How to Remove Wallpaper

Remove dated and damaged wallpaper with fabric softener or commercial wallpaper stripper.

Wallpaper can brighten and highlight any room in the home, but it can also date the room with faded patterns and out-of-style designs. When the wallpaper no longer suits your tastes, or is damaged beyond repair, remove it to begin the room's makeover. Wallpaper has a reputation for being difficult and messy to remove. While it is often a messy job, it doesn't need to be difficult. Allow the proper tools and glue-dissolving solutions to do most of the work for you.

Things You'll Need

• Waterproof drop cloth
• Wallpaper scoring tool
• Liquid wallpaper stripper or fabric softener
• Warm water
• Spray bottle
• Plastic scraper
• Steamer (optional)
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Spread a waterproof drop cloth over the floor to protect the surface from dripping water.

2. Score the wallpaper's surface with a hand-held scoring tool made specifically for wallpaper. Scoring is necessary for vinyl wallpaper that is moisture-resistant. Homeowners and contractors commonly install this type of wallpaper in bathrooms and kitchens. Other wallpaper types that visibly absorb the water when sprayed do not need scoring.

3. Mix wallpaper stripper with warm water in a spray bottle according to the manufacturer's directions. If using liquid fabric softener, add 1/4 cup of softener to the bottle and then fill the bottle with warm water to the top.

4. Spray a 2- to 3-foot square section of the wall with the water solution. Begin in a corner of the wall. Spray just enough to wet the surface. Over saturating the wall can damage the drywall behind the wallpaper. Allow the solution to loosen the wallpaper's glue for a few minutes.

5. Lift the wallpaper from the corner. Pull slowly and remove as much wallpaper in a single sheet as possible. When the wallpaper tears, discard it.

6. Slide the plastic scraper over the wall to remove any remaining glue and residue. Vinyl wallpapers often leave a bottom layer of paper when you pull away the top layer. Spray this remaining bottom layer again before scraping. Scrape gently, applying little pressure to avoid damaging the wall.

7. Dip a large sponge into clean water and ring out the excess water. Glide the sponge over the wall to clean it after removing the wallpaper.

Tips & Warnings

• If the wallpaper does not respond well to the water solution, use a steamer to release the glue. Use a standard hand-held steamer made for cleaning, or use a steaming iron. Hold the steamer close to the wall for a few seconds to heat and wet the wall, and then pull the dampened wallpaper from the wall.

References

• BEHR: How to Remove Wallpaper
• Wright Wallpaper: How to Remove Wallpaper
• Kennedy Painting: How to Remove Wallpaper Borders