Easiest Way to Remove Old Wallpaper

Tools

• Before you begin, gather together all of the tools you will need. Fill a few buckets with warm water, and add several sponges. Round up a couple of spray bottles, and fill them with warm water as well. You will also need a scraper or putty knife (one for each person who is helping) and an iron.

Process

• Take care to cover your floors with newspapers, as you will spray water. Begin with the scraper and a spray bottle. Squirt water beginning at the bottom corner of the wall to dampen the paper, and use your scraper to pry up the corner. Peel carefully, squirting water as you go. The wallpaper should lift up fairly easily as long as it is damp enough. Disregard large chunks, but leave a section pulled up each time so you can continue.

Stubborn Spots

• If the old wallpaper is stuck and the spray bottle and scraper aren't working, apply a soaked sponge to the wall to really soak the paper. Plug in your iron, set it to "Steam" and hold it to (but not directly on) the wallpaper. The steam from the iron should help to lift the old wallpaper enough that you can use your scraper to remove it completely.