Removing Adhesive Stains from Concrete

Removing adhesive stains from concrete is often an extremely difficult job that many homeowners dread ever having to do. There are some ways that this may be done with little or no hassle, however. There is one key to keep in mind about whichever cleaning option that you choose, and that is that to properly complete this job you need to give yourself plenty of time. Do not expect that this is something that can be completed in a short amount of time. I would strongly suggest that you set aside a complete day to properly do this job.

The first step is to make sure that you remove all the carpet and as much of the glue or adhesive as you possibly can. The easiest way to do this is to pull up the carpet, which should remove a majority of the glue. For what is left you can use a solution called mastic remover and a scraping tool. Follow the instructions provided with the mastic removal solution; the product can be purchased from most hardware stores in quantities ranging from one gallon to five gallons. Each gallon container can be used for 500 to 750 square feet, and costs about $20.00 per gallon.

The first option for removing any left-over stains, and the single most inexpensive one, is to make a paste of washing soda or laundry detergent and warm water. You want to make sure that you do not use soap, ever, for trying to remove glue stains from concrete. Soap will leave a residue "stain" that can be more difficult to remove than the original stain. You apply the paste using a soft bristled brush, scrubbing until the stain is removed. After this is accomplished, you rinse with clean, warm water.

For the more difficult stains I would recommend using the first option, but instead of simply rinsing off with a bucket of warm water, I would recommend that you use a high-pressure hot-water sprayer. Again, be sure that you have used the solution listed above, and then utilize the water sprayer to remove the glue residue. The benefit of using the sprayer is that it combines the strength of hot water with the strength of high pressure. This will save your arms from some serious muscle fatigue later on because of the scrubbing. I would recommend renting the pressure washer, as opposed to purchasing, as the cost for purchasing one is around $870.00.