Challenges with Wallpaper

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Removing Wallpaper

What you'll need:

Here's everything you'll need to get it right the first time.

Box cutter
Garden Sprayer or electric steamer
TSP or other detergent
Chemical softening agent
Wall scraper
Sponge
Goggles and protective gloves

There's more than one way to remove wallpaper. You can either rent an electric steamer from your hardware supplier or you can go the budget route and use a new spray bottle and a chemical softening agent. But before you do anything, take your putty knife and nick at the edge of the paper. Many modern wallpapers are designed to peel right off.


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Score the wallpaper

Using a wallpaper scoring tool, slice criss-cross marks on the wallpaper. Later on these slits in the paper will help the softening agent ooze in and get at the paste.

Apply wallpaper remover with a new spray bottle.

Be sure to follow all instructions from the chemical remover manufacturer, including wearing proper personal protective equipment. Fill a brand new spray bottle with the chemical softener. (You don't want to use an old garden sprayer bottle because it might contain chemical residue, from fertilizer for example.) Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Spray the wall and wait the recommended time before attempting to remove the paper.

Or soften the adhesive with a steamer

Follow all manufacturers' instructions. Again wear goggles and gloves—electric steamers can get really hot. Steam a small area at a time and then remove the paper.

Scrape off the wall paper

This step is all about finesse. After all that work the last thing you want to do is gouge that wall with your scraper. Easy does it.

Remove the adhesive and prep.

Fill a bucket with TSP and water solution. Rinse with clean water or other detergent and sponge off the solution of TSP and let dry thoroughly before prepping and priming.

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