How To Remove Wallpaper

When you use a wallpaper in your new house, unfortunately, there will come a time when it will need to come down. Whether you’re ready to repaper the wall or are keen to try something new, you’re going to have to take down the existing wallpaper at some point. Removing wallpaper can be quite a challenge, especially if doing it for the first time as there are a couple of ways to remove wallpaper. Don’t worry if that’s the case because we have you covered.

In this post, we will provide a simple step-by-step guide for the best way to remove wallpaper effectively without damaging walls. If you want help stripping your wallpaper, make sure you keep reading!

What to Know Before Removing Wallpaper

Before removing wallpaper there are a couple of things to know and a preparation checklist to follow. First things first - preparing the room. Make sure to clear the floors as much as possible to ensure free space for walking around and removing the wallpaper around the room. Take down any decorations and frames from the wall and make sure it is clear of any fixtures. It is best to move everything to another room if possible. Larger pieces of furniture can be left in the middle of the room.

Identify Your Wallpaper Type

There are different wallpaper types available nowadays such as peel-and-stick wallpaper, traditional wallpaper and vinyl wallpaper. As much as the installation for each material can differ, the wallpaper removal methods of each material can be very different as well. Therefore finding out what type of wallpaper you are preparing to remove, is important. You can identify the type of paper you have by using a putty knife to peel back a corner of the paper. If it comes off straight away, you have strippable wallpaper. If your wallpaper peels away and leaves a paper backing, you’ve got yourself peelable paper. If the paper doesn’t move at all, you have a traditional type of wallpaper.

Assess Wall Condition

Before starting the process, you need to know which type of wall it is underneath the wallpaper. Some of the most common types in home interiors and different rooms such as bedroom, dining room and kitchen are drywall, plaster wall or a previously painted wall. The type of surface you have underneath the wallpaper will determine the best method to remove the material. You can identify drywall by tapping on it as it will create hallow sound. The surface is also relatively smooth. However, drywalls can be damaged during wallpaper removal especially if proper primer had not been used before wallpaper installation. Furthermore, the surface can be damaged by water when it gets too wet, therefore you would need to use a different method to remove the paper. When a wall is more delicate, we suggest to handle the walls with extra care to avoid damaging the surface. 

Plaster walls are more common in older homes and are stronger and more resistant to damage when removing wallpaper. You can use a scraper and a steam machine on these types of walls when removing wallpaper. You can identify a plaster wall by tapping on it, as it will produce a dull thud. The surface is more solid and feels harder than a drywall.

Gather the Right Tools and Materials

Next step is to gather the essential tools for wallpaper removal. You will need a wallpaper scraper, wallpaper scoring tool, sponge, bucket, spray bottle (you can use your plant sprayer) and a drop cloth. Additional tool for harder wallpaper removal that you might consider is a wallpaper steamer or other specialised solutions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Wallpaper

Now when the preparations are made it is time for safe removal of the wallpaper. If you are looking for tips on how to remove old wallpaper, adhesive residue and DIY wallpaper removal guide then follow this step-by-step wallpaper removal process.

Step 1 – Protect Your Space

Step one is to lay down drop cloths or big sheets to protect the floors and furniture from water, adhesive, and debris. Further it is important to cut the power off before you start removing any wallpaper. You should also cover any electrical outlets and light switches using painter’s tape. This is important because it ensures your safety when removing the wallpaper. It’s always better to be safer than sorry and you can never be too cautious when using water in and around electrical outlets.

Step 2 – Test a Small Area

Before starting to remove wallpaper completely, we advise testing a small, inconspicuous section of wallpaper to determine how easily it comes off. This will help to determine and decide whether you will need a wet or dry removal method.

Step 3 – Start with Dry Peeling

Use a putty knife to lift up a corner of the wallpaper. Using your hands, slowly start peeling the top layer of wallpaper, keeping it as close to the wall as possible for it not to tear. Repeat this step around the room. For any stubborn areas, use scraper while being careful not to gouge the surface. If your room has a wallpaper border, then you should start with this part as a wallpaper border would be installed on top of wall paper panels. You can also follow the same steps and start from the corner if you have grass cloth material in your house.

Step 4 – Soften the Adhesive

Now it is time to soften the adhesive. You can mix your own paper removal solution by mixing equal parts vinegar and water, 25% liquid fabric softener and 75% water, or use a commercial chemical stripper products. Using a spray bottle, spray the solution across the wall in sections of approximately 3 feet. You can also use a sponge. We advice letting the solution soak for a few minutes such as 10 to 15 to properly loosen the adhesive, however, do not leave it for too long and definitely not for a whole day. Another option is to use hot water. If the top layer of the paper has easily peeled off, you can use a sponge and hot water to saturate the backing.

