How to remove wallpaper

A simple and effective (though messy) way to get rid of old wallpaper fast.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic sheeting
• Hot water
• White vinegar
• Knife or wire wool
• Rubber gloves
• Scraper

1. Lay plastic sheeting around bases of walls.

2. Score wallpaper with knife or scrub with wire wool. You just need to damage any coating or gloss enough to allow the water to soak through instead of relying on it to soak in from the edges and joins.

3. Put on rubber gloves, fill bucket with hot water and add about a cup of vinegar.

4. Soak sponge and apply water/vinegar mix liberally to wallpaper.

5. Allow to soak for a few minutes and start to lift from edges with scraper. The hot water should melt the glue easily, and the acid in the vinegar breaks down the adhesive more completely.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are soaking each piece thoroughly, you should be able to do an entire strip at a time without the paper drying out.
• Should be carried out only in well ventilated area. Vinegar is an acid and there may be chemicals in the inks and adhesives on the wallpaper which act as skin and respiratory irritants.

[staci]

on 7/23/2008 perfect I will try this