Maybe you have a room in your house with outdated wallpaper. Maybe you have a room in your house that has perfectly fine wallpaper, but you want to give the room a makeover.
When you have a wallpapered room, it can be a pain to take down, especially if it was installed properly and used the right type of adhesive.
Removing wallpaper is not impossible, but it is going to take some time and a lot of hard work. The following steps will help you remove wallpaper.
Step 1: Get the room ready.
Before you can start the removal process, you have to get the room ready. Remove all the baseboards and quarter round, window trim and outlet covers. You also need to remove any curtains and curtain rods, pictures and anything else that is on your walls. Remove furniture, or at least push it to the middle of the room. Then, set up drop cloths around the walls. To be safe, you may also want to cut power to the room, or at least be extra cautious when it comes to working around the outlets.
Step 2: Score the wallpaper.
Pick up a wallpaper scoring tool at your local hardware store (around $10) and use this tool according to the product directions to score the wallpaper. Scoring creates small holes in the wallpaper without damaging the walls, and this allows the removal solution to remove the adhesive.
Step 3: Prepare your remover.
There are plenty of wallpaper remover solutions available. Make sure to read the directions on your remover and prepare it properly.
You can also try to make your own wallpaper remover. You can mix equal parts vinegar to warm water, or you can mix equal parts hot water to fabric softener.
Step 4: Apply to walls.
You will need to use a spray bottle to apply the remover to the wallpaper. Again, make sure to read the directions on your commercial remover. You may need to let the remover sit for a while before you can start removing the wallpaper.
It is also a good idea to only spray a small section of the wall. If you try to apply it to the whole thing, some of the remover will have dried up by the time you get to that section, and you’ll have to re-apply the remover.
Step 5: Start stripping.
The best way to start pulling up wallpaper is to grab from a bottom corner and start pulling in an upwards direction. A wide putty knife will help you create a seam or cut away at stubborn parts. Continue to repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have removed the wallpaper completely.
Step 6: Clean up.
After all of the wallpaper has been removed, you need to wash the walls. A simple mixture of hot water and dishwashing detergent is the best. Use a sponge to clean the walls, being sure to scrub in areas that still contain some wallpaper adhesive. After the walls have been thoroughly cleaned, use clean water to wipe away the soap and then towel dry.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to remove the wallpaper in your home. Be sure to follow the directions on your remover so that you prepare it and use it correctly. Once you have removed the wallpaper, you should prime your walls before painting them. This will help ensure that your paint color is even throughout.
Julie Myers lives in Phoenix and likes to do home design. She enjoys writing about home improvement, design, and wallpaper options. Julie also writes for the Arizona Tile company to promote their products.