Flooring – How to remove residue left from peel and stick tiles

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I have old peel and stick vinyl tiles coming up off my vinyl flooring. I want to keep the floor underneath.

What gets rid of glue residue but is safe to use in house?

Best Answer

The approach is usually progressive. You try a less aggressive cleaner to see if it works, and if not, then move on to a more aggressive. At some point, you may find that the cleaner damages the surface, so test in an inconspicuous area.

I would use paper towels and a mild scrubbing pad, and I would use cleaners in the following order:

  • a soap based cleaner, such as Murphy's Oil Soap
  • strong household cleaner with grease cutter, such as Formula 409
  • a residue remover, such as Goo-Gone
  • a mild solvent, such as denatured alcohol
  • a stronger solvent, such as mineral spirits
  • a mild stripper, such as a citrus based product
  • a very strong solvent, such as acetone or lacquer thinner (but at this point you are almost sure to damage the surface of the flooring finish).
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