I get asked all the time, “Daniel what is the easiest way to remove wallpaper.” Well, the short answer is it is not easy, but by following these steps you can get it done. Like any DIY project, research, perseverance, and hard work will pay off and help you get the job done. Wallpaper is made in many different styles, types, colors, etc. But it all follows a simple idea. It's some form of paper, vinyl, etc with an adhesive glue on the back. If you can deactivate the glue, then you can remove the wallpaper.
STEP 1: before doing anything find the breaker that controls the electrical outlets in the room you will be working in. This is very important because you will be spraying the walls with a water solution, and you do not want to get an un-welcomed zap. If your breaker panel isn't labeled, you may need an electrical outlet tester, or the simple way to find the right breaker is plug in a large fan that you can hear run from the breaker panel. Turn the breakers off one by one until the fan shuts off. Even if your breakers are labeled, always test every outlet in the room by plugging something in and see if it turns on. You cannot see behind the walls, and you never know what the builders did or previous homeowners. Take all the outlet covers off then cover the opening with painter's tape. This allows you to remove the wallpaper behind the outlet covers, but also keeps you from getting water in the outlet box. Now you are ready to move on to the next step.
STEP 2: Use a wallpaper scoring tool. This is probably the only tool you don’t have lying around the house and need to purchase. Luckily, they are pretty inexpensive. This tool scores the outer paper layer so your solution can get to the glue to deactivate it. These tools vary from $10-$15 on amazon. I personally like to do a circular motion with it, but always read the instructions on the tool you purchased to see the way it is designed to be used. Every tool is slightly different in its design and manufacture recommendations usually produce the best results. I do recommend going in 3 ft by 3ft squares repeating steps 2,3,4, and 5 for each square. Now that you have a square area scored let's move on to step 3.
STEP 3: For this next step you will need a spray bottle. I personally like the ones in lawn and garden that you can pump up and they have a good amount of pressure, but a normal spray bottle will work. There are many chemical solutions you can purchase to remove wallpaper, but I have found distilled white vinegar and hot water works the best. I personally try to keep chemicals to a minimum unless I have to. Mix the hot water and white vinegar in your spray bottle. This is not an exact science, but I always try for 2 parts water and one part vinegar. If you are finding an extremely hard spot you can increase the vinegar amount, but never go over a 50/50 mix. Let the solution sit for 2-3 minutes then proceed to the next step.
STEP 4: Now the fun part, scraping. Like I said, hard work and perseverance. I use an actual wallpaper scraper tool, but you can use a paint scraper, putty knife, even an old metal spatula. Try to find a seam in the area you sprayed and start there. Hold the scraper at a slight angle off the wall, if you do too steep of an angle you can score the sheetrock behind it, which just makes more work in the long run. Find a good angle and rhythm that works for you. Practice makes perfect. By the time you have the room all done you will be a master at this. Again, experiment with different angles and different pressures to find what works best for you. This step is the hardest part, but perseverance and hard work will get the job done.
STEP 5: Hey you got the paper removed in your 3 ft by 3 ft square. YAY! You may notice spots of glue that were left behind from scraping. Don’t worry. These come off easy now that the paper is gone. Just spray these spots with your mixture of vinegar and water and let it sit a few minutes, and yup you guessed it scrape again.
Things such as how old the wallpaper is, the type of glue, and type of paper all affect how easy, or hard, this job is. There is nothing more satisfying than a DIY renovation to a room. I keep saying it and I will say it again: hard work, research, and perseverance and you can accomplish any DIY project.
If you get stuck or feel like you are over your head, reach out to Dan’s Design and Contracting. We are here to serve our community and offer a reliable, honest, and quality contractor for all of your needs. Don’t hesitate to look at our other educational materials to see if we have something to help you out. Or if you have a project but don’t know what to do and want a DIY explanation, shoot us a message we may just choose your idea for the next blog.
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