Self-adhesive vinyl tiles are a very popular flooring material commonly used in a number of different applications. You will often find them in kitchens, utility rooms, and bathrooms. However, if you decide that you want to remove these at a later time to change up your decor, a fair amount of work will be involved. Here are the basics for removing these vinyl floor tiles effectively. The first thing that you will want to do is assess the condition of this flooring. Often, the adhesive of these tiles will not be what it was when they were installed; it will start to release its hold on the floor over time. Therefore, you may be able to simply go along and lift them up off the floor. Get down on the ground and try to pull on the corner of a tile anywhere in the room. If it comes up easily, your job will also be very easy. However, if it is stuck pretty well, further measures will be necessary. If the vinyl tiles are still firmly attached, take a utility knife and start by scoring each one of them.

Cut a slit right down the middle, deep enough to get under the surface finish. Once you have cut the tiles, get a bucket of water and dump some on each tile. If you know you are on a wood subfloor, make sure that you do not pour out too much water as it could damage the wood underneath. However, if you are on concrete, this should not be an issue. Thoroughly cover the surface of the vinyl with water, and then allow it to soak in for a while. By cutting the tile and pouring water inside the cut, you will help release the adhesive. This will make it much easier to take up the tile without damage. When the water has had a fair amount of time to sit, it is time to start scraping. This is the hardest part of taking up vinyl and there is no easy way around it. Take a long-handled scraper and start working it under the tile. Start on one end of the room, and then work your way across the floor. Try to take up the adhesive with the tile instead of just breaking it off. Many people will scrape up the tile and leave all the adhesive because it is easier.

However, you will need to remove the adhesive if you plan on installing anything else in its place. Once you have scraped up the tile, it's time to clean up the area. Hot Tub Moving TrailerIf there is any adhesive still left on the floor, use mineral spirits to clean it off. Buy The Weather Pro Outdoor Pool TableDispose of any rags soaked with this chemical properly when you're finished. Corner Bath Panel Fitting InstructionsAs a result of your work, you should have a completely clean subfloor to work with for your next project. 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? tile cleaning adhesive vinyl-flooring

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). I have found an easy way if you are going to recover the floor with some other type of floor covering first i heat an iron and soften tile by laying iron over cloth so tile lifts easily then i sprinkle the floor with fine sawdust and rub in i leave the sawdust fir 15 minutes while lifting more tiles then brush off excess when completed the area i wish to work on i leave for half hour brush off

again then vacuum and you are left with a clean floor with only very fine trace of sawdust I pried up old peal and stick tile using heat gun, leaving very sticky glue residue, tried cleaning with hot water, mineral spirits and finally acetone. So finally I pealed off one tile and just sprinkled corn starch onto residue, making it no longer tacky at all. Not going to scrape anything as I plan on going over top of the concrete floor with floating click together vinyl. If you are leaving the tiles in place: peanut butter and a little rubbing. The only problem is it will remove the deep shine, in that area. Just give the flooring a little Mop & Glow.. I removed the tiles, sprayed linoleum with Goo Gone,wiped up Goo Gone. You can try applying apple cider vinegar to it and let it sit. Of that doesn't work get yourself some goof off. That should do the trick. I had a sticky floor issue after removing self stick 12x12 tiles. I took some advice and tried baking soda and it worked beautifully.

Browse other questions tagged tile cleaning adhesive vinyl-flooring or ask your own question.A sturdy putty knife is a must-have tool when pulling up self-stick tile. Self-stick tiles are a popular flooring choice due to their low cost, variety of colors and ease of installation, but they can be annoying to remove when they become worn or outdated. Removing self-stick tiles is not complicated or expensive, but it will take some elbow grease regardless of the method used. A few good-quality tools and a positive attitude make this job much easier. Warm the corner of the tile with a hair dryer until it softens and you can easily pull it up with a putty knife. Push the blade of the floor scraper under the tile to pull it up. Scrape away any residual adhesive that remains on the subfloor with the floor scraper. If the tile is difficult to remove, warm it with the hair dryer and use the putty knife to loosen it. Push the blade of the floor scraper under adjacent tiles to pull them up. Continue to use the hair dryer and putty knife to loosen stubborn tiles.