Removing Wallpaper
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-514 -- More Projects »
Home-maintenance expert Darcy Westlind shares tips for removing wallpaper.
- There are a number of wallpaper removers on the market, but a good tip is to just use water with a couple of drops of dishwasher detergent.
- Use old sheets and blankets as drop cloths, rather than purchasing plastic of other coverings.
- Score the surface of the wallpaper to allow the moisture to get behind the paper onto the glue. This is especially important when removing old paper, because some older papers do not absorb water.
- Use a handheld scoring tool or sandpaper to break the surface of the paper.
- Spray the wallpaper three times, then let the water liquid soak in for 30 minutes.
After scoring and soaking, the top layer of wallpaper usually peels away easily (figure A).Peel the remaining base layer of the wallpaper away with a six-inch broad knife (figure B), being careful not to damage the wall.To remove adhesive left on the wall, dip a squeegee in very hot water, then begin. Wipe off the squeegee frequently.Strippable wallpapers can simply be peeled off the walls. Wallpapers designed to peel away can also be removed easily, although they may leave a thin layer of paper. This can almost always be removed with hot, soapy water.The easiest way to remove paper is to use a steamer. They are fairly expensive, but it's a worthwhile purchase if there is a lot of paper to be removed.
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