How do I Remove the Residue of Wallpaper Glue From a Wall?

When you want to remove wallpaper from a room in your home, you will find yourself at the mercy of whoever put up the wallpaper in the first place, the type and quality of the wallpaper itself, and the strength and amount of glue that was used. While some wallpaper will slide off easily in large sheets---and the glue and glue residue with it---other types will require a bit more elbow grease on your part.

Old towels
Paint roller
Paint tray
Vinegar-water mixture
Drywall knife
Baking soda or fabric softener-water mixture
Small spray bottle
Rag
100-grit sandpaper or an electric sander

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a relatively hidden "testing area" that's close to the floor and close to a seam in the wallpaper.
- 2
  Place some old towels against the wall under the wallpaper you will be stripping off. These towels will act as drop cloths to absorb water that falls when you next apply a vinegar-water mixture to the wallpaper.
- 3
  Roll your paint roller in a paint tray holding a mixture of warm water and vinegar, then roll the mixture in an up-and-down painting motion over your wallpaper testing area. Allow the mixture to seep into the wallpaper for a few minutes before applying a second coat of vinegar water.
- 4
  Scrape off the wet wallpaper with a drywall knife, beginning your removal at the seam. If any paper continues to stick, roll another coat of the vinegar-water mixture over it and let it soak in for a few more moments.
- 5
  Mix hot water and 1 tbsp. of baking soda (or 4 tbsp. of fabric softener) together in a small spray bottle if any wallpaper glue residue remains.
- 6
  Spray your baking soda or fabric softener-and-water mixture directly on the glue residue and wipe vigorously with a warm, damp rag. Scrape the residue off using a drywall knife.
- 7
  Remove any stubborn remaining glue residue with either 100-grit sandpaper or an electric sander.

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