How to Choose The Best Way to Remove Wallpaper and Border
Typically, wallpaper consists of two or three layers of material including the outer layer and the backing on the other side, which may have up to two thinner layers. Sometimes wallpaper and borders can be removed just be pulling on an edge. With some types of wallpaper, just the top layer will come off leaving backing layers still stuck to the wall. The best way to choose which method of wallpaper works on your wallpaper is to try different methods. Whatever takes the wallpaper off easiest and quickly is the way to go. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Wallpaper scoring tool
- Enzyme-based wallpaper remover
- Sponge
- Warm, soapy water
- Putty knife/scraper tool
- Steamer
Instructions
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You can try pulling off wallpaper or a wallpaper border without using any tools or solutions. If you're lucky, the wallpaper will come off easily, just by grabbing a an edge of the wallpaper and pulling it away from the wall. This is particularly true of vinyl wallpaper. Try to create a large area to grab on to before you pull as it usually will pull off larger areas of wallpaper than if you just pull on a small edge area.
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When some of the layers of the wallpaper are still sticking to the wall, try an enzyme-based wallpaper remover. The enzymes in the wallpaper remover penetrate into the wallpaper. You place some into the palm of one hand and gently rub it on the wallpaper using a circular motion. Avoid pressing hard. Continue rubbing it on to the wallpaper until you can see little holes in the wallpaper all over. Apply warm soapy water on to the wallpaper with a sponge and then scrape off with a putty knife/scraper tool.
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Try solutions to take the stickiness out of the wallpaper adhesive. You can purchase spray wallpaper remover solutions at home improvement stores or try homemade solutions of liquid fabric softener mixed with hot water or vinegar and warm water. Spray the solution on to about 5 square feet of wallpaper and let it soak for about 15 minutes. Spray again and then use a putty knife, 1 to 3 inches wide, to scrape off the wallpaper.
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Rent a wallpaper steamer from your local hardware/home improvement store for a day. You fill it with water and plug it in to heat it up. Hold the attached hose against the wallpaper for a minute or so and scrape with a putty knife. It was amazing and it did the job. This is especially effective when you know that there are layers upon layers of wallpaper in one area to remove. Be sure to put a lot of newspaper down on the floor where you are working to soak up excess moisture and catch the wallpaper pieces.
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Try using scoring tools on the wallpaper if all the above methods have been ineffective. You can use a lightweight scoring tool, which has stainless steel teeth, When you rub it on to the walls in circular motions, it creates many shallow cuts. For extremely challenging wallpaper, use a professional, heavy-duty scoring tool. Spray on liquid remover, which gets into the small cuts and loosen up the wallpaper adhesive. Scrape off with a putty knife.
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Tips & Warnings
Test a small piece of wallpaper to see how easily it might come off. If you are pressed for time, and it appears as though it is going to be a time-consuming job, you can always opt to apply a coat of primer and then paint over it when it dries. This works well as long as the wallpaper is in good condition without rips, holes or tears.
Only use scoring tools as a last resort when other methods have not been successful. Scoring tools may put cuts into your drywall/plaster walls. It may get expensive to repair major damage to walls.
References
Resources
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