How to Remove a Wallpaper Border

Wallpaper border can add style and dimension to any room; unfortunately not everyone's sense of style is the same. If you have had the experience of moving into a home where the previous owners have used wallpaper border to express their style and found yourself eager to replace it with something a little more to your liking, it's time to get to work. How easily old wallpaper border is removed depends how the border was installed and the type of adhesive used, but most can be removed without damaging the wall with a little effort and the proper tools.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sponge Vinegar Fabric softener Steamer Plastic scraper

1. Wet the border with a sponge saturated with warm water. Use a plastic scraper to loosen the edges of the border and pull it off in strips. Some will peel away leaving traces of adhesive stuck to the wall. Re-wet the adhesive and scrap gently to remove. Vinyl borders that have been installed over wallpaper tend to remove easily.

2. Mix ¼-cup fabric softener to one quart of water to make an effective wallpaper stripper. Fill a spray bottle and spray directly on the wallpaper border. Allow to soak and remove the border by hand. Scrape and wash the area with warm water.

3. Try vinegar for stubborn areas. Dilute the vinegar with equal parts of water and spray onto the border. This is also effective for those sections that did not come off with previous methods. Wet thoroughly and scrape to remove residue. Rinse to remove vinegar and wipe dry.

4. Use a steamer to remove difficult borders. Begin at the bottom edge of the border and steam until the adhesive begins to loosen. Work your way to the top of the border. Pull the border away from the wall as the adhesive loosens. Scrape to remove any remaining adhesive. Wipe down with a sponge and warm water.