- 1). Insert a metal putty knife under the exposed edge of a vinyl floor tile. Pry and lift the flooring off the surface beneath it.
- 2). Slide a floor scraper under the lifted tile edge. A floor scraper is a wide-bladed tool with a long handle. Once the first tile is removed, you usually can jam the floor scraper underneath adjacent tiles, giving you more leverage to pry them up. Remove and dispose of all tiles.
- 3). Mix 1 cup of dish soap in 5 gallons of warm water. Pour this solution into a spray bottle. Spray the residual floor adhesive with the solution to soften it. Scrape off the adhesive with a metal putty knife. Dispose of the adhesive in a garbage bag.
- 4). Apply a citrus-based adhesive remover if the soapy solution is not effective. Citrus-type removers are low-odor and often quite effective. More powerful adhesive remover products may require strong ventilation and protective clothing to handle safely.
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