How to Remove Glue from Particle Board

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Particle board is one of the few versatile materials you can use for a wide range of purposes, especially when it’s the matter of crafting useful household items. Besides, it is available in different sizes and thicknesses, making it convenient for all ages.

Due to its lightweight and low cost, particle board will be a great alternative for you if you want to use it instead of hardwood in furniture making. Other than furniture, particle board is one of the most common materials for flooring, siding, ceilings, and sometimes walls. 

But there is a flip side, too; particle board is more vulnerable than hardwood. Besides, it is hydrophilic, meaning it swells when exposed to moisture and has poor nailing properties. So, in order to attach it to other materials, adhesives are used. And sometimes, unnecessary adhesive falls on it, or there might be a leftover residue that needs to be removed. 

In this article, we will discuss how to remove glue from particle boards for different issues and circumstances.

How to Remove Adhesive from Particle Board

When working with particleboard, glue might drop on its surface here and there. If you notice the adhesive earlier, cleaning it off as soon as possible is best. Quickly use a cloth or paper towel to clean the liquid glue when it is relatively wet.

But sometimes, you might take notice when it is already soaked in and dried. In this case, removing the glue from the particle board becomes challenging. 

However, it’s not impossible to clean off the unwanted adhesive remnants, so let’s clean up the mess by following the steps.

What you will need

• A scratcher or putty knife
• Cloth piece
• Rubbing alcohol

The cleaning process

• First, take a scratcher or a putty knife and slowly scratch off the dried glue as much as possible. Do not use much force that might damage the particle board.
• This step is to remove the remaining glue. Take a soft cloth piece and some alcohol. 
• Dip one side of the cloth piece into the alcohol and rub over the glued-down area.
• Alcohol will slowly break down the glue and dissolve it. When the glue dissolves, take a cotton swab to clean off the dissolved glue. 
• You may need to repeat the process a few times to clean off the glue entirely. Do it repeatedly until you clean up the mess.

Important Point 

• The glue can be difficult to remove with alcohol at times. In this case, apply acetone or any general-purpose thinner. 

Caution

• Always wear gloves and a mask.
• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Pouring the alcohol on the board could cause it to seep through and swell.

How to Remove Sticker Residue from Particle Board

The adhesive used on stickers is tough and sensitive to pressure. For this reason, removing stickers and their residue from particleboard requires a gentle approach. Otherwise, it will damage the thin veneer topping with which most particle board furniture is covered.

Solvents might help you eliminate the problem, but they are toxic and messy. However, you can dissolve the glue without using any solvents. Stay with me to do this.

What you will need

• Dull knife
• Scrubber
• Hairdryer
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cloth piece

The cleaning process

• Find a dull knife and slide it between the particle board and the sticker. Process slowly so that you won’t damage the veneer topping underneath. You will feel a slight lift on one side and pull the other side to remove the sticker from the particle board.
• Using the pad of your thumb, gently massage over the adhesive residue. The adhesive will roll into tiny balls that are easy to clean.
• Heating will soften the remaining adhesive. So take a hairdryer and heat the adhesive.
• Then gently scrub off the glue as much as you can without force. Do not scrub with force, as you might end up putting scratch marks on the veneer top.
• The remaining residue will be easy to clean with alcohol. Take a clean cloth and dip it in alcohol. Then slowly rub over the adhesive residue. It will break down the residue and dissolve it. Clean up the dissolved glue with a cloth. 
• Finally, let the whole area dry.

Caution

• Avoid using a sharp knife.
• Do not pour alcohol over the particle board. Use cloth or cotton to apply it.

How to Remove Linoleum Adhesive from Particle Board

Linoleum is an excellent flooring material because of its sturdiness and classic appearance. It is used on top of wood, plywood, and particle board to decorate living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms. 

Linoleum is attached with an adhesive that gets stronger over time. Other than the strength of the adhesive, one needs to be careful enough to remove linoleum adhesive because the particle board might get damaged. 

You can remove linoleum adhesive from the particle board by carefully following these steps.

What you will need

• Heat gun
• Scraper

The cleaning process

• When you pull up the glued-down linoleum top, most parts of the adhesive attached will come up with it. 
• Softening the adhesive by heating will make it easier to remove. Use your heat gun to soften the glue remnants.
• A heat gun blows hot air, so be careful while using it. Wait until it heats up and point it at the adhesive about 4-5 inches away.
• Find a scraper and slowly scrape off the glue. Use the scraper at 45 degrees to not end up leaving scratches on your particle board.
• Work this way with a small portion at a time. The glue will harden again after a few minutes. When the scraper doesn’t move smoothly, use the heat gun again to loosen the adhesive from the particle board. 
• Repeat the process several times to get rid of all the adhesives from the particle board.

Important point

• Many old linoleum flooring adhesives have asbestos in them. Removing it will cause the asbestos fibers and dust to float in the air. Inhaling these harms health and might lead to diseases like lung cancer. So always use an asbestos kit to examine if asbestos is there. If so, it is recommended to find a professional to do the job.

Caution

• Do not use any sharp-edged objects to scrape.
• Avoid using chemical solvents.
• Wear protective gear.

How to Remove Carpet Glue from Particle Board

When you are done discarding the carpet from your particle board flooring, there are chances that you will find some leftover glue residue. Placing a new carpet on the floor requires all residues to be removed. If not, these residues might weaken the adhesion between the new carpet and particle board.

Usually, two types of carpet glue are used for flooring. One is traditional glue, and the other one is tar-based. Traditional glue has a yellow appearance, and tar-based glue has a brownish hue.

Removing Traditional Carpet Glue from Particle Board

What you will need

• Hairdryer or heat gun
• Scraper or putty knife
• Cloth

The cleaning process

• Applying heat will melt the glue. For this purpose, you can use a hairdryer or a heat gun. The heat gun blows hot air that might burn the particle board. So, have a distance of at least 5-6 inches between the heat gun and the particle board.
• When the glue is soft, it is easy to remove with a scraper. So, take a putty knife or scraper to scrape the glue residue off the particle board.
• If you can’t clear off all the glue residues, take a cloth and dip it in vinegar. Then wipe the glue off with the cloth.

Removing Tar-Based Carpet Glue from Particle Board

What you will need

• Bowl
• Mineral spirits
• Cloth

The cleaning process

• Locate the area of glue residue. Now take a small bowl and fill it with mineral spirits. 
• Find a rag cloth and soak it with mineral spirits. Wipe down the carpet glue area with this soaked rag cloth.
• Mineral spirits will dissolve the glue. It will take at least 30 minutes for the glue to break down completely.
• Now take a fresh cloth and mop the floor.
• Repeat the process as long as all the glue is clear. It will take 2–5 times, depending on the toughness of the glue.

Caution

• Always wear gloves and a mask.

How to Remove Glued Down Particle Board Subflooring

Particle board is one of the most commonly used subflooring materials. If it does not get caught in moisture, it can provide service for a long time. For poor nailing properties, adhesives are used to attach it to the floor.

However, particle board swells over time when exposed to moisture as the sawdust is hydrophilic. So then, removing the particle board is necessary. The process is simple yet challenging. So, let’s dive into the process.

What you will need

• Putty knife
• Circular saw

The cleaning process

• As the particle is composed of sawdust, cutting it will create a lot of dust. So put on your mask.
• For the next step, knowing your particle board’s thickness is necessary. Piercing a knife into the board will give an idea of the thickness.
• Now, adjust your circular saw blade’s depth according to the particle board’s thickness you measured.
• Cutting and removing one small section at a time will make the process easier. Find the seam between the particle board and the cutting line.
• Create a rectangular shape by cutting the particle board with the saw blade. Then remove it by uplifting the particle board from one edge.
• Continue the process until you have removed all the sections between the flooring joists. Do not cut directly into the joists.
• Using a pry bar, find and discard any screws placed on top of the joists in the leftover. After that, with a chisel, remove the top two-thirds of the particle board from the joists.
• Make a fine shave using the block plane. Plane the joist tops to eliminate any leftover particleboard or adhesive.
• Turn the chisel bevel side down and hit it softly with a hammer to clean edges and corners the plane won’t reach.

Cautions

• Be aware when using a saw blade.
• Always wear a protective mask.

Can You Remove Glue From Particle Board Without Damaging it?

Yes, you can remove adhesive from the particle board without damaging it.

Particle board has two weaknesses; moisture and being fragile to focused force. So when you are removing adhesive from it, keep water-based materials away from it. Also, be careful when you are using heavy materials like a chisel. 

I have included detailed guidelines for removing glue from particle board in the earlier section of the article. Follow the step by step.

Can You Remove Super Glue From Particle Board?

“Super glue” is different than fabric glue and is a strong adhesive that sticks firmly to any material. And it gets solidified when dry. So, removing it becomes challenging. 

To remove super glue, you need to use acetone. 

Take a cotton swab and pour some acetone on it. Then slowly rub the cotton swab on the dried glue. Acetone breaks the bond and dissolves the glue. As a result, the adhesive will come off slowly. 

You may repeat the process several times to clear off the glue entirely.

Final Thoughts

Particle board saves a lot of money on decoration and construction. However, it is challenging to work with particle boards, unlike wood and plywood. For example, you can not use nails to attach it. Glue is the best possible option. But glue is messy, and it can get everywhere. You may find it difficult to remove if you do not know how to remove glue from the particle board.

Removing glue and sticker residues from particle board is tricky but not impossible. And sometimes, you may need to pull off the whole particle board. This article has detailed guidelines on these tasks. Follow these thoroughly and work carefully. Best of luck!