How do I Remove Old Wallpaper?

Wallpaper removal is a task no one enjoys. It's messy, sticky and time consuming. Some people try to avoid this tedious task by painting or repapering over wallpaper, but this is never recommended and will become a headache for whoever attempts this task in the future. While there's no way to avoid wallpaper removal, there are relatively new techniques and products available to make this chore a little easier than in the past. This is not your father's wallpaper removal. The best way to get wallpaper to cooperate is to make it wet enough to scrape off. To accomplish this, you'll need to score the wallpaper first. This is easily done with a utility knife, but there are also scoring products on the market specifically designed for this purpose. These can readily be found at the local home improvement emporium. To score, take your knife and cut in a criss-cross pattern across the wall. Once your wallpaper is properly scored, a chemical wallpaper remover will have to be applied. For your ...  more

The first thing that you want to do when hanging wallpaper in your home is to remove all old wallpaper that might still be hanging on your wall. It is very important to remove this paper entirely, or the new wallpaper will not stick as well. Depending on the wall covering and the kind of wall it’s on, there are several techniques you can use to get this job done. The first technique is stripping the wallpaper. This technique only applies to strippable wallpapers, so it is important that you test to see if that is the type that you are dealing with. Most strippable coverings have smooth, plastic-like textures, but the only way to really find out what you have is to try peeling it off the wall. First, pry the paper up in an inconspicuous corner near the top of the wall. A utility knife works