Step 5 – Scrape Off Wallpaper

Now it is time to scrape off the wallpaper that will need a certain amount of elbow grease. Use the putty knife to scrape the wallpaper from the bottom of the wall and make your way up. Work patiently and carefully not to scrape the drywall as you remove the paper.

Step 6 – Handle Stubborn Wallpaper with a Scoring Tool

There are several ways to handle stubborn wallpaper areas, however, we suggest using wallpaper scoring tools. By using scoring too, create tiny holes in the wallpaper that will allow the removal solution to penetrate and further loosen tougher adhesive. This method will be especially useful for vinyl and heavily glued wallpaper.

Step 7 – Use a Steamer for Hard-to-Remove Wallpaper

An alternative method for tough wallpaper removal or large areas is to use a steamer. The steam works effectively as it penetrates through the wallpaper to the old adhesive glue or paste underneath and once it moistures, it loosens the paper from the wall making it the easiest way to remove the paper.

How to use steamer safely and effectively? Start from the top and move towards the bottom. Hold the steam plate on the wallpaper area for 30 second maximum. After steaming a part, try to test how easily the paper removes by using scraper. If wallpaper is not removing easily, hold the steamer on the wallpaper surface again. However, do not leave the steamer on the surface for too long as it may cause damage to it under the wallpaper.

Step 8 – Remove Residual Adhesive

If there is any residual glue left on the wall, use a damp sponge or a cloth to wipe any of the remaining adhesive. Make sure not to scrub too hard to not damage the surface.

After you have removed the paper, it is important to make wall preparations and post-removal cleaning. Cleaning surface after removal as well as any leftover adhesive residue removal is important to then prepare a smooth surface for priming. Here will be a short step-by-step guide for preparing walls after all the wallpaper has been removed.

To properly clean the walls and remove any leftover adhesive or residue after removed wallpaper, we recommend cleaning the walls with a mild soap and water solution. After cleaning the walls it is important to dry them before moving on to the next steps.

Once the paper is removed, it is crucial to then inspect walls for any imperfections that need fixing before you decide to paint or re-wallpaper the walls with removable wallpaper. If there are any small holes or scratches left in the wall after remove, you can fill them in with spackling paste and afterwards sand the created texture smooth. Creating a smooth surface is the only option to achieve a new picture perfect look with other wallpaper's or paint.

Lastly we advise to put a top coat of primer with a painting tool and prime the walls of entire room to make sure you achieve a smooth, even surface for the next interior treatment. Not only will priming walls help to seal any leftover adhesive, but painting a layer of primer will also improve the durability of paint or new wallcovering installation. After painting the walls with a coat of primer, leave it for a day before moving to the new make-over in your house.

Here will be a short recap of efficient wallpaper removal methods and some great tips and DIY removal tips to follow.

There can be different ways of removing the material. However, some of the key tips for wallpaper removal are to tackle one wall or section at a time and stay organised. This will help to avoid feeling overwhelmed as smaller sections are easier to manage and clean up, making it a time-saving method.

A professional advise is to use high-quality tools. We suggest using a sharp scraper to effectively remove the wallpaper and take care of more stubborn areas as it will not only make the process easier but take less time as well. Furthermore we suggest using a durable steam machine for stubborn pieces of wallpaper and stubborn sections for an efficient old paper remove in the easiest way. Replacing worn tools will be the best way and in top of the instructions for maintaining efficiency.

A common mistake is rushing the paper removal that can lead to using an excessive force and trying to remove the paper quickly. This will only damage the walls and not make the material removal effective and rather be a more time-consuming technique with no advantage. Typically rushing will also simply hinder you from a successful and effective paper removal, therefore, it is needed to work patiently and with care.

Another common mistake is overly wetting the drywall with removal solution or wallpaper steamers. Therefore, we suggest avoiding overly wetting the drywall with wallpaper stripper to prevent it from softening or warping.

 

We hope this step-by-step guide on removing wallpaper will help you make the task easier and more efficient. Remember to follow the main steps to strip wallpaper: identifying the paper type, assessing wall condition, gathering the right tools and high quality wallpaper stripper, preparing the area, carefully removing the top layer and wallpaper backing, wallpaper glue, clean the walls (you can also use warm water with dish soap), repair any damage and lastly prime the walls for your next make-over.

Remember that the key for effective older wallpaper removal to refresh the space in your house is patience and high-quality tools. We encourage you to gather everything you will need and get started with the paper removal with this simple DIY wallpaper stripping guide or consult a professional for more complex project to achieve the perfect look.