How to Remove Fabric Wallpaper

Use warm water to remove old or unwanted fabric wallpaper.

Fabric wallpaper is a durable material used to cover not only smooth walls but also walls damaged with cracks and holes, as the material is thicker than traditional wallpaper. Like other types of wallpaper, fabric wallpaper is a challenge to remove, especially if the material is old and fused to the wallboard behind the wallpaper. When removing fabric wallpaper, you don't want to leave behind fragments of the material or layers of adhesive--this will cause your new wallpaper or paint to not adhere to the wallboard properly.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic drop cloths
• Bucket
• Warm water
• Latex gloves
• Large sponge
• Putty knife
• Utility knife
• Trash can or bag
• Fabric softener
• Scrub brush
• Paint roller

Instructions

1. Move any furniture present in the room or area containing fabric wallpaper to another part of your home or business. Cover any furniture you can't move with a plastic drop cloth. Cover any flooring in the room or area with plastic drop cloths.

2. Fill a bucket with warm water from a sink. Wear latex gloves to keep your hands dry and clean.

3. Dip a large sponge in the bucket of warm water. Do not wring out excess water.

4. Wipe the fabric wallpaper-covered walls with the water-soaked sponge.

5. Let the water sit on the walls for 30 minutes. Use a putty knife to lift the fabric wallpaper as you pull the paper from the walls. Use a utility knife to cut large pieces of the wallpaper into sections. Dispose of the pieces in a trash can or bag.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 until all of the wallpaper is removed from the walls.

7. Wipe the walls clean with a damp sponge once the walls are wallpaper-free.

Tips & Warnings

• If the walls contain a heavy coating of wallpaper adhesive, fill the bucket with half a gallon of warm water and a cap full of fabric softener. Remove the fuse or turn off the circuit breaker to the room or area you removed the wallpaper from (in case the solution goes into an electrical outlet). Stir the fabric softener solution with a scrub brush. Use a paint roller to apply the fabric softener solution to the walls. Let the solution stand on the walls for 10 minutes. Rinse the paint roller with warm water from a sink. Wipe the walls clean with the damp paint roller or a damp sponge. Let the walls dry overnight before turning the electrical power back on in the room or area.

References

• Creative Homemaking: Wallpaper Removal Tips 101
• Painter Forum: How to Remove Wallpaper

Resources

• HGTV: Wallpaper Hanging Tips