Absolutely-putty scrapers work for floor adhesive, but you gotta pick the right one and know a few tricks to avoid killing your back. Let me tell you how I removed old linoleum adhesive from my kitchen floor last year. First, forget the small scrapers-you need a wide, rigid putty scraper (8 to 10 inches). A narrow one will take forever, and you'll end up with a sore arm. I used a 10-inch heavy-duty stainless steel scraper-its wide blade covers more ground, and the rigid metal doesn't bend when I push hard.
But here's the key: floor adhesive (especially old, dried stuff) is rock-hard-you can't scrape it cold. You need to soften it first! For most adhesives, pour hot water on the spot and let it sit 5 minutes-works for latex or vinyl adhesives. For super tough stuff (like epoxy or old tar adhesive), use a heat gun (low setting) to warm the adhesive until it's soft-just don't hold it too close to the floor (you can damage wood or vinyl floors). I tried scraping cold adhesive once-scraper bounced off, and I barely made a dent. Softening it cut the work in half.
When scraping, stand up straight and use your body weight, not just your arm. Push the scraper forward with your legs-this saves your back from aching. I made the mistake of hunching over at first; after 20 minutes, my back was killing me. Standing straight and using my legs? I finished the kitchen floor in an hour with no pain. Also, keep the scraper sharp-dull blades just smush the adhesive around. Sharpen it before you start, and you'll glide through the soft adhesive like it's butter.
Just a heads-up: if you're scraping a delicate floor (like hardwood or luxury vinyl), test the scraper on a hidden spot first. A rigid scraper can scratch soft floors-if that's the case, switch to a flexible plastic scraper and go slower. But for tile, concrete, or old linoleum floors? A wide, rigid putty scraper is your best friend.
