How to Remove Wallpaper: 3 Easiest Ways
Project Overview
Working Time: 1 - 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 - 3 hrs
Yield: 100 square feet
Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $25 to $100
Removing wallpaper sounds more complicated than it is. It requires patience since removing wallpaper is a repetitive chore, but it's doable. Approach this project with a plan and determine which method you prefer. Review these three methods, the tools and materials you need, and choose the best way for you.
Before You Begin
There are three recommended methods, and with each of them, you'll be soaking the wallpaper, which will cause excessive drips on the floor. To protect your floors and baseboards, lay down towels, cardboard, or a drop cloth to catch the wet paper and drips as they fall.
Warning: If removing wallpaper from plaster walls or you notice the wallpaper dates back to before the 1980s, wall paint used before 1978 may have contained lead. Lead-based paint has been shown to cause health problems in adults and children.1 Take precautions and wear an N95-respirator if you suspect your walls coverings date before 1978.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Steam Removal
Wallpaper steamer
Putty knife
Clean sponge
Wallpaper scoring tool
Water and Vinegar
Spray bottle
Putty knife
Liquid Stripper
Putty knife
Wallpaper scoring tool
Clean sponge
Materials
Steam Removal
Sheet plastic
Tape
Water and Vinegar
Water
Vinegar
Sheet plastic
Tape
Liquid Stripper
Wallpaper stripper in spray bottle
Sheet plastic
Tape
Instructions
Method 1: Steam Removal
Prepare the Steamer: Fill the steamer reservoir full of water up to the waterline mark. Do not overfill the steamer. Attach the handle and hose to the large steamer plate. Plug in the machine and turn it on. Wait for the machine to build up steam. Most devices will have indicator lights that tell you when the machine is ready. This can take five or 10 minutes.
Steam the Wallpaper: To protect your floors and baseboards, tape down sheet plastic to catch the wet paper and drips as they fall. Lay the plate on a wallpaper section and press the trigger for 15 to 20 seconds. Immediately remove the plate.
Tip: Be patient. Hold the steamer over the area a little longer if the paper isn't coming off. With your scraper, gently peel away at each section. If you rush the process, you can damage the walls with the scraper.
Remove the Wallpaper: Immediately begin peeling up that section of the wallpaper with the putty knife. If this isn't working well, score the wallpaper with the wallpaper scoring tool. Steam that section again and try peeling it up. Continue with the process until the wallpaper is gone.
Warning: Never refill a wallpaper steaming tool while it is hot. This can lead to eruption or spilling of hot water, which can lead to burns. Please wait until the tool is completely cool before refilling it.
Clean Up the Adhesive: After the paper has been removed, re-steam so you can scrape up any residual adhesive. Once the adhesive is removed, use a new, damp sponge to wipe down the wall.
Method 2: Water and Vinegar
Mix the Vinegar and Water: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Saturate the Wallpaper: Spray an area generously with the vinegar water solution. Once soaked, the paper will separate from the walls.
Tip: Protect your floors by laying down sheet plastic. Expect drips and wet paper sloughing off the walls.
Method 3: Liquid Stripper
Apply the Wallpaper Stripper: Tape sheet plastic on the floor and use it to cover the areas of the wallpaper that will not be removed. Turn the wallpaper stripper bottle nozzle to the "on" position. Spray the product and use a sponge to distribute it over an area about 2 feet by 2 feet. Wait for five minutes as the product penetrates the paper. Wipe away any drips.
Begin the Removal: Gently push the putty knife under the paper and lift it away. Do not scrape or gouge the wall with the knife. The wallpaper should easily lift off. If it doesn't lift away easily, score the wallpaper with the scoring tool. Make about ten holes every square inch.
Repeat the Process: Apply more wallpaper stripper product and let it rest for five minutes. Repeat the process of lifting the wallpaper off with the putty knife. You might have to do this several times to remove the wallpaper entirely.
Clean Up the Last Bits: If wallpaper adhesive remains on the wall, use the wallpaper stripper to remove it. Spray it on the wall and spread it with the sponge. Let it rest for five minutes, then scrape off the liquified adhesive with the putty knife. Wipe down the wall with a new, clean sponge dampened with water.
Tips for Removing Wallpaper
Never paint a room by painting over wallpaper. If you paint over wallpaper, wallpaper removal becomes particularly difficult later.
Removing wallpaper from plaster walls is best achieved using a wallpaper steamer. Do not leave the steamer on longer than 30 seconds at a time; the plaster can crack if left on too long.
Removing wallpaper from drywall can be difficult because both are paper-based products and bond well together. To avoid damaging the drywall, carefully slide the scraper or putty knife between the paper and the drywall, lifting off excess paper and adhesive.
Wallpaper removal from drywall is somewhat easier when the drywall was previously painted with semi-gloss or gloss paint, making the drywall paper less porous.
Most wallpaper adhesives are made with modified wheat starch. This starch easily breaks down with hot water, so a steamer is the best method for removing wallpaper from a large room.
The best way to use the vinegar water method is to saturate the wallpaper with the solution.
No matter which method you choose, be patient. Removing wallpaper can be a long and arduous task.
** This article was originally published by The Spruce. CLICK HERE to view the full article.