How to remove backing paper from wallpaper left on wall?

Mkbdunn
by Mkbdunn

I have removed wall paper but paper backing remains in places can I put a product over it to paint or remove it too. If it must be removed how? I am taking off cover of dry wall board.

  7 answers
  • Adk26831717 Adk26831717 on Feb 10, 2019

    I take it off with Downy fabric softener. Wet a cloth and pour it on the cloth, wait a minute and it will pull off.

  • Dee Dee on Feb 10, 2019

    I used a paper tiger and sprayed the wall with fabric softener. I let it stay wet for about 8 minutes, then scraped it right off. Glue and all.

  • Gk Gk on Feb 10, 2019

    Has your dry wall been painted? If it has then 50/50 fabric softener/warm water will work. If wallpaper has been applied over drywall that has not been prepped with anything--then you have a bigger problem. It will be mostly likely impossible to get the wallpaper paper backing off without ruining the dry wall. If you simply tried to simply paint over it you would not be happy with how it looks. You might have to put a skim layer over it.

    • Mkbdunn Mkbdunn on Feb 11, 2019

      I don't think so the wallpaper was put up by the builder.

  • William William on Feb 10, 2019

    I wet it it down with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Saturate the paper, wait for a while and scrape it off with a putty knife. Use the same mixture to wash off any glue residue.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 11, 2019

    I agree with Williams suggestion. I also had good luck using a small clothes steamer. Mine was contact paper on the entire entry way and down the half stairs to the basement, so I had to peal the plastic part off before I could do anything with the backing paper and adhesive. The steamer worked really well and didn't need cleaning up afterwards in order to redo the walls, just letting it dry.

  • Use vinegar. It will 'melt' the glue and make it easier to scrape off.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 05, 2024

    Steam it off!