowing more time for it to sit before attempting the scraping process again.
  • If the scrapping was successful in removing the glue, use a clean dry cloth to remove any remaining solvent
  • Use a dry cloth to wipe the area clean.

6. Steam Method

  • Place a damp cloth over the glue stain
  • Use a hot iron, and run it over the top of the cloth
  • The hot water, steam, will cause the glue to become soft so that it is easier to remove from the laminate floor
  • Wipe or scrape to remove the glue

7. Putty Knife or Razor Blade Method

  • Slide the edge of the knife or the razor blade underneath the glue stain and above the surface of the laminate floor
  • Remove as much glue as you can without forcing the putty knife or the blade
  • Use nail polish remover or a solvent to get any remaining glue off of the laminate flooring.

8. Dry Ice Method

If the glue is stuck to the laminate because it is leftover from a carpet installation, the carpet adhesive glue is going to be challenging to remove.

  • Place some dry ice on the glue
  • Never place dry ice directly onto laminate flooring, instead put it on a metal tray, and place the tray on top of the glue
  • Let it sit for a few minutes
  • The dry ice will make the glue start to freeze and become solid and more brittle allowing you to scrape it away
  • Once the glue is removed, use a solvent or nail polish remover to remove any remaining glue
  • Wipe away the residue

9. Acetone Method

Using acetone to remove glue stains from laminate is very effective but is also very powerful so should only be used as a last-ditch effort

  • Make sure the work area is well ventilated
  • Spot test an area before proceeding and let it completely dry to check for any discoloration
  • Apply the acetone onto the glue stain by using a clean cloth
  • Allow the acetone to soften the glue
  • Once the glue is soft, use a putty knife to scrape off the glue
  • Wipe away excess acetone
  • Wipe the area with a clean, wet cloth
  • Allow to completely dry

10. Sanding Method

It’s not ideal to sand a laminate floor, but it can be effective in removing stuck-on, hard-to-remove glue. Just be sure to use super fine grain sandpaper to very gently rub the surface of only the glue.

Try to keep from sanding the actual laminate. If you accidentally scrape the surrounding laminate, use a stain that matches the floor color to cover up the marks.

Safety Precautions

If you use acetone-based fingernail polish remover, be careful to not get any fingernail polish remover in your mouth or eyes. If that happens, call poison control immediately.

Wear a face mask to cover your nose when using acetone nail polish remover, so the fumes don’t cause any irritation.

If you use solvents or thinners to remove the glue from the laminate flooring, know that solvents and thinners can give off very strong fumes.

Be sure to keep the room well ventilated when working with solvents or any chemicals that emit a strong odor.

If you resort to a strong, heavy-duty cleaner stain remover, always use gloves, a face mask, and safety goggles when using strong cleaners like acetone. Also, make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area.

To use the dry ice method, be extra cautious. When handling dry ice, make sure you wear gloves. Never let the dry ice come into contact with your skin.

Final Thoughts

When learning how to remove glue on laminate floor, simply work your way down the list of methods until you find one that works for you.

Always do a spot test before extending your spot cleaning to a larger area of flooring. Also, use proper safety precautions depending on which cleaning method you choose.