How to Remove Vinyl Wallpaper & Backing

Give any room of the home a quick makeover by removing the wallpaper.

Removing vinyl wallpaper can be a dreadful task. Just thinking about taking wallpaper down can be exhausting. The process of removing wallpaper and backing does not have to be difficult or dreaded. Using the proper products and methods for removing wallpaper will get the job done in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic sheeting
• Screwdriver
• Waterproof duct tape
• Wallpaper scoring tool
• Empty spray bottle
• Hot water
• Fabric softener
• 4-inch putty knife
• Bucket
• ¼ cup trisodium phosphate
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Remove furniture and other items from the room that may be damaged by water. If they cannot be removed, drape plastic sheeting over them. Lay down plastic sheeting on the floor to make cleanup easier. Remove electrical outlet covers, using a screwdriver. Place waterproof duct tape over electrical sockets.

2. Score the wallpaper with a wallpaper scoring tool. Lightly press the scoring tool against the wallpaper to make holes. Perforate the wallpaper sporadically throughout the surface to allow the wallpaper remover solvent to penetrate the backing. The more holes you make in the wallpaper, the easier it will come off.

3. Remove as much of the face of the wallpaper as possible. Find a loose corner or seam to begin pulling off the wallpaper. Pull slowly in a downward motion to remove large pieces of the wallpaper.

4. Fill an empty spray bottle with equal parts hot water and fabric softener. Saturate the wallpaper thoroughly with the solution. Work in 4- to 5-foot sections and allow the mixture to remain on each section for about 10 minutes.

5. Scrape the wallpaper from the wall with a 4-inch putty knife. Use moderate force when scraping the paper from the walls. Begin scraping at the top and work your way toward the bottom. Use your hands to peel off large sections when possible. Work in sections until all of the wallpaper has been removed.

6. Mix a fresh solution of fabric softener and water as the water becomes cold. All that should be left is perhaps some of the backing and glue.

7. Saturate the areas where there is still backing and/or glue with the fabric softener solution. Use the 4-inch putty knife to gently scrape the baking from the walls. Again, work in small sections and allow the solution to sit on the wall for about 10 minutes.

8. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of hot water and ¼ cup trisodium phosphate once all of the wallpaper and backing have been removed. Dip a sponge into the bucket and wring it out lightly. Wipe down the walls thoroughly with the sponge and cleaning solution to remove any residue left on the walls.

References

• Painter Forum: How to Remove Wallpaper
• The Frugal Life: How To Remove Old Wall Paper
• Dummies: Getting to Know Wallpaper-Removal Techniques