How to Remove Wallpaper Paste From Paneling
When you remove wallpaper from drywall, you can scrape off the paper and glue residue and patch any damage you do with the scraper. Removing wallpaper from paneling can damage the paneling if you try to scrape off the old paste. To remove old wallpaper paste, you should use a very strong soap and hot water. While there are many soaps you can use, the strongest one you can buy for this purpose is Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) or a TSP substitute, available at most hardware stores. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sheet plastic
- Two-gallon bucket
- Sponge
- Vinegar
- Window squeegee
- Ethylene glycol
- Liquid laundry detergent
- Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) or TSP substitute
- 120-grit sandpaper
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Instructions
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1
Cover the floor with sheet plastic before you begin.
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2
Fill a two-gallon bucket with hot water and mix in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Wearing rubber gloves, wash the wall with solution, re-wetting the sponge frequently. Scrape the wall with a window squeegee to remove the paste.
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3
Mix a solution of one part hot water, one part liquid laundry detergent and four parts ethylene glycol (automotive antifreeze). Wash the wall with this solution and squeegee off any paste you could not remove in step 1.
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4
Use a solution of TSP and hot water to clean problem areas. Start by mixing 1/4-cup of TSP per gallon of warm or hot water, and graduate to a stronger solution if needed. TSP may dull the finish of the paneling.
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5
Sand the paneling with 120-grit sandpaper when it has dried if you plan to re-paint or refinish it. If there are any spots of paste remaining on the wall, you can remove them with the sandpaper.
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Tips & Warnings
If you use a metal scraper to remove some of the paste, be very careful not to gouge the paneling.
TSP use was limited by the Clean Water Act because of the environmental harm known to be caused by phosphates in detergents. Many brands of TSP that are available actually contain a high percentage of a TSP substitute, such as sodium carbonate.TSP is mildly caustic and can affect your eyes if you are sensitive. If this is the case, wear goggles while using it.
References
- Photo Credit furniture image by Vladimirs Koskins from Fotolia.com
