How to Take a Wallpaper Border Off

Whether you've purchased home with hideous wallpaper border throughout or your children have outgrown their princess or racecar borders, removing a wallpaper border can be a relatively easy project if done the right way. Before ruining your entire wall or driving yourself crazy trying to remove a border, read on and find out how easy it can be.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray Bottle
• Water
• Liquid Fabric Softener
• Sponge
• Towels
• Plastic Scraper

1. Since there are many different types of adhesives and types of surfaces under the border, you'll first want to find out how stubborn the adhesive is and how difficult it will be to remove. To do this, peel a small section of the top of the border away (to allow the water to soak into it), spray a section of the border with your spray bottle of water, let it soak in for about a minute, and try to scrape it with your plastic scraper. If it starts to come off relatively easy, consider yourself lucky and continue removing it this way. Once the water dries, you'll probably notice that there is still some adhesive residue so continue to wet it down and use your scraper or a towel to continue removing the residue until it is all gone.

2. Most of the time, water by itself will not do the trick. If it doesn't, you'll want to try using liquid fabric softener. You can usually buy a large bottle at a dollar store for much cheaper than the name brands, and I've found that fabric softener works just as well as most wallpaper removers found in hardware stores.

3. Take your bottle of fabric softener and dump it into a bucket, soak a sponge with the fabric softener, and start wiping it onto the border. This does get messy so be sure to cover or move any furniture underneath and don't be surprised when the fabric softener starts dripping down your arm as you're applying it to the border - it just happens. Start with the corner that you had initially peeled away so that it soaks into the adhesive and do small sections at a time. Let the fabric softener soak for several minutes and then use your scraper to scrape away at the border. Once dry, you'll probably need to go around again with the fabric softener and use the towel to wipe off any remaining adhesive. Your room should now be border free in no time!

4. Since the fabric softener method is a little messy, as mentioned above, you'll probably need to scrub your walls with water to get rid of the streaks left behind by the dripping fabric softener.

5. If the two methods mentioned above don't seem to do the trick, look into purchasing a wallpaper perforator, which cuts lines into the wallpaper and allows adhesive remover to soak in better, and look into purchasing industrial strength remover. Be careful though if using wallpaper remover, that it will not damage the remainder of the wall or the paint if your intention is to keep it intact.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't want to touch the fabric softener directly, wear rubber gloves when applying the fabric softener to the walls.
• Don't try to peel off the border dry and then remove the adhesive separately. You'll just have a mess of strips of paper and you'll still have to do the same amount of work.
• If you end up using wallpaper remover, read the directions carefully and follow all warning and directions on the packaging.

[Mindee94]

on 8/25/2009 Awesome. This is one of those dreaded tasks which needs to be done but just have not brought myself to take it on. With these tips may just have to start today! thanks, Mindee

[cdclocks]

on 7/22/2009 Fabric softener! That's a great idea. 5*

[tracysmith159]

on 7/16/2009 Best way I know to take down borders or wallpaper. Plus a great replacement is walltex. It comes down in large sheets most of the time.

[oxymora]

on 7/9/2009 Good tips on how to remove a wallpaper border. I didn't know about the fabric softener trick until today. Thanks.