Carpet removal and recycling services
Whether you’re updating your carpet or replacing it with hardwood flooring or tile, you may be wondering what to do with your old carpet remnants.
What if you could just point and make it all disappear? You can! Our professional junk haulers are trained to handle the toughest of carpet removal jobs. Not only will we offer old carpet pick up and hauling, we may even be able to pull it up for you!
Get rid of your old carpet with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? carpet pick up!
We can take all types of household and commercial carpeting, as well as large area rugs. Once removed, we evaluate the condition and decide whether we can offer carpet recycling services. If not, rest assured we always choose the most environmentally-friendly method of carpet disposal.
Types of carpet and rugs we pickup
- Area Rugs
- Old Carpeting
- Floor Coverings
- Throw Rugs
- Nylon Or Polyester Carpeting
- Cut Pile Or Loop Carpets
- Olefin Carpeting
- Stain Resistant Carpeting
- Wool Carpeting
How our service works:
- Schedule your appointment online or by calling 1-800-468-5865.
- Our truck team will call you 15-30 minutes before your scheduled appointment window to let you know what time we’ll arrive.
- We'll take a look at the items you want to be removed and give you an all-inclusive price.
- We'll remove your items, sweep up the area, and collect payment once we’re done.
How to remove carpet
Removing your carpet is easy to do on your own. First, gather the equipment you’ll need, including knee pads, a dust mask, safety glasses, a floor scraper, gloves, locking pliers, and a utility knife. Find the tack holding the carpet to the ground and remove the nails. Start in a corner and lift it up carefully until you have a big enough piece to cut. Fold it and cut it from the back side to be a narrow strip for easier clean up. When the carpet is removed, use the floor scraper to remove the staples and nails.
If you don’t want to remove the carpet on your own, some 1-800-GOT-JUNK? teams are professionally trained to rip up your old carpet and remove it for you.
How to remove carpet from stairs
Removing carpet from stairs is straightforward. Once you’ve gathered your materials, start at the top of the stairs and remove the metal nosing if you have one. Cut across the stair at the highest point of the stairs. Slowly remove the carpet, stair by stair. Afterwards, remove the staples with a floor scraper or pliers.
How to remove the underlayment staples
When it comes to removing underlayment staples, there’s no easy way to do it quickly.
Suggestions on how to remove staples from the floor include:
- Using a spud hoe.
- Hammering the nails into the floor and removing the ones that stick up.
- Using a floor scraper to knock them loose.
- Using pliers, however this method is by far the slowest.
- People have also found success with a cotter pin extractor.
How to cut carpet
Cutting carpet is simple as long as your blade is sharp. Use a utility knife with a new blade. Flip the carpet over and cut it on its backside. The best way to cut carpet is into strips that are manageable.
Carpet removal FAQs
There are four basic types of carpet fibers that you will find in your everyday carpets. These fibers are:
- Nylon, which is the best for heavy traffic due to its durable, stain resistant fibers.
- Polyester, which is great for homes with medium traffic that want a more luxurious look. Olefin, which is highly stain resistant. Wool, which is a natural fiber that has resistance qualities.
Yes, nearly every type of carpet can be recycled. Recycled carpet can be turned into new carpet, plastic parts for auto interiors and engines, industrial flooring, and even parking barriers.
Carpet is made up of plastics made from complex hydrocarbons, a substances that come from fossil fuels. Since fossil fuels are limited resources, it's especially important to conserve these fuels by recycling carpet rather than using up the earth's precious supply of fuel to create new materials.
The carpet underlay can be recycled, too. As long as it is dry and clean, carpet underlay will be recycled into protective packaging material. Contact your local waste management facilities to find one that accepts underlay.
Yes, you can donate used carpet in good condition. Many charity organizations and animal shelters gladly accept old carpets and rugs. Before donating, make sure the carpet doesn’t have a lot of dander or pollen as this may trigger allergic reactions in the new owners’ home.
If you have smaller amounts of old carpet to get rid of, you might be able to throw it in the dumpster. However, if you have large amounts, it’s better to call a company to take it off your hands. Check with your local municipality to see if they offer carpet removal pick up. If they don’t, you may need to transport it to the dump or recycling facility on your own.
While there are carpets and rugs that are made of natural fibers, many are made up of materials like nylon, polyester, and urethane foam. These substances don’t break down naturally, which means that they can end up sitting in landfills for years. As they sit in the landfill, the chemicals used to make the carpet can release toxins into the air and soil.
No, you cannot burn old carpet. Carpet is made of plastics that release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere when burned. It’s best to take old carpets to be properly disposed of.
Rules and regulations vary from city to city. We are able to accept carpet with carpet beetles at some of our 1-800-GOT-JUNK? locations. To find out if your local 1-800-GOT-JUNK? team accepts carpet beetles, ask in advance!
The easiest way to get rid of beetles is to create a mixture of at-home ingredients. First, remove any food residue that may be attracting them. Then mix white or apple cider vinegar and water together and apply to fabric or carpet areas around your house that cannot be vacuumed or washed in a washing machine. Afterwards, take some boric acid and sprinkle it into the carpet to kill any remaining carpet beetles.
