The Essential Guide: How to Safely Remove Wallpaper
Removing wallpaper is a crucial but often messy step before applying a fresh coat of paint. Follow these professional steps to tackle the job effectively and protect your walls.
While time-consuming, removing wallpaper is a necessary process to ensure a smooth, long-lasting paint finish. Peeling wallpaper is frustrating, but with the right steps and patience, you'll have a clean slate in no time!
1. Gather Your Supplies and Safety Gear
Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary tools and protection:
- Wallpaper scraper (or wide putty knife)
- Wallpaper removal solution
- Spray bottle and hot water
- Gloves and eye protection (Safety first!)
- Drop cloths or plastic sheeting
- Sponges and clean cloths
2. Prepare the Room and Test the Wallpaper
- **Protect Surfaces:** Lay down a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to cover all floors and furniture completely. Wallpaper removal is messy, involving water and adhesive.
- **Test a Small Area:** Locate an inconspicuous area (like behind a door) and try to peel a corner. If the paper comes off easily, you may be dealing with 'strippable' wallpaper, which simplifies the process.
- **Score the Surface:** If the paper doesn't peel easily, use a **wallpaper scorer** (or a putty knife) to lightly score the wallpaper. This creates small holes, allowing the removal solution to penetrate the adhesive layer beneath.
3. Saturate and Strip the Paper
- **Apply Solution:** Using a spray bottle or sponge, liberally apply your wallpaper removal solution (or hot water mixed with a little liquid dish soap) to the scored areas. Work in sections to prevent the solution from drying out.
- **Let it Soak:** Allow the solution to sit for **5-10 minutes**. This is critical! The solution needs time to fully dissolve the old adhesive.
- **Gently Scrape:** Use your wallpaper scraper or putty knife (held at a slight angle) to gently scrape the softened wallpaper from the wall. Be careful not to gouge the drywall or plaster underneath.
- **Repeat:** If stubborn sections remain, re-score and re-apply the solution until all wallpaper is removed.
4. Clean the Walls and Prepare for Paint
- **Remove Adhesive Residue:** After the paper is gone, a sticky adhesive residue will remain. Wash the walls using a clean sponge and warm water mixed with dish soap or vinegar to fully remove all adhesive. **Any residue left behind will cause new paint to fail or blister.**
- **Rinse and Dry:** Rinse the walls with clean water and allow them to dry completely (24 hours is ideal).
- **Patch and Prime:** Fill any small tears or gouges with drywall spackle and sand smooth. Finally, apply a coat of **oil-based or stain-blocking primer** to seal the wall and prevent any remaining adhesive or stain from bleeding through the new paint.
Wallpaper removal requires patience and careful attention to the final cleaning step. Take your time, and you'll have perfectly smooth walls ready for painting!