How to Remove Wallpaper
Question: Help! I can’t get old wallpaper to come off of the wall.
Answer: Some wallpapers are designed to peel away with minimal effort. But, if you are unlucky enough to be faced with wallpaper that’s really stuck—vintage wallpaper can be the worst—you know that removal can be a bear. Don’t give up, though. There are some good tools and techniques that will help you:
Level 1 - Scrape Carefully.
Some wallpapers will peel nicely with a little help from a razor blade or wallpaper scoring tool, which you can find at your local home improvement store. Be careful not to cut into the drywall or plaster when scraping.
Level 2 - Soak It Off.
Combine one part fabric softener with four parts water in a spray bottle and spray the solution on the wall to saturate the area. Let it work its magic for a few minutes, then peel or use a scraper to encourage peeling.
Level 3 - Get Steaming.
You can rent or buy a wallpaper steamer or a use a heavy-duty clothes steamer to help lift the paper. This process may be tedious, but it generally will remove those last stubborn layers.
Once you have removed the paper and backing, it’s essential that you use a sponge to clean the glue residue from the walls. For heavy buildup, you may need to sand the area to create a smooth finish, especially if you’re going to paint the walls.
I purchased a historic home with the most atrocious dining room wallpaper. Peacocks, monkeys and a paisley design made my dining room feel like a zoo in the 1980’s, and it had to go!
I scored and steamed a section, and soon discovered the wall itself had not been “primed” before applying the wallpaper. So when the wallpaper was dampened, so was the sheetrock paper. As I peeled off the wallpaper, the sheetrock peeled as well! Eventually I had to skim coat the areas where the sheetrock paper peeled = everywhere. Skim coating all those tears = What a job!!!
Since then, I discovered an alternative method for dealing with wallpaper. Use a oil-based primer, and simply paint over the wallpaper. For wallpaper seams, use drywall spackle to give a seamless look and use a razor knife to trim any loose seams and bubbles. The paint sticks right to the primer and looks great! No more paisley monkeys and peacocks = YAY!