How to Take Paper Off of Cabinets

Remove paper from old cabinets with heat.

Contact paper protects cabinets from stains and scratches. It can also give your cabinets a wallpapered look or add a pleasant fragrance. If you're tired of the paper and want to remove it, you must pull it off and dissolve the adhesive that held it in place. Be careful when working with wood cabinets, as they can be damaged by water.

Things You'll Need

• Hair dryer
• Adhesive remover
• No-scratch scrubbing pad

Instructions

1. Turn your hair dryer on to high heat.

2. Hold the hair dryer close to one corner of the contact paper until the contact paper feels hot.

3. Peel off the contact paper slowly as far as you can. Continue heating the contact paper in 4-inch sections and peeling it from the cabinet, until you remove all the paper.

4. Spray an adhesive remover on the affected area of the cabinet. Choose a remover that is safe for wood cabinets. Let the adhesive remover sit according to the manufacturer's directions.

5. Scrub the cabinets with a no-scratch, plastic scrubbing pad.

6. Rinse the cabinets with clear water and dry them completely.

References

• Boston Apartments: Handyman Tips
• Casa Sugar; How to Remove Contact Paper Adhesive; November 2009