Help! I cannot get this old wallpaper border off !
by
Frankie Rose
+4
I am finally getting around to removing this wallpaper border that has been up for over 10 years. It is not coming off well at all. I have tried the fabric softener mixture in the spray bottle, and scraping with a plastic putty knife, but it is still not really removing all of it, and it is truly difficult. Please help
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Use a steamer and a putty knife to lift
Dawn dish soap and hot water. Score it with something. They make tools to help remove but you could also use a pizza cutter. It's definitely going to take some work though!
I agree with the steamer and putty knife. If the paper is vinyl covered, try to take the vinyl off, then use the steamer. I did it that way when I removed the contact paper that someone put up in the entry and down the stairs in a side split that we purchased in the eighties.
You can heavily spray the border w vinegar and water mix. Score the paper w a scorer and then peel off.
Here is an article that might be helpful - https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-remove-wallpaper-borders
If the wallpaper has been stuck on with glue, and not only with the paste that is on the backing, then it will unfortunately be very difficult to remove. There is no easy or fast way that I have come across yet. You just have to keep working at scraping and picking it off.
If you are wanting to paint afterwards, the drywall may need to be repaired first, and it will likely sustain some damage (cuts, gouges) in the process.