Sticky messes can deface an otherwise clean, smooth, and pristine laminate flooring. When there’s a sticky mess on your laminate floor, it attracts dust and bits of debris. Over time, the dirt piles up to create a lumpy mess that makes the floor look ugly.
So, whether an unsightly adhesive spill found its way to your laminate floor, or you used the wrong cleaning products, you must figure out a way to remove the sticky messes from your floor.
There are a few tricks to know when it comes to removing sticky messes from laminate floors. If you want to learn more, keep reading this article.
How Do You Get Sticky Residue Off Laminate floors?
There are several ways to remove sticky residue from laminate floors. But before you get started, you need to determine the severity of the residue left on the floor.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method for getting adhesive residue off laminate floors. You must find the best adhesive remover that removes sticky residues without damaging the floors.
Sure, your local hardware store might have specialized products designed to remove adhesive residue from the laminate. But for proper laminate flooring care, it's best to steer clear of harsh chemicals.
That being said, there are a few things you’ll need to keep a clean laminate floor while upholding the integrity of its surface. Check out your cupboards and see if you can find the following supplies:
Supplies Needed:
- A spray bottle
- Hair dryer or heat gun
- A plastic putty knife
- Clean cotton cloths or paper towels
- Rubber gloves
- Distilled white vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Acetone
- Rubbing alcohol
Having put together these supplies, it’s now time to choose your cleaning approach. First of all, figure out how severe the sticky mess on your laminate flooring is?
If it’s less severe, then the gentle approach would be perfect. But if it’s very severe, you might need to use the most extreme method to ensure a fully cleaned floor.
The good news is that most laminate cleaning methods are designed to minimize any wear and tear on the flooring. So let’s see how these methods work below:
Removing Sticky Messes Using the Power of Heat
You can easily remove stickers like double-sided tape using the power of heat. This method doesn’t involve any chemicals and won’t affect your laminate flooring. Follow the steps below:
1.Set a hairdryer or heat gun on the lowest heat setting and point it at the sticky floor. Hold it a few inches away from the dried adhesive.
2.Move the hairdryer back and forth over the laminate flooring. Do that for several minutes to loosen and remove stickers.
3.After the heat has loosened the adhesive, carefully peel up a corner of the sticker. You can use a credit card or paint scraper to get up the edge.
4.Even after all the adhesive is gone, you may still notice that the floor is somehow sticky. If that's the case, grab a soapy cloth and scrub off the laminate floor to clean the floors.
5.Lastly, pat the affected laminate area dry using a clean, dry towel.
Expert Tip: You can also remove stickers with a damp cloth and warm water instead of a hairdryer. The steam is an excellent adhesive remover that softens glue making it easier to remove.
Removing Sticky Messes Using Nail Polish Remover
If you have only tiny spots of nail polish on your laminate floor, nail polish remover will do the trick. For even better results, use an acetone-based nail polish remover. Follow the steps below:
1.Pour a small amount of acetone-based nail polish remover onto a clean, dry cloth.
2.Rub the nail polish stains with the acetone-based adhesive remover to get them wet. Try not to pour the chemical on the floor.
3.The rubbing motion should soften the stain enough to wipe away with a cloth.
4.If the stain doesn’t come off after a few seconds, add another layer of acetone-based adhesive remover. Then wipe again with a cloth.
5.Using light pressure, wipe up the stain until it's gone. Then clean up the remaining residue with a clean paper towel.
Caution: An acetone-based adhesive remover emits strong fumes. Make sure you wear safety glasses and a nose mask to protect yourself against heavy fumes.
Removing Sticky Messes Using Mineral Spirits
If the adhesive you’re trying to remove is super glue, the easiest way to clear it is using a solvent-based adhesive remover.
Heavy solvents like petroleum spirits are the best adhesive remover that deals with this sticky mess in seconds. Follow the steps below:
1.Start by sliding a putty knife or single-sided razor blade between the adhesive and laminate floor. Do it gently, as you may end up scratching the laminate flooring.
2.Mix a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap and warm water in a spray bottle. Then spray the mixture onto a clean cloth or paper towel until it becomes damp.
3.Place the cloth over the adhesive on the laminate floor. Allow it to sit on the floor for several hours. You might want to cover the cloth with plastic wrap to keep it moist.
4.Try scrapping the laminate floor again once the adhesive softens. The key is to reduce the quantity of the adhesive residue as much as possible.
5.Soak a clean cotton ball in pure mineral spirit. Then press the cotton against the adhesive residue until it dissolves and comes off the laminate surface.
6.Wash the spirit off with clear water and wipe away any remaining residue. Polish to complete and let the laminate floor dry.
Caution: Not every solvent-based adhesive remover is suitable for laminate flooring. Xylene, ethyl-benzene, and benzene contain potentially caustic chemicals and should not be used to clean laminate floors.
Removing Sticky Messes Using Dry Ice
Sometimes the solvent-based mineral spirit isn’t enough to remove glue from laminate floors. If the adhesive in question is carpet glue, the best adhesive remover to use is the dry ice. Follow the steps below:
- Place some dry ice on a metal tray.
- Place the tray on top of the adhesive and make sure it covers the affected area of the laminate flooring.
- Leave the tray for a few minutes to freeze the glue and make it brittle.
- After a couple of minutes, remove the tray and gently chip the glue away.
- If some glue is left on the laminate floor, repeat the procedure until you get it all.
- Glue will make the floor sticky even after it comes off. Therefore, wipe off any dirt and residue with a paper towel soaked in laminate floor cleaner.
Caution: Dry ice can be harmful if it gets in direct contact with the skin. Always wear heavy-duty gloves before attempting to remove adhesive residue with this adhesive remover.
Removing Sticky Messes Using Homemade Laminate Floor Cleaner
To remove adhesive from an expansive laminate flooring, your best bet is to use distilled white vinegar. An all-natural adhesive remover, vinegar helps remove dried adhesives without using hazardous chemicals. Follow the steps below:
- Sweep or vacuum the laminate floor to get rid of loose debris, dust, and crumbs. Make sure you cover the entire laminate flooring, from along the walls to beneath furniture.
- In a bucket, mix ¼ cup of vinegar with 4 cups of lukewarm water. Shake the mixture until it blends.
- Dip a clean mop into the bucket, squeeze it to get rid of the excess moisture, and mop your laminate floor from end to end.
- Keep dipping and wringing out the mop throughout the cleaning process. This ensures that you always have enough floor cleaner to remove adhesive from the floor.
- After mopping with white vinegar, rinse the floor with a microfiber towel, starting in the farthest corner of the room. Do it in a circular motion so that the floor can dry up quickly.
- Avoid stepping on the laminate floor for at least 24 hours.
Expert Tip: Don’t let the wet solution sit on the laminate surface for too long. Water can seep into the laminate floor joints and cause warping.
What Causes Laminate Floors to Feel Sticky?
There’s no denying that laminate floors are among the most popular hard surfaces for remodeling homes. Hard surfaces are incredibly durable and can increase the value of your home.
Unfortunately, without proper care, laminate floors can become sticky even after thoroughly cleaning them. Several culprits can make a laminate floor sticky, including the following:
Cleaning the Floor With Dirty water
If you use contaminated water to clean your laminate floors, you may end up with a sticky feeling on your laminate flooring. Oftentimes, this happens when you use the same bucket throughout the cleaning process. As you clean the floor, the mop picks up dirt and dumps it into the cleaning water in the bucket.
If you don’t change the water as soon as it gets dirty, you’ll be transferring the dirt to other sections of the floor. As a result, your floor will become greasy and sticky after cleaning. To remedy this, change the water from time to time while cleaning. And use clean water to rinse the laminate floor after mopping.
Mismatching the Floor With chemicals
Laminate floors can also become sticky if you clean them with wrong cleaning solutions. While regular cleaning may require simple dishwashing liquid, certain stains will require special treatment. For example, stains that are greasy and sticky will require the appropriate adhesive remover.
If you don’t go for the proper adhesive remover, the floor may end up being sticky after cleaning. As a rule of thumb, use an adhesive remover with the opposite PH to the sticky stains. If your adhesive remover has the same PH levels as the sticky stain, the stickiness will remain even after cleaning the floors.
Using Too Much Cleaning Solution
If you thought that cleaning laminate floors using too much cleaning solution would make them squeaky-clean, think again. The excess cleaning agent creates a soapy residue that feels sticky to the feet. This is especially the case if you don’t do enough rinsing.
Follow the instructions on the label. And use the right amount of cleaning solution on your laminate floors. Most laminate floor cleaners come with measuring cups. So ensure you use the recommended amount to avoid making your floor sticky after cleaning.
How Do You Clean Laminate Floors Without Residue?
It’s recommended that you use a good steam mop to remove dirt alongside sticky messes that happen after mopping. Steam mops save time and provide great results when cleaning laminate floors. But if a steam mop is out of reach, there are other ways to clean the laminate flooring without residue.
Here’s how to clean sticky laminate floors and get rid of the sticky mess:
Add water in a bucket
Fill up your bucket with clean, lukewarm water. If you have an extremely sticky floor, use hot water instead of lukewarm water. This is to ensure the water can cut through the sticky stain.
Choose an appropriate floor cleaner
Choose the best floor cleaner for your laminate flooring. Common adhesive removers include Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol, distilled white vinegar, and WD-40. Add the right amount of your preferred cleaning agent into the bucket and mix thoroughly.
Clean the floor in a circular motion
Dip a clean mop in the bucket containing the cleaning solution and wring it out. Then clean your floor in a circular motion by hand. Go over the floor as your rinse your mop thoroughly. And pay attention to most sticky areas of your laminate flooring.
Rinse your floor with clean water
Dump off the dirty water and use clean tap water to rinse your floor. Go over your floor once again with a soft cloth or towel.
Dry your laminate floors
Spat the area dry using a clean, dry microfiber mop. After that, let your laminate floor dry naturally. Make your room well ventilated to accelerate the drying process.
Why Is the Laminate Floor Sticky After Cleaning?
If you clean your laminate floor with clean water and the right amount of cleaning solution, the problem could be your floor cleaner. While floor cleaners are designed to make your floors clean, not all of them are made the same. Most cleaners contain water surfactants that suspend stains and make them easier to wipe away.
Unfortunately, these surfactants tend to leave behind a residue that makes floors sticky. Depending on the number of surfactants available in your laminate floor cleaning agent, your floor could be mildly sticky or extremely sticky. You’ll want to dilute your floor cleaner properly to reduce the stickiness of your laminate flooring.
Wrap-Up
While sticky laminate floors can be a nightmare, the above methods will help you remove the residue and restore your floor’s original glory. Just make sure you consult the manufacturer’s product instructions before using any of the above cleaning solutions. Some brands have specific recommendations and guidelines based on the materials used.