How to remove carpet
Removing and disposing of an old carpet and padding can be a messy and time-consuming task. Here are some steps for carpet removal, and what to do once you’re done.
1-800-GOT-JUNK?’s tips on how to remove carpet
Removing and disposing of old carpet and padding can be a messy and time-consuming task, especially considering that carpets can last from 5 to 15 years, depending on the carpet type and placement in the home.
Our home expert team at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? created this simple guide for you. Whether you are renovating, if it’s just time to put in new carpet, or if you’re switching to wood or concrete floors. The first thing you have to do is take out the old carpet. Usually for this step you would pay someone to do it, but if you have the time and the right tools, you can do it yourself and save money in the process.
These are the general steps for carpet removal. By following these steps, you can remove an old carpet and prepare the subfloor for a new flooring installation:
1) Prepare the area
Clear out any furniture, decorations, or obstacles from the room. Wear gloves, dust mask, and protective eyewear, as well as any other necessary protective equipment. Whenever possible, try to open a window and keep the room ventilated during the whole process.
2) Vacuum the carpet
Carpeting accumulates a lot of dirt, dust, and debris, even with regular vacuuming. You’ll see a lot of dirt under the carpet when you remove it, so giving it a last cleaning can help keep down the dust.
3) Take off molding
If your carpet was installed under shoe molding, you’ll need to remove that first to get at the carpet. Use a putty knife and pry bar and watch for nails. When doing this, try to remove the molding carefully. This way you can reuse it after a little paint or varnish!
4) Cut the carpet
Use a utility knife or sharpened tin snips to cut the carpet into manageable sections. Cut the carpet into strips 3 to 4 feet wide to make it easier to roll up and remove. Take care not to cut too deep so you don’t damage the flooring beneath.
5) Remove the carpet
Starting at one end of the room, pull up the edge of the carpet strip. Roll up the carpet strip as you go along and use duct tape to secure it. Place the rolls of carpet in heavy-duty bags and set them aside.
If you are now worried about what to do with the pieces, there are a few different things you can do with the old carpet, detailed below in the article.
6) Remove the padding
After removing the carpet, take out the padding underneath. It may come up easily, or it may be attached to the subfloor with adhesive. Use a scraper or putty knife to remove the padding, if necessary. This might be uncommon, but try a commercial adhesive remover if the padding is hard to pull up.
7) Remove the tack strips
Pry up the tack strips using a pry bar, taking care not to damage the subfloor. You may need to use a hammer or crowbar to remove stubborn nails or staples. Be careful! Since the tacks are sharp, remember to protect your hands with heavy leather work gloves.
8) Evaluate the subfloor
Inspect the subfloor for any damage or imperfections from old leaks or spills. Repair any holes or cracks. Walk around on each panel, listening for squeaks or creaks that indicate a loose floor. Use some nails to secure the floor to the subfloor.
Now that you have removed the old carpet, it is time to dispose of it! If you are tired from all the hard work from the previous steps, remember that you can always call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and we will be happy to finish the job and make all those carpet pieces disappear from your home in no time.
We can take more than your old carpet, look at the long list of items we can help you with.
How to dispose of an old carpet
You don’t automatically have to throw away old carpet. There are several ways you can still make it useful through carpet recycling, reusing, or repurposing.
Whatever method you choose, make sure to follow local regulations and guidelines for proper disposal. This will help ensure that the carpet is disposed of responsibly and does not harm the environment.
Donate your carpet
If the carpet is in good condition, you may also consider donating it to a charity or a local thrift store. Learn more about how to donate to charity here.
Recycle the carpet
Some recycling centers accept carpet and carpet padding for recycling. Check with your local recycling center to see if they have a program in place.
Repurpose the carpet
You can repurpose your old carpet in a variety of ways. For example, you can use it to create a barrier between the ground and raised garden beds or use it as insulation in a crawl space or attic.
Compost
If your carpet is made of natural materials such as wool, you can consider composting it. Cut the carpet into smaller pieces and add it to a compost pile, along with other organic material.
These options above are good ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Learn more about it in our carbon footprint guide.
Sell your carpet
If your carpet is still in good, usable condition, you can try selling it online or through a local classifieds website or even Facebook Marketplace. This can help offset the cost of buying new carpet.
Hire a waste removal service
If you are too busy with your renovation or simply don’t have the time to deal with the old carpet, remember that 1-800-GOT-JUNK? offers carpet removal services for your convenience. We’ll evaluate your carpet and help you decide whether to dispose of it or recycle it. Contact us directly to get a free, no-obligation quote once you’re ready to get rid of that carpet.
Let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? take away your old carpet
Getting rid of your old carpet doesn’t have to be as big a job as removing it. Once you follow the steps to pull up your old carpet, you can decide to reuse it, sell it, donate it, or dispose of it. Let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? decide what to do with your carpet so you can get on with your home renovation.
Take a look at our blog for more tips on home remodeling, decluttering your house, and more. For more detailed information about removal costs to you, visit our pricing page to learn more!
It’s time to take that old carpet away!
Frequently asked questions
We price based on how much space your items take up in the back of our truck, broken down into ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾ of a truckload, all the way up to a full truckload. Our trucks hold the equivalent of seven pickup trucks.
Our prices vary based on location and there is a minimum charge for our teams to remove your items, which is different in each location, based on a number of factors, including local disposal and recycling fees.
We offer single item pricing for certain items such as mattresses or TVs, sometimes this will be less than our minimum charge.
For materials that have a heavy cubic weight like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume that the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Watch us load up a truck to see how our standard pricing works!
If you need service weekly, monthly, or quarterly, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-888-475-3461 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call or text 25-30 mins before we arrive to let you know we’re on our way.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighborhood, you can start a booking by entering your zip code here.
Our customer service center is open 24/7, so we’re here whenever you need us! While operating hours may vary in our franchise locations, we offer same-day and off-hours service, including weekends.
