Redecorating or decorating your house sometimes involves changing the wallpapers. The changing trend may also be a fad, and being an interior design or do-it-yourself enthusiast, you probably change wallpapers twice or more in a year. So you want to change your wallpaper again? Don’t stress it out too much, removing wallpaper can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Read on to learn how to easily remove wallpaper and make sure you end up with a clean and smooth wall.
Prep Work for Removing Your Wallpaper
Preparation is one of the key factors in successfully removing your wallpaper. With that said, here are some things you need to do or prepare before you proceed with your project:
- Wear your protective gear. In every project, it is essential to take precautionary measures. Wear a dust mask (and protective glasses if needed). If you are allergic to dust, it is a must to wear a mask.
- Remove anything on the wall. If you have wall decor, such as picture frames, paintings, and others, set it aside and make sure the walls are free of any accessories.
- Move your furniture. Any furniture or knick-knacks near your walls should be moved. This way, you will be able to avoid damaging them in the process of removing your wallpaper.
- Tape plastic or old cloths to the baseboard and allow it to overlap on the floor. This process will prevent messy scraps on your floor while the fabric will absorb possible water as it rundowns on the wall.
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Easy Ways to Remove Wallpaper
Here’s how you can easily remove wallpaper from your home:
Strippable Wallpaper
- Newer wallpapers are strippable, and if this is the case, your job will be much easier. First, you need to tear off the facing wallpaper. Start at a corner or near the ceiling, and use a putty knife to pry the wallpaper out. Strip wallpaper as much as you can, with the right technique, some wallpaper can be removed as a whole sheet.
- Once you’ve stripped the facing wallpaper, there will be residues like paste left. So apply hot water (make sure to wear gloves) using a floor mop or sponge to the backing of the wallpaper. Leave it soaked for about 15 minutes; this will soften the leftover adhesive or paste on the wall.
- After you have soaked the left adhesive, scrape it off with a metal spatula or a flexible putty knife (it’s better if the putty knife has rounded corners). Scrape the backing with normal pressure, don’t scrape it aggressively, as it may damage or gouge the drywall.
- For stubborn paste, you can use a gel wallpaper stripper. This is used for hard-to-scrape glue or adhesive.
Steam Wallpaper
For hard-to-remove wallpaper, consider steaming the residues or the wallpaper itself. For old wallpapers, this may be necessary. The steam will soften the wallpaper as well as the glue between the wall and the wallpaper itself.
Peelable Wallpaper
Temporary or peelable wallpapers can be removed by peeling the top (vinyl) layer, and you’ll have the backing left. To remove the backing, follow the direction of stripping it with water.
Chemical Remover
If none of these works, try using a chemical. Consult your local hardware store for a recommendation. Alternatively, you can try mixing fabric softener with hot water. Once the wallpaper is soaked, leave it for 15 minutes and then scrape it off.
And these are some easy ways to remove wallpaper. If you are not successful with removing wallpaper, you might want to consult with a professional or use vinyl next time, which is generally easy to remove.