# Removal of glue
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 16, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448 "2010-06-16T18:37:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lk1932](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lk1932)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/1 "2010-06-16T18:37:10Z")
How do you remove old adhesive used for outdoor carpeting on a cement patio???
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/2 "2010-06-16T19:01:36Z")
Carbide scraper, or a LOT of acetone.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/3 "2010-06-16T19:09:07Z")
Tough job to do. Try a tile or carpeting specialty store to see if they have special products. Just plain acetone is probably cheaper though. Cold weather will make it easier if the adhesive is still soft or sticky. Good luck.
Just occurred to me, a pressure washer might help.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/4 "2010-06-16T19:32:50Z")
Is it sticky, gummy, or hard? If it’s hard, you could try sanding it. Also, even if it doesn’t get direct Sun, the UV will help to break it down, so over time it might get better.
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### Author:  [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/5 "2010-06-16T20:50:27Z")
Are you trying to get lumps of glue off and have a smoothish surface, or do you need all glue residue completely gone?
If you just need to remove lumps of adhesive I was thinking that a heat gun a scraper would do the trick. Note that this might leave a thin smear of melted glue behind, although in the warmed state it’d probably be more susceptible to removal with an appropriate solvent.
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### Author:  [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-of-glue/543448/6 "2010-06-17T13:04:58Z")
If it’s hard and the desired result is clean concrete, perhaps sandblasting could be done? A coarse abrasive would work. Probably need a pro to do it.