What is the best way to remove wallpaper?

Sus4261830
by Sus4261830
I want to give my kitchen a facelift. The way I want to do this is by removing the 30 plus year old wallpaper and then refinishing the cabinets. I have started on the wallpaper removal using a product for this purpose and it just isn’t working well. Help!
The wallpaper is coming off in small pieces or a larger piece that takes some drywall with it.
  11 answers
  • MaryLou Boughton MaryLou Boughton on Jan 18, 2018

    I found the easiest is this:

    put water in a spray bottle, add a capful of Downey Fabric Softner.

    with a sharp knife or a scoring tool cut lightly into the wallpaper and then spray the wall. Allow some time for the liquid to saturate the wallpaper and then Peel it off with a putty knife. it’s messy but works great!

  • Holly Kinchlea-Brown Holly Kinchlea-Brown on Jan 18, 2018

    Soak, soak and then soak again! It’s a messy and time consuming project but one that ult8matrly you will be glad you completed (in about 10 years, when the memory fades)

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 18, 2018

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/best-way-to-remove-wallpaper-3370217

  • Ken Ken on Jan 18, 2018

    By "product for this purpose" I assume that you mean something that you mix in water and apply with a sponge allowing it to rest a few moments before scraping?

    If it is vinyl coated wallpaper you will need to pierce the coating to let the water through. A device called a "paper tiger" is good for this. But the wallpaper removal product should have told you this in the instructions.


    It is possible, if you are using the correct product according to directions, that there was something non-standard used to adhere the wallpaper, like wood glue. If it WILL NOT come off, you may need to skim coat the wall with drywall joint compound.

  • Reggie Reggie on Jan 18, 2018

    I have used wall paper remover, but I found that the Downey fabric softener and water mixture works as well and is cheaper. Piercing the wallpaper before spraying lets the spray soak in. Let it soak in, but not dry. For stubborn spots I used my clothes steamer to help loosen the wallpaper.

  • Jean Jean on Jan 18, 2018

    Soak the wall with water using a sponge to put it on the wall.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jan 18, 2018

    The best remover I have used is just plain hot water in a spray bottle and time to let saturate then you can peel the paper off pretty easy but just do sections at a time

  • Rhoda Rhoda on Jan 19, 2018

    Spray the wall with Windex, one area at a time, and it should peel right off.

  • William William on Jan 21, 2018

    I use hot water and vinegar. Score the paper if it's vinyl. Saturate the paper and wait. Keep it wet. Let the mixture do the work. Periodically see it it comes off easy. Use a putty knife to remove. Wash down any glue residue. Fill any imperfections with non shrink drywall patch. Prime with a stain blocking primer.

  • Brian Brian on Jan 21, 2018

    the warmer the water the better use a little dish soap in a spray bottle do small areas at a time score with knife and soak don't cut to deep you don't want to damage the wall