How do you remove wallpaper?

Ann Westbrook
by Ann Westbrook
No idea how to get started! Thanks!
  10 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 04, 2017

    https://www.hometalk.com/categories/home-maintenance-repair/wall/wallpaper-removal

  • Brenda Brenda on Feb 04, 2017

    It really depends on what the wallpaper is made of. Fell the surface and if it is really slick could be vinyl covering which means you'll have to find a corner top or bottom of strip and try to pull off the top layer. You can score the paper but be careful not to go crazy with pressure can really make a mess of the drywall and you really don't want to do that. You can buy wallpaper stripper liquid at a home improvement I think Wal Mart will carry it.Be sure to use kitchen gloves to protect your hands . Soak the paper with stripper using a spray bottle moist not dripping be sure to put a drop cloth along the wall floor area this will get messy. Take your time let the stripper do the work and dissolve the glue ,keep a trash can handy to throw away the paper as you remove it . After paper is down use the stripper to remove any glue stuff and rinse with clear water allow to dry it least a 24 hours before doing anything to the wall ie painting etc. A beautiful wall is always in the prep . U-Tube also has very good video on any how to skills. Good Luck happy stripping.

  • Claude Claude on Feb 04, 2017

    Hopefully they used sizing when applying. Get yourself a paper tiger (palm held knife that with rotation over paper produces cuts )that allow water to penetrate, soften and lift the paper. Use a drop cloth. Spray with warm vinegar water solution. Wait. Respray. Wait. You will see it lifting. Respray. You can also use a steamer. Then with a plastic plaster knife scrape it off the wall. Paste WILLremain..you will respray and scrape. And scrape until nothing gathers on your knife edge. Then you will wash with vinegar water solution. And rinse and wash and rinse...if you let it dry completely over 24 hrs and you still feel something on the walls surface...repeat. After it's dried again, you can use one of those sanding lightweight blocks to sand off nubs. Then wash and rinse again. It took me almost two weeks to remove wallpaper from my dining room walls. Just keep at it. You must remove all of the glue or paint coverage will look streaky and with humidity the residue will rise up thru the repainted surfaces ...(and it's nasty. )You need to redo washing and rinsing... keep at it..

  • Claude Claude on Feb 04, 2017

    I tried that dib garbage..worthless and pricey. White vinegar was very effective 1/4c to a gal of water.

  • William William on Feb 04, 2017

    Some use fabric softener and hot water. I use 1/4 vinegar and 3/4 hot water in a spray bottle. Lay down some towels on the floor. Spray it on the wallpaper, let it soak. Use a putty knife to scrape it off. Depending on the type of wallpaper, it can come off in sheets. The paper backing may also remain on some, so soak that with the mixture and scrape off. Finally wash down the wall to remove any adhesive.

  • Tootie Tootie on Feb 04, 2017

    removing wallpaper is work. score the paper first, than mix fabric softener to hot water. spray good, let sit for a while. scrape off paper, wet again with sponge,

    a putty knife works good also.

  • Theresa Theresa on Feb 05, 2017

    Use the steam from a coffee pot.

    As much as possible enclose the wallpapered area and protect the flooring. Fill the coffee pot resovoir with water, leave the lid up, turn the machine on and wait. The steam will moisten the glue and paper. As with other methods of wallpaper removal, find a loose seam or corner and pull. The paper that comes off the wall is similar in feel to paper maiche and very messy. I suggest throwing that paper into a container that is also intended to be thrown away, otherwise the paper will need to be scarped from that container too. 😀I learned that last bit the hard way. Be good to yourself.

  • Peg Peg on Feb 07, 2017

    I bought a Wagner Power steamer at Lowes to remove wallpaper in 3 bathrooms. Since it was a large project it was worth the $50. It is chemical free and fast! All the rooms have tile floor and since the steamer produces so much moisture it was a mess on the floors. The wallpaper comes off in large sheets with next to no scrapping! Have a garbage can below you to drop the paper as you pull it off. It gets very warm in the room so we used a floor fan while working. Be careful not to keep the steamer head in one place to long because you could damage the sheetrock. I watched a utube video. I tried the scrapping method before and my shoulders were so sore I said never again.

  • Jean Jean on Feb 09, 2017

    I realize that this is a special case and may not be the solution for everyone: I took the cowardly way out after digging down through SEVEN LAYERS of wallpaper on just one 15' x 9' wall of my 100-year-old farmhouse's living room (it took me two days and I was in tears after the fourth layer). I went to my Sherwin Williams guy and he taught me about sealant (and the one I bought happened to have a bacterial killer in it also). On every other wall-papered wall in the house (most of them) I just painted it over with sealant, let it dry then painted my colors. At the bottom of that seventh layer was 'wallboard'. Something they sold years ago, sort of like drywall sheets but with the wallpaper already on it. I can live with a few bumps and seams until I decide to tear it all out and start fresh. That won't happen this year!

  • Cheryl Cheryl on Feb 10, 2017

    I agree with William. I bought a beautiful condo in Florida. The previous owner went crazy with wallpaper. I used the fabric softener trick and it came right off. Note: Make sure the water is hot.