How to Remove Carpet Glue From Fiberglass

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Things You'll Need

  • Putty knife

  • Broom

  • Trash bag

  • Disposable gloves

  • Acetone

  • Damp cloth

Remove boat carpet glue with acetone.

Carpet installed on top of fiberglass can typically be found on a boat. The adhesive used to attach the carpet is more durable than standard carpet glue because it must resist water and temperature fluctuations. For this reason, after you pull up the carpet, you must then spend some time removing the glue that remains stuck to the fiberglass. Use a chemical solvent to soften the carpet glue, allowing you to remove it.

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Step 1

Scrape the fiberglass with the flat edge of a putty knife to chip off as much of the loose carpet glue as possible. Sweep the dried glue off the fiberglass using a broom and discard it in a trash bag.

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Step 2

Put on thick, disposable gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself from splashing chemicals.

Step 3

Open a bottle of acetone and pour it onto the fiberglass until it pools. Concentrate more acetone in the areas of heavier glue concentration.

Step 4

Allow the acetone to sit for 30 to 60 seconds. Scrape the fiberglass with the flat blade of the putty knife. The glue should scrape up easily. If it doesn't, allow the acetone to sit for another one to two minutes to further soften the glue.

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Step 5

Continue scraping the glue, working your way from one side of the fiberglass to the other.

Step 6

Scoop up the softened glue and place it into a trash bag for disposal.

Step 7

Wipe the entire fiberglass surface with a damp cloth to remove any traces of the glue and all of the acetone residue.

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