Painting walls that had been wallpapered...

I put up wallpaper about 20 years ago in my kitchen and dining room. I used wallpaper sizing before hanging the wallpaper! I'm ready to make a change and I hope you have the answer for me!
Should I wash the walls with a special solution or would vinegar/water solution work?
  11 answers
  • William William on Jul 16, 2017

    Wallpaper would need to be removed. I use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and hot water. Spray it on, let it soak , and scrape off.

  • Dysko7710 Dysko7710 on Jul 16, 2017

    Most people say do not paint over wallpaper, it could bubble up in the future, I just used vinegar/water solution, sprayed it on and made sure it soaked in well so the paper was wet - I used a cloth to wipe it into the wall, and the paper came off pretty well. I have also heard of people using fabric softener to remove the wallpaper.

  • Canadianlady Canadianlady on Jul 16, 2017

    There is a scoring tool that you can buy at any paint and wallpaper store. It will score the entire paper surface without damaging the wall underneath. After scoring you apply the liquid solutions that other readers have recommended and give it some time to sink in. The scoring enables it to accept all the liquid, which will make the paper soft enough to be scraped off. If you find the job too difficult, there is a steam appliance that you can rent to remove the paper more easily.

  • Robyn Garner Robyn Garner on Jul 16, 2017

    I have scored all wallpapers before removing and my best product has been DIF wallpaper remover. I use the concentrate mixed with hot water and a pump garden sprayer to apply. After you pull off the wallpaper, repeat the DIF and wash down the walls completely. You'll now have a smooth, flat surface ready to paint (unless it needs priming)

  • Gloria Schneider Kesslar Gloria Schneider Kesslar on Jul 16, 2017

    If you have non-vinyl coated wallpaper that has adhered completely we found it almost impossible to remove without a LOT of work. Since it was down so tightly we used a coat of primer & another primer coat over the seams before we painted OVER the wallpaper. You could not ever tell the wallpaper was there especially if you use a textured roller. Vinyl-coated wallpaper is very easy to remove with or without some of the tip mentione but priming walls first before painting is always best.

    • Darla Darla on Jul 19, 2017

      I did that in my hall. The wallpaper seams don't even show, since I sponge-painted an analogous color over it. While the paint was wet, it bubbled in a few spots, but dried out flat.

  • Linda Linda on Jul 16, 2017

    If the wallpaper is vinyl, it should be easy to peel off since you applied it correctly by sizing the wall first. Otherwise, fill a spray bottle with hot water and spray the paper. Then, with a putty knife or scraper, start peeling the paper off. It will get messy, but well worth the effort. Work in small areas at a time.

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Jul 16, 2017

    I thought you planned on painting over wall paper. If so I would suggest going over lightly with a thin coat of mud used on drywall. Don't use the tape or anything you just want to cover seems really well. Sand and reapply if necessary. I don't care what people say removing wall paper maybe fine for some and hey that's great but it usually isn't that easy then you end up with walls that look awful. My current home looks like that, but it HD been painted over several times so I wasn't going to even try to fix it. I think that replacing dry wall would be easier. I wish that they had just painted over the paper because then I could use the advice I just gave you.

  • Joan Joan on Jul 19, 2017

    I wouldn't paint over any wallpaper...


    Easiest way ever to remove wallpaper especially one layer and only 20 years old, which is what all of my rooms were.


    Use a spray bottle of hot water. Spray about 3 panels, sit down for 30 minutes. Do this 3 more times (spray/sit; spray/sit, and spray/sit). DO NOT use one of those scoring tools! All that does is create little pieces that you have to remove and will be a lot more work. Simply pull the paper from the BOTTOM UP and slowing pull off the entire panel. If it starts to tear, scrape the little tears up with your finger nail and continue pulling.


    Repeat for the rest of your panels.


    I did 3 rooms this way and it worked out perfectly.


    To clean off the remaining glue on the walls, use a broom dip in a bucket of warm water, and sweep the walls which will loosen the dried-on glue. The broom will probably be shot when you're done but it works. Then wash your walls in clean, warm water.


    Definitely give this a try. All it costs is water and a spray bottle.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Jul 19, 2017

    If the paper comes off easily, then sand the walls lightly and put on a primer coat of paint. Then paint the wall.

  • Gloria Schneider Kesslar Gloria Schneider Kesslar on Jul 20, 2017

    I've done this at least six times over the years on wallpaper that was down tight. No bubbles ever surface after primer was applied.