How to Remove Linoleum Flooring Safely in 6 Steps

Start by clearing the room of all furniture, décor, appliances, and trim. Have a plan for where it will be stored while you work since this project can take multiple days.

Wrap furniture in moving blankets to prevent damage, and get help moving heavier items to avoid injury. Safely disconnect water, electrical, or gas supply lines before moving appliances. Finally, remove baseboards from the room's perimeter, labeling them if you plan to reattach them after the project is complete.

The easiest way to remove a linoleum floor is piece by piece. Use your utility knife to carefully cut the floor into small sections of 12 to 24 square inches. Cut through the flooring all the way to the subfloor or slab below. When you're finished scoring, you'll be left with a grid pattern across the entire floor.

A heat gun or hair dryer on a high setting can soften the adhesive beneath the linoleum, making it easier to lift away. Carefully move the heat gun over the first section of flooring for about 15 seconds. If the floor isn't soft enough to scrape up after 15 seconds, continue heating it in ten-second increments until it is.

Use a power floor scraper to lever up the scored sections of flooring using your tool of choice and peel it back to remove it from the subfloor. You can also use a putty knife if you don’t have access to a floor scraper. However, this will require much more manual labor and significantly increase your project time.

You'll likely find a layer of old adhesive residue under the linoleum flooring. Use a solvent-based adhesive remover like paint thinner to break down the glue. Once it's softened, use a scraper to remove it by applying gentle pressure and pushing forward at an angle.

Some local recycling centers will recycle old linoleum flooring, so contact them to see if they'll pick it up or accept a drop-off. Otherwise, place the old flooring into heavy trash bags or rent a dumpster.