Easiest Way to Remove Existing Wallpaper

Removing the Paper Layer

• 1

  Move everything off the walls, including electrical plates and light switch plates. Take furniture out of the room or stack it up in the center of the room to make room for working on the walls. Place old newspaper or rugs on the floor along the walls; this makes cleanup easier.

• 2

  Wear gloves. Begin by prying with a putty knife at a 45-degree angle to slowly remove the top layer. Most paper will tear off easily without wetting. The paper should come off in large sheets, just like it went on.

• 3

  For wallpaper that won't come off without wetting it, use a paper tiger or butter knife to score the paper off the wall. Wet a sponge with warm water in a bucket, and wipe small sections on the wall at a time. Allow the paper to soak and then pry it off at a 45-degree angle when dry. Depending on the age of the wallpaper, some pieces may be impossible to remove. If this is the case, sand the wallpaper with 80-grit sandpaper and then paint over it with a primer.

  Scoring will damage the drywall underneath, which then you will need to sand. Be patient while stripping the paper. Do not add more work than necessary.

Removing the Paper Paste

• 4

  Cover the phone jack, switch openings and electrical outlets with masking tape.

• 5

  Use warm water in a spray bottle to soak the walls in sections. This paste layer usually peels away by hand. If not, scrape with a 4-inch metal putty knife.

• 6

  Put the loose pieces into trash bags when you finish each section. The process of removing wallpaper paste is messy and sticky. Be sure that your floor is fully protected by old papers or work rugs.

Cleaning the Paper and Paste Residue

• 7

  Fill a bucket with cold water. Fill another bucket with hot water and glue-dissolving solution. You can use dish washing liquid, regular soap, vinegar or rubbing alcohol as a glue-dissolving solution substitute. Another alternative is trisodium phosphate (TSP) from the hardware store, if other liquids do not work.

  Don't skip cleaning this paste residue. Even though this layer of residue is almost invisible, if it's not removed, it can ruin your paint job by cracking as the paint dries.

• 8

  Wet the grill pad with the hot water solution. Softly scrub a section of wall before working on the next section. If the residue is thick, you may need to use the putty knife to help scrape it. Be careful not to unnecessarily damage the drywall underneath.

• 9

  Rinse the wall with cold water from the other bucket using work cloths. Repeat until all the walls are clean and smooth to the touch.

Finishing the Job

• 10

  Caulk around the crown moldings, the edges around the ceiling, and the baseboards after the walls are dry, if repair is needed.

• 11

  Run your palm over the wall surface. Sand any rough areas.

• 12

  Paint or apply new wallpaper to your walls. Clean up the mess on the floor. Discard the masking tape covering the wall outlets and reattach the electrical plates and light switch plates. Lastly, put the furniture back in the room.