In a perfect world, removing wallpaper would consist of wetting the walls, peeling off sheets of damp wallpaper, giving the walls a quick rinse and instantly having them ready to be painted. Reality is usually spending hours grimly clawing little shreds of soaked, gummy paper off the walls inch by inch and ending up with pockmarked and gouged walls. Youu'll find the task of removing wallpaper a lot by following some professional tips.
If it is truly that difficult, you may have to paint over the wallpaper. You can't predict how paper will come off a wall until you get into the project. Most commonly, it is a three-stage process.
Removing the Top Layer
The top layer of paper peels off quite easily and sometimes you don't even need to wet the wall. If it is a vinyl or slick-type paper, wetting it won't penetrate the surface to loosen the glue and backing underneath.
Make sure you have placed protection on the floor to avoid messes. If the paper peels in large pieces, lay those along the bease of the wall too. They will catch much of the damp paper and glue sludge as you continue to get your walls clean.
Using a paper tiger or a knife to score the paper will be useful if you need to wet the top layer to remove it, but usually you don't need to. Using anything to score the paper will result in slight drywall damage which will need to be sanded before you can paint. Don't add more work unless you need to.
Removing Paper Backing
The paper backing will probably need to be removed separately by thoroughly wetting and scraping. Quite often, plain hot water works just fine. Fabric softener, household cleaner, dish detergent, vinegar and commercial solutions all work too, so feel free to experiment.
Cover the electrical and phone outlets with tape. Using a large sponge, rag, garden sprayer (for very large walls) or spray bottle, soak the walls in sections. A flexible 2" to 4" metal putty knife usually works best to remove this layer, although sometimes it peels away easily by hand.
This can be a bit messy and sticky, so make sure your floor is protected. As you finish each wall section, put the messy bits in trash bags so they don't get tracked all over your house.
Cleaning the Remaining Residue
Cleaning the paste residue and remaining shreds of paper is often the most tedious part of the job. Do not get lazy and think you can get away without this step. What now seems like a virtually invisible layer of paste will make your paint job look horrible and may start cracking about a month after you complete the job as the paint cures.
You'll need two buckets, a bunch of rags and a scouring pad, preferably a large, grill cleaning pad with a handle. Fill one bucket with hot water and your glue-dissolving solution and another bucket with cold, clean water. Using the scouring pad, wet and gently scrub a portion of wall. If the glue is very thick, you may need to use your putty knife to help scrape it off. Take care not to do much drywall damage. Rinse with cool water, turning the rags frequently. Rinse and repeat until all the walls are smooth and clean.
Finishing the Job
You will probably have to do some minor drywall repair and caulking at the edges of the ceiling and around trim when the walls are dry. As you sand the repairs, run your hand over the walls. If they feel a bit rough, do a quick sand and dust-off on all the walls. Sanding sponges make this quick and easy.
If you have a digital camera, why not take photos of each step? It's very rewarding to see each step in the process and how good the finished project turned out with your efforts.
 | To remove wallpaper paste, especially from decades-old wallpaper, you need the right tools and products. While many people fear this tough task, it is possible for wallpaper and stubborn wallpaper paste to come off with no damage to the wall. |
 | Rather than pay a professional for stripping wallpaper, do it yourself with the right wallpaper supplies. It's not easy to strip wallpaper, but you can get professional-looking results. |
One of the very first things that people notice about a room is the condition of the walls. If they are covered with old and stained wall paper, chances are the room will have a dated and uninspired look. |
Wallpaper can turn plain walls into colorful works of art, but many people avoid wallpaper because they are under the impression that stripping and removing wallpaper isn?t easy. Hanging wallpaper doesn?t seem nearly as arduous since it's something new and exciting, but stripping and removing old wallpaper is considered a chore. |
It seems like a nightmare when a spot mysteriously appears on wallpaper. Although most wallpapers manufactured today are said to be washable, despite cleaning instructions, some vinyl wallpaper isn?t that easy to clean. |
