How to Remove Layers of Wallpaper

If you live in an old home chances are you're going to have to do some remodeling. One of the tasks you my find yourself facing is having to remove layers of wallpaper from the walls so you can paint or put up new wallpaper. With a few simple tools and some patience you can remove layers of wallpaper yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Putty knife
• Spray bottle
• Hot water
• Liquid fabric softener
• Utility knife or wall paper scoring tool (optional)
• Drop cloths or tarps
• Old clothing
• Eye and respiratory protection
• Trash can or bags
• Broom and dustpan or shovel

1. Prepare the room and yourself. When you remove layers of wallpaper it can be messy business especially if you're dealing with old, crumbling, paper or a plaster wall. Change into old clothes. Remove what items you can from the room. Cover the rest of the things with a drop cloth or tarp. Set out the tools you will need so they will be easy reach when you need them. Put on your safety glasses and mask or tie a bandanna around your face to loosely cover your mouth and nose.

2. Remove any loose wallpaper that you can by hand. Start at the seams or the corners if possible and slowly pull the wallpaper off the wall.

3. Use a utility knife or wallpaper scoring tool to score the wallpaper. With your hands or using your putty knife peel off what wallpaper you can easily remove. Try to remove as many layers of wallpaper as you can at one time. You may be able to remove all the layers at once or may have to remove one or two layers at a time.

4. Make a solution of hot water and liquid fabric softener in your spray bottle and apply it to the wallpaper that is left of the wall. You will want to use a 9:1 water to fabric softener ratio. Let the solution sit on your walls for several minutes allowing it to soak into the layers of paper.

5. Take your putty knife and start scraping away the moist wallpaper.

6. Reapply the solution as needed and continue to scrape with your putty knife until all traces of wallpaper and glue are gone from the walls.

7. Pick up larges pieces of wallpaper and deposit them into your trash. Use a broom and dustpan, or a broom and shovel, to sweep and scoop up all of the small pieces and dust you created and dump it into the trash.

Tips & Warnings

• You may try using vinegar in place of the liquid fabric softener.
• Make the water in the spray bottle as hot as possible.
• If your wallpaper still doesn't want to come down after using these steps consider renting a steamer.
• Frame some of the old wallpaper and hang it on the newly done wall so you can preserve a piece of your home's history. It's easiest to salvage pieces to frame before you wet the paper.
• When scoring the wallpaper be careful not to cut into the wall underneath the wallpaper.
• Use caution when you remove layers of wallpaper from high places so you don't fall and hurt yourself. Also be sure to wear safety glasses and a mask so the falling debris don't irritate your eyes and your respiratory system.
• Do not spray the solution onto your skin or into your eyes as it will cause irritation.
• Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot water.
• You may find old damage underneath the layers of wallpaper and need to patch and repair parts of the wall after your remove the wallpaper. Walls with extensive damage may need replacing.

[tracysmith159]

on 9/4/2009 Good article. Have you heard of Waltex? I found a company who sold it when I managed properties in Ohio. It goes on like wallpaper, but has vynal in it. This makes the Waltex last longer. Plus when you take it off the wall it comes down in large sheets. I can't find it anymore.

[mymukki]

on 9/4/2009 yuck, a nasty job, I've done it too many times! Your advice works!

[survivoryea]

on 9/4/2009 very good article on how to do a tough job! thanks 5*