Wallpaper Removal Tips

Whether you purchased a home and don’t agree with the former owner’s wallpaper choice, or if you’ve suddenly realized that your own wallpaper choices are outdated, it’s time to create a fresh look in your home. Wallpaper removal doesn’t have to be a hassle.

What you’ll need:

  • Patience
  • Drop cloths
  • Wallpaper scorer
  • Hot water
  • Fabric softener
  • Spray bottle
  • Putty knife
  • Dish detergent
  • Sponge

Steps:

  1. Place drop cloths at the base of the walls you’ll be stripping. Remove your outlet covers, and turn off the power to the room.
  2. Using a wallpaper scorer, make small holes in the paper. This allows your solution to penetrate through the wallpaper adhesive.
  3. Mix one part hot water with one part fabric softener. Don’t mix too much at once. You want the solution to be warm. If this means re-mixing the solution a few times, it’s worth it.
  4. Using a spray bottle, saturate a section of the wallpaper. Spray only as much as you can strip in a 15 minute period.
  5. Use a putty knife to get a piece of wallpaper peeled, then pull upward.
  6. Clean the walls with a mixture of a tablespoon of dish detergent and hot water. Sponge down the walls carefully to remove any remaining traces of wallpaper adhesive.
  7. Rinse down the walls with clean water and dry it with a towel.  Allow the wall to dry for a day before you paint.

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