How to Easily Remove Wallpaper

Removing wallpaper is never fun. But with the right tools, a little know-how, and a lot of patience, anybody can rid a room of a dated wall covering.

Filed under: Wallpaper removal, Wallpaper, How To

Materials and Tools:

dishwashing detergent
wallpaper removal solvent
wallpaper scraping tool
spray bottle
drop cloth
stepladder
putty knife
sponge

Steps:

1. Place drop cloths at the base of the walls to be stripped. Remove all switch plates and outlet covers from the walls. Cut the power to the room.

2. Use a wallpaper scorer to create small holes in the paper, which allows the solution to penetrate through to the adhesive base.

3. While there are a number of commercially prepared solutions available, little works better than hot water and fabric softener. Combine the water and fabric softener in a large spray bottle at a concentration of one to one.

Tip: Mix the solution in small batches to keep the water as hot as possible.

4. Use a spray bottle to saturate a section of the wallpaper. Spray only as much of the wall as you can comfortably strip in a 15-minute period. Allow the solution to soak the paper for a few minutes before beginning.

5. Grab pieces of wallpaper at a bottom corner and carefully pull upward. Use a wide putty knife to facilitate the removal of the paper. Repeat the above steps until all the wallpaper is removed.

6. In a bucket mix a tablespoon of dish detergent with very hot water. Use a sponge to wipe down the walls, scrubbing carefully to remove all traces of wallpaper adhesive. Finally, rinse down the walls with clean water and towel dry.