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Katrina asked: I put down a rubber carpet holder material onto my slate floor so that my rugs would not slip. Now, I cannot get the “sticky” rubber off of my floor. How can I best clean this? The tile is uneven and I have had little luck scraping the floor.
Rubber mats provide excellent stability for rugs, but can become permanently attached to slate flooring. They are difficult to remove, but not impossible. Follow the steps below to remove the rubber bits from the floor.
You Will Need:
- Plastic scraper or putty knife
- Mineral spirits
- Soft cloths
Steps to Remove the Rubber:
- Begin by moistening a cloth with mineral spirits and moisten the rubber bits by blotting the surface.
- Allow it to set for a couple of minutes to allow the mineral spirits time to loosen the bond between the rubber and the slate.
- Next, use a plastic scraper to scrape away as much as possible.
- Use the soft cloth moistened with mineral spirits to gently rub away any remaining rubber.
- When all of the rubber is removed, clean as normal to remove any residue from the spirits.
Additional Tips and Ideas
- General cleaning guidelines for slate flooring are available at How to Clean Slate Floors
Carburetor and choke cleaner in a spray can. Miracle stuff. My rubber backing was melted to the bricks.
How do I get the glued-down rubber backing off my brick floor? I need help! Thank you.
Betty,
Since your floor is brick rather than slate, you can try rubbing alcohol or white vinegar if the mineral spirits aren’t working to dissolve the glue or adhesive (i.e. Do not use vinegar or alcohol on a slate floor, but for brick you can). You could also try TSP, which is safe for slate. Allowing the mineral spirits or alcohol to soak on for a longer amount of time (several hours) may also help. Using a stiff-bristled or wire brush to scrape off the rubber will also make the cleaning easier.
Source: eHow – How to Remove Silicone Adhesive
Source: wiseGeek – What Are the Different Types of Silicone Remover?
Source: About.com – 10 Surprising Uses for Vinegar
Source: eHow – How to Remove Latex Paint from Brick
Source: eHow – Can You Clean a Natural Stone Floor With TSP?