How to Strip Off Old Wallpaper

Replacing old wallpaper helps transform a room, whether you are using a new wallpaper pattern or wish to paint the walls. Stripping the wallpaper requires tenacity and patience. Many homeowners hire a professional to hang wallpaper in their homes, but the professionals sometimes offer a lower price if you remove the wallpaper efficiently before they hang the new. This is because it is a time-consuming process and they can make more money by just hanging the paper. Using the correct products and tools speeds the process.

Screwdriver
Masking or painter's tape
Plastic sheet
Scoring tool
Concentrated, enzyme-based wallpaper remover
Bucket
Garden pump sprayer
Clean paint roller or large sponge
Sandpaper (medium-grit)
Putty knife
Trash can
Sponge mop

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the power supply to the room at the circuit breaker. This enables you to remove all the receptacle covers and switch plates safely with a screwdriver.
- 2
  Surround the openings of the receptacles and switch plates with strips of masking or painter's tape.
- 3
  Attach a plastic sheet to the upper rim of the baseboards with the tape.
- 4
  Rub a scoring tool over the wallpaper. This makes tiny cuts that allow the adhesive remover to penetrate the wall covering.
- 5
  Mix the wallpaper remover in a bucket with hot water and the amount of solution necessary to remove the wallpaper. It takes approximately 1 gallon of the solution to strip 250 square feet of wallpaper.
- 6
  Pour the mixture into the pump sprayer. Set it on a medium spray setting. If you do not have a pump sprayer, use a clean paint roller or large sponge to apply the solution to the walls.
- 7
  Spray the wall with the solution. Begin at the bottom and work your way up. Circle the room three times with the sprayer to ensure saturation. Bubbles appear after a few minutes to let you know the product is working. The enzyme-based product breaks down the adhesive so that you can remove it quickly.
- 8
  Dull the edges of the putty knife with the sandpaper. This helps prevent cutting into the wall beneath the wallpaper.
- 9
  Slide the putty knife behind the wallpaper where two edges meet.
- 10
  Grip the loose wallpaper with the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand and peel it off in a downward motion. Discard the wet wallpaper in a trash can; it is slippery and may cause an accident. If the wallpaper is stubborn, spray it with the wallpaper remover again and move on to the next section while the remover is penetrating. Remove all the wallpaper in the room.
- 11
  Spray the wallpaper remover over the wall to help remove any remaining adhesive.
- 12
  Scrape off any remaining residue with the putty knife. Doing this helps provide a smooth surface for paint or new wallpaper.
- 13
  Wash the walls with a large sponge and warm water or a sponge mop. Start at the top and work your way to the bottom.

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