How to remove wallpaper – a step-by-step guide

In a world where everything is getting more and more expensive, you can save some serious money if you can decorate yourself. And if you want to give your walls some TLC, knowing how to remove wallpaper yourself can be a handy skill.

Although there are so many great ones wallpaper ideas out there, it’s nice to be able to mix things up every now and then – especially like wallpaper trends chop and change all the time. And while you could wallpaper over wallpaper unless you really want to stretch your DIY fingers, experts don’t recommend this.

As Sarah McCann, print and product expert at Voyage Maisonexplains, ‘If you’re thinking of giving your home a wallpaper update, the first step you need to take is to remove the existing wallpaper. Although it may be tempting to apply the new wallpaper directly on top, it is important to remove the current layers first. This will help prevent frustrating creases and air bubbles from forming during the application process.

What you need

KZXXZH Wallpaper scrapers

Wagner Steamforce Wallpaper Remover

Step-by-step

1. Prepare the area

Accent chair next to a chest of drawers in a room with floral wallpaper and views out to the countryside

(Image credit: Future/Polly Eltes)

Just as you need to prepare yourself and your home for paint a roomyou also have to do the same when removing wallpaper. After all, it can be a messy (and dangerous) business if you don’t take precautions.

To begin with, you need to prepare the area. Adam Clark at My local toolbox suggests, ‘Protect all floors and furniture with either tarps or old sheets. Masking tape is an excellent way to protect electrical outlets, skirting boards and/or panels.’

To go one step further, Tim Warren, a DIY expert from Adkwikadvises, ‘Turn off the electricity in the room where you will be working, as water or steam may come into contact with electrical outlets or switches.’

To make things as easy as possible and to ensure you don’t need to get mold out of the fabric later you should also aim to move furniture out of the room – especially if you plan to use a steamer to remove wallpaper.

If using chemical wallpaper remover, wear gloves and eye protection to avoid injury or irritation. And if you’re on the shorter side, you might want a ladder (and someone to hold the ladder) nearby.

2. Perforate the wallpaper

Lower toilet with teal wall panel and dark green wallpaper

(Image credit: Future/Mary Wadsworth)

After preparing yourself and the area, you may feel inclined to crack as soon as possible. But there’s one more step to take before you can really start removing wallpaper – especially if you want to protect your walls and make the process as easy as possible.

Adam explains: ‘Use the right tool, poke little holes in the wallpaper.’ So you can use a scoring tool like this GoodHome Wallpaper Scoring Tool from B&Q for this step.

You have to be careful here though, as you can damage your wall. ‘Apply just enough pressure to allow the painter’s teeth to cut into the wallpaper surface. You should not use a knife or scissors to draw wallpaper, as it will be difficult to make an even cut and you risk damaging the wall below, says Tim.

3. If you want, use a removal solution

If you have a fair amount of time on your hands and want something that works effectively every time, buying or making a removal solution may be the best option.

Such chemical wallpaper removers Solvite ready to use wallpaper stripper from Amazon are free of dirt and ready to be sprayed liberally on your walls. However, you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for best results. You also need to give it time to work its magic, and most experts suggest leaving it on for at least 20 minutes after spraying.

Bedroom with textured wallpaper, a pink headboard and bedding next to a bedside table with a lamp on top

(Image credit: Future PLC)

Tim then advises: ‘Using a stripper, make short, sharp strokes to remove the paper from the wall once it’s loose enough, making sure you don’t damage the wall as you go. Try to keep the knife as flat as possible and don’t let the edge dig into the surface. If any parts of the wall begin to dry out before you reach them, apply more of the chemical stripper to the wall as directed.’

You don’t need to use a chemical stripper if you prefer to stick to natural products in your household. If you clean with vinegaryou can also use it to remove wallpaper.

Adam suggests: ‘When using vinegar, mix with equal parts water and then spray the mixture liberally onto the wallpaper. Although you can’t skimp on the mixture, it’s best to focus on small areas at a time and then leave for 10-15 minutes.’

You should then be able to use the scraper to easily remove the wallpaper from the wall. However, as with chemical strippers, you may need to reapply your solution from time to time.

4. Alternatively, you can start steaming

Corner of a nursery with white floral wallpaper, a striped accent chair and a light sage dresser

(Image credit: Future/Caroline Mardon)

Alternatively, you can use a wallpaper steamer to remove wallpaper from your wall. This is a much faster method, and while you have the added cost of buying (or renting) the steamer itself, owning one can be handy if you plan to use it time and time again.

Using steam to remove wallpaper is also extremely easy. Tim says: ‘Hold the steamer at the bottom of a strip of wallpaper for about ten seconds so the paper is damp. The steam should have penetrated enough to loosen the adhesive used on the wallpaper, but you may need to leave the steam pad against the wall a little longer.’

He adds: ‘However, don’t hold the steam plate against the wall for more than a few seconds at a time to avoid damaging the plaster. If you start to hear a popping sound, it indicates that the plaster is cracking and damaging the wall.’

For simplicity’s sake, it’s a good idea to work from the bottom to the top, as the steam will rise and ultimately make it easier to remove the upper parts. However, you should always open the windows and keep the doors open when using a steamer, as you do not want to create any moisture or condensation problems in your home.

5. Clean the walls

Sink part with green wallpaper behind, brass taps and lots of kitchen accessories

(Image credit: Future/Dan Duchars)

Once you’ve done the above, you can focus on cleaning your wallpaper-free walls.

Adam suggests a simple solution of warm soapy water to do this. And you can apply this with a sponge or cloth. But if you have any leftover sugar soap – like this Rustin’s Sugar soap from Dunelm – in your garage you can also use this to clean your walls after removing the wallpaper.

This concoction should break down any adhesive residue on your walls and leave you with a sparkling clean finish. Then you should let your walls dry completely before doing anything else with them.

Frequently asked questions

Does dish soap remove wallpaper?

Yes, it does! If you don’t want to use a chemical stripper or steamer or make a vinegar solution, you can make your own dish soap wallpaper remover.

Sarah McCann from Voyage Maison explains: ‘Start by filling a bucket with warm water and adding a few drops of washing-up liquid. Using a sponge, apply the soapy water directly to the wallpaper and let it sit for twenty minutes before attempting to remove the wallpaper.’

She adds, “This method is effective and has minimal odor, but remember that you may need to repeat the process a few times to completely remove the wallpaper, as it is a gentler approach.”

So if you’re short on time and want to remove wallpaper as soon as possible, washing up liquid might not be the option for you.

What not to do when removing wallpaper

There are many things you should not do when removing wallpaper. These include:

Cut the wallpaper too deeply before removing it.
Leave the solution on too long.
Steam too long.
Does not remove all paper.
Does not remove glue residue.

So now you know how to remove wallpaper, you should be able to check this off your to-do list in no time!

Carnevalestoricocivitonico

How to remove wallpaper – a step-by-step guide

Kaneb

Kaneb

Related Posts