How to Remove Wallpaper Using Steam

Fill the reservoir of the hand-held steamer according to the device's instructions. These devices are ordinarily used to steam clothing and fabrics but are also useful for providing the steam needed to loosen wallpaper.

Plug in the steamer and allow it to heat up for up to 15 minutes. This ensures that the temperature of the steam delivered by the device is adequate.

Point the nozzle of the hand-held steamer at the wallpaper, approximately 3 inches from the surface. For ease of removal, start near a seam in the wallpaper.

Squeeze the trigger of the hand-held steamer firmly to release a fine, hot mist against the surface of the wallpaper. Move the hand-held steamer in circular motions over the area for two minutes at a time. Do this up and down the seam in the wallpaper or up and down the height of the wall.

Slip the head of the paint spatula between the loosened wallpaper and the bare wall. Lift the paper away from the wall. You may need to work the spatula into the moist paste to force the wallpaper away. If necessary, steam the area again to further loosen the difficult parts of the wallpaper.

Grasp the loosened wallpaper firmly with your hands and pull it away from the wall. The paper may rip, but try to pull off a large piece at once. Discard the wallpaper pieces and repeat steps 3 through 5 to remove all of the wallpaper in this manner.