How to Remove Really Old Wallpaper

The real fun in redecorating a house is changing the wallpaper and painting. Old houses get a new look with colors and textures. Removing the old wallpaper is not as hard as you would think. Depending on the thickness of the old paper, the job could take a little extra time to finish. Wallpaper from the 1950s was three layers thick, consisting of the top decorative layer and two layers of paper backing. Evaluate the job by lifting and peeling a corner section of the old paper to measure thickness.

Scoring tool
Spray bottle
Hot water
Fabric softener
Old paint roller (optional)
Putty knives
Scraper
Steamer (optional)
Newspaper or tarp
Gloves
Trash bag

Instructions

- 1
  Lay down protective covering on floors and baseboards. Tape the plastic tarp to the tops of baseboards and edges of carpet. This protects the floors from excess water and moisture. Water seeping under floorboards can ruin the wood and cause it to rot.
- 2
  Check the wall for peeling paper. If any tattered edges are lifting start by peeling them off. This will make the total process quicker because some of the work of removing the paper is finished.
- 3
  Score the paper with the scoring tool. Use a circular motion starting from the corner and moving outward. This tool leaves little holes or perforations in the paper, making it easy for the liquid to penetrate the layers and dissolve the glue.
- 4
  Mix 1 part fabric softener and 1 part water together in a bucket or put the mixture in a spray bottle.
- 5
  Spray solution on the wall or roll it on with a clean paint roller. Allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes to soften the paper.
- 6
  Peel the old strips of paper off the wall in long strokes. If any bits of paper remain, use the scraper to remove them. Wipe down the surface with a damp sponge to remove all traces of adhesive.

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Wallpaper