Several ways how you can quickly and efficiently remove polyurethane foam from linoleum

When using polyurethane foam as a sealant, the floor can easily be damaged.

If the coating is linoleum, special means and home methods will help to cope with the problem and preserve the appearance of the material.

How and how you can remove polyurethane foam from linoleum, including dried ones, will be discussed in the article.

How to clean fresh?

In the event that the foam has just hit the floor, it can be removed quickly and without consequences. At first, a piece of polyurethane foam is so light that it can be accidentally smudged by hooking it with a hand or a tool.

If there is no time to wait, then you can try to remove the foam ball even when the sealant is still sticky and mobile. You will need white thick sheets and silicone cream or oil.

Procedure:

1. Lubricate the linoleum around the loose polyurethane ball with silicone compound.
2. Take one sheet of paper and rub it along the edge with silicone oil (cream).
3. Acting with the treated side of the sheet like a spatula, you should try to pry off the foam and move it onto the sheet. With the second sheet of paper, you need to help yourself move the ball, and prevent it from moving further along the linoleum.
4. After the sealant is removed, it is advisable to wipe the linoleum at the processing site with wax or linseed oil.

If the polyurethane foam on the floor is not smeared, and has a compact form, it will not be difficult to remove it. The end result will largely depend on how tightly the sheet was pressed against the floor surface, with which the foam was removed. The denser, the more qualitative the cleansing will be.

When removing non-dried foam you need to move from the edges to the center of the pollutionto avoid spreading the sealant over a large area.

How to remove dried out means at hand?

To wipe off polyurethane foam, not only purchased special preparations can be used, but also those tools that are already in the household. First, remove the bulk of the polyurethane... This can be done with a clerical knife.

In this case, the foam must be cut off as much as possible.And only after removing the main lump do they switch to the use of chemicals.

Dimexide

One of the most common home remedies for traces of polyurethane foam is a pharmacy drug for external use Dimexide. Its advantages are efficiency, availability and low cost.

It is used directly from the bottle:

• applied to the area requiring processing and spread with a napkin or brush;
• leave for a couple of minutes;
• washed with a rag, prying the softened mass with a plastic or wooden scraper;
• wash the floor with hot water and detergent.

It is necessary to use Dimexide only with gloves. Due to its high penetrating power, this product can damage the skin of the hands.

Method of application - in the video:

Vinegar

Removing foam from the floor with vinegar will not work in all cases.... For a solidified, heavily smeared sealant, this option is ineffective. Even using a plastic spatula, it will be difficult and time-consuming to wipe off the dirt with vinegar.

If during the initial processing there is no result from the use of vinegar, it is better to switch to other methods, since, zealous, you can damage the linoleum.

Vegetable oil

Vegetable oil, especially when heated, has the ability to soften the foam and facilitate the process of washing it. To make rubbing the stain easier, the procedure should be as follows:

1. The oil must be heated.
2. Apply and spread.
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
4. Using the hard side of the sponge and a plastic scraper, scrub off the foam.
5. After completion of the work, excess oil must be removed so that the linoleum does not remain slippery.

Vegetable oil is the most affordable, harmless and simple means for washing polyurethane foam from linoleum.

Top 3 special drugs

Special products can be used to dissolve and remove streaks and traces of polyurethane foam. Those that are designed to wash the assembly guns are suitable.

Ultima professional

The cleaner is available in cylinders with a universal adapter... The product is intended for removing uncured foam from various types of surfaces. The product is also suitable for cleaning linoleum - removing a sticky thin layer from the floor. Package volume - 500 ml. Price - from 200 rubles.

PENOSIL Foam Cleaner

The cleanser is intended for removing uncured foam from tools and stained surfaces. The drug does not need to be kept on a stained surface, as it acts almost immediately. Cost - from 150 rubles for 500 ml.

Penosil Cured PU-Foam Remover

The solvent is an effective cleaning agent from already hardened foam. The product is distributed over the stained area and removed after the polyurethane has softened. The cost of the spray is from 300 rubles.

6 prohibitions

Trying to clear the foam from the linoleum surface it is important to try to avoid common mistakes:

1. Do not try to wash or rub the fresh foam ball, as this risks spreading the dirt over an even larger area.
2. Do not use solvents for floor treatment that are not intended for linoleum, as this can lead to damage to the floor covering (loss of the protective layer, erasure of the pattern, etc.).
3. You should not carry out work on washing off the foam with bare hands, for this you definitely need gloves. The prohibition applies to both work with fresh foam, and with dried, which is wiped off with solvents.
4. Do not use solvents and thinners for varnishes and paints to remove foam - they can damage the surface.
5. Do not use metal tools (knife, scalpel, scraper, etc.) to remove the solvent-softened mass, as this increases the risk of mechanical damage to the linoleum.
6. Do not leave solvents on stained areas longer than necessary.Otherwise, the base itself may suffer.

Expert recommendations

When washing linoleum from foam, you must follow the advice of professionals:

1. When planning work with polyurethane foam, it is better to wipe the linoleum in advance with powdered laundry soap or linseed oil.

   This will prevent the foam mass that has accidentally fallen down and firmly grabs the floor covering.

2. If it is not possible to scrub the floor before working with foam, it can be covered.
3. Acetone rinse can be effective, but this treatment can lead to dull stains on the surface.
4. Before using the product for removing the trace left by the fallen foam sealant, it must first be tested on an inconspicuous area.
5. Finish scrubbing the foam should be treated with linseed oil or wax. This will give the area a shine and less noticeable foam marks.
6. When choosing special means for removing foam, you need to pay attention to which composition they are intended for - fresh or frozen sealant. This will allow you to use the professional drug as efficiently as possible.
7. When processing linoleum, it is recommended to take into account its type - homogeneous (single-layer) or heterogeneous (multilayer). For the latter option, the use of acetone is strictly prohibited, for the first, it can be used limited, and only in extreme cases.
8. Special products are applied to the stained area and kept for several minutes. As soon as the foam begins to soften, it must be peeled off.
9. If possible, it is advisable to choose a polyurethane foam cleaner from the same company as the polyurethane sealant itself.
10. Many cleaners give off toxic fumes, so remove foam residues with good ventilation.
11. Increased haste when removing the polyurethane can damage the base material.
12. If linoleum scraps are preserved after laying the floor, it is convenient to check the action of the cleaners on them.
13. The use of solvents must be combined with a scraper.

You will find useful tips and advice on how to remove polyurethane foam from various surfaces and objects here.

Conclusion

There are many ways to remove foam from linoleum. Purchased special means and those drugs that are already at hand will help solve the problem. If you follow the instructions, the foam sealant can be cleaned on the floor surface with high quality, and without unpleasant consequences.