How to Remove Wallpaper With Wheat Paste
Wheat paste, sometimes referred to as cellulose, is a type of wallpaper paste used for applying wallpapers with porous surfaces. Extra care must be taken with porous papers because they absorb adhesives, which results in staining to the visible portions of the paper. Wheat paste can be removed with a lot of water and liquid wallpaper remover that contains enzymes specifically formulated for removing wheat paste adhesives. You can purchase everything required to remove wallpaper that has been applied to a wall with wheat paste at home improvement, paint and hardware stores. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 5-gallon bucket
- Water
- Liquid wallpaper remover
- Plastic drop cloths
- Sponges
- Garden sprayer or sponge-head mop
- Wallpaper razor scraper or putty knife (for drywall wallpaper removal)
Instructions
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Mix liquid wallpaper remover and water in a 5-gallon bucket according to the wallpaper remover manufacturer's ratios. Different types of wallpaper removers are formulated for different types of wallpaper adhesives. Before purchasing the remover, make sure to read the product packaging and select one that has enzymes used for softening wheat paste.
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Pour the water and wallpaper remover solution into a garden sprayer. If you are using the sponge-head mop process, leave the solution in the bucket as-is.
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Place plastic drop cloths over the floor and any furniture not removed from the room. For the best results, remove all your furniture and belongings from the room.
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Spray or use a sponge-head mop saturated in the wallpaper-remover solution onto the wallpaper from the top of the wall to the bottom of the wall. The wallpaper needs to be completely saturated so the paper will absorb the solution and the wheat paste will weaken and soften.
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Allow the solution to remain on the wall for about 30 minutes. Do not let any part of the wallpaper dry out. Reapply the remover solution to the paper during the 30-minute period as necessary.
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Test the wallpaper to see if it is ready for removal by slicing the wallpaper with a wallpaper razor scraper or a dull-edged putty knife --- if you're removing wallpaper from drywall --- from the floor to the ceiling. If the scraper or putty knife easily slices the wallpaper, the paper is ready for removal. If the paper catches on the blade, apply more remover solution.
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Slice the wallpaper into 12-inch-wide strips from the floor to the ceiling, using the razor scraper or putty knife. Peel the wet paper from the top to the bottom.
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Let the wet paper collect on the drop cloths for removal later. If the wallpaper begins to dry out, reapply the remover solution, keeping it saturated at all times. If you are removing wallpaper that was applied with wheat paste to a drywall surface, be careful not to peel or tear the paper surface of the drywall. Let the wall surface completely air-dry before cleaning, or sealing the wall surface with sizing.
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Tips & Warnings
Wallpaper that was applied with wheat paste to unsized or untreated walls may need extra coaxing to be removed. Fill a spray bottle with the remover solution to spray difficult paper as you peel it from the wall.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Gary Houlder/Lifesize/Getty Images
