HOW TO REMOVE LINOLEUM FLOORING – If you have a Linoleum floor covering and it’s been laid on bare concrete or a wood base then removing it can be troublesome. Linoleum flooring has a soft foam backing with an adhesive in some cases. Linoleum, over time, becomes very well bonded to the floor making it extremely difficult to remove. You can try a number of chemicals but there is not a quick fix and removing it will require a scraper, time and patience.
Step 1
Take a Stanley or a craft knife and score down the linoleum with 4″ or 6″ strips. You really need to work in methodical small sections as this will break up the arduous task making it a little easier. Remember that you are going to have to spend time on your hands and knees so wear gloves and definitely wear knee pads.
Be mindful of your back – spending a lot time on your hands and knees scraping away will put a lot of pressure on your spine. If you begin to feel sore then stop. Stand up and stretch – go and have a cup of tea and take a walk around your garden.
Step 2
Get a bucket of very hot water and mix in white vinegar. Make sure you are wearing gloves as the water will burn your hands. The hotter you make this the better but again be aware and don’t scald yourself. The hot water, mixed with the vinegar will help break down the adhesive and foam backing on the linoleum making it easier to lift. You might find that in some places the linoleum lifts fairly easy but don’t get too excited as this is generally not the case.
Step 3
Take a sharp handheld scraper and work your way up the strips you have scored. Again work methodically and in small stripes as this is much easier.
Step 4
Clean up any linoleum as you go to prevent it sticking to other floor areas. Pay attention to this part. If you simply scrape and dump it in another place you’ll end up having to scrape it up again. Use a large heavy duty bin liner to store what you are taking up.
Step 5
Once the entire floor area has been cleaned go around removing any spots you have missed.
