Cleaning your floor carpet can be a daunting task. After long hours of soaking and scrubbing, you will still be disappointed that you didn’t get your expected results.

According to Maid Sailors (cleaning services NYC), carpets are important part of the home, especially for families with kids. Getting it deep cleaned regularly can guarantee that your carpet is safe and clean.

While hiring a professional cleaning company is the best option, people who don’t have the budget can also try to go for DIY. Removing old carpets from the floor can be easy if proper tools are in hand and procedures are followed. Here are five simple tips to effectively and efficiently remove your old floor carpet.

1. Clear the Space and Put on Your Protective Gear

To start, you’ll need to empty the entire space where floor carpets will be removed. Make it free from any debris like furniture and appliances. Dismantle also doors and bi-folds, leaving the whole space open and all carpet floors visible.

Don’t set aside your safety while moving all the small and big objects in your house. Wear your protective gear such as knee pads and safety gloves to save you from being jabbed by exposed nails or stray tacks. 

2. Use a carpet cutting knife to slice carpeting into narrow strips

The fundamental phase of removing the old carpet shall follow once the area is clear. Using a carpet cutting knife can make your life easier, but a utility knife or sharpened tin snips will do. Of course, make sure you use a sharp blade, as dull ones will only mess up your job.

Start by cutting the carpet into three- to four-foot-wide strips. You cut from the surface down to the back, but be careful not to damage the floor surface beneath it. 

Again, do not forget to wear protective gloves to avoid cuts and accidents.

3. Start Pulling Up Carpet From One Corner

Once cuts are visible, start pulling the carpet, detaching it from the perimeter’s tack strip. Tack strips are thin pieces of wood that are covered with nails and tacks and used as a frame for the installed carpet.

If the carpet is already loose, you may pull it already and start ripping the carpet. If it does not detach to the base, cut a small square portion on one corner of the room, rip it, then pull back the remainder of the carpet. Again, be careful not to damage the floor.

4. Roll Up Your Carpet into Strips

Rolling up your carpet into strips will make removing it more organized. The cut strips should be in a manageable size to roll. For example, an average room should be fine on a rolled carpet into thirds.

Pull back the carpet to the center of the room. Use a utility knife when you cut the carpet to its fold. Start rolling the carpet into manageable pieces. Seal your rolled carpet with duct tape to secure it from unrolling. Set aside the rolled carpet, and repeat the process to the other portion of the carpet. 

After removing the carpet floor, the padding will appear before the actual floor. Staples were tucked in the perimeter of the paddings, so be careful about removing them. 

Like carpet, roll the padding and use duct tape to seal the roll. Rolling the carpet and padding and putting duct tape will make the carpet easier to pick up for proper disposal.

5. Dispose of the Carpet and Padding

Lastly, be eco-friendly when disposing of the old carpet and padding. Your community may strictly follow specific policies on proper waste disposal. They may have restrictions on what can be accommodated by the regular garbage pick-up. 

Since carpets and paddings are bulky and heavy, you might need professional help from a hauling company to dispose of yourself properly. Roll-up dumpsters are also available for lease if you have much carpeting removed.

To Sum It Up

Some worn-out carpets are worth replacing. Removing the old carpets may look tiring as it is, but proper tools and processes will somehow ease the job. Moreover, professional help is available if you are worried about how to dispose of this old garbage.

Once the original flooring is visible, you might consider repolishing the existing hardwood instead of installing a new carpet for a change. Maybe you will have a change of heart. Just maybe.