What is the best way to remove old wall paper?

Leigh Padgett
by Leigh Padgett
  7 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 10, 2018

    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/decorate/walls/best-way-to-remove-wallpaper-3370217?r=1

  • Gelaine Fasse Buhk Gelaine Fasse Buhk on Mar 10, 2018

    Wet it down and scrap

  • Diane and Dean DIY Diane and Dean DIY on Mar 10, 2018

    I've had luck with an upright portable steamer. It's still a process though:) Good luck!

  • Gk Gk on Mar 10, 2018

    Score it with a scoring tool and use a mixture of water and fabric softener-1 cup to 2 gallons of water to wet down. Let soak it about 10 minutes and start pulling and scraping with a small flat metal spackling spatula. You keep doing this until the wall paper is gone. Patch any holes with spackling, sand smooth. Repaint. If you are going to use wall paper again use paint in a satin finish and size. The wallpaper will come off easier next time.

  • Peggy Peggy on Mar 10, 2018

    Fabric softener

  • Janice Janice on Mar 10, 2018

    There are various methods that work well. If you don't have a huge area you could purchase a scorer. It is a tool with small sharp "teeth" you rub all over the wallpaper to be removed. Do large circular motions and score the entire area. Then spray on warm to hot water using a spray bottle and let that sit for 10-15 minutes. Then use a plastic or metal scraper to scrape a bit. From there you may be able to just pull a corner and remove large areas of paper at one time. You'll still have some smaller pieces, you may need to resoak with the warm water and gently scrape. Be sure not to gouge into the wall board. If you have an entire room, I'd suggest renting a steamer machine to make the job a bit easier. It can be quite a process, especially if you discover multiple layers of wallpaper! It is doable and you'll have a feeling of real accomplishment once you are finished. Happy DIY-ing!