How To Remove Wallpaper

Follow this advice on the road to giving your walls a fresh, new look.

You Will Need

Gloves
Safety glasses
Safety glasses
Warm water
White vinegar
A spray bottle
A putty knife
A sponge
All-purpose cleaner
Wallpaper remover solution (optional)
An electric steamer (optional)


Step 1: Penetrate the paper

Score the wallpaper with a wallpaper-scoring tool to make it easier for the warm water and vinegar to penetrate the glue. Only press hard enough to tear the paper to avoid damaging the wall behind it.

Step 2: Spray the wall

Spray the wall with a solution of one cup vinegar per gallon of water. Wait 30 minutes.

Use wallpaper remover if the water and vinegar solution is not strong enough.

Step 3: Peel off the wallpaper

Peel the wallpaper slowly away from the wall, starting at a corner or seam.

Step 4: Spray stubborn areas

Spray stubborn areas again with the water and vinegar solution.

Step 5: Scrape the paper

Scrape away wallpaper that is stuck with the putty knife.

Rent an electric steamer to further saturate the glue if the solution doesn’t work.

Step 6: Wash

Wash the wall with a sponge and all-purpose cleaner to remove any residue. Now you’re ready to paint, or apply another layer of wallpaper.

Did you know? In 1753, Englishman Edward Deighton patented a method of manufacturing wallpaper that used etched or engraved metal plates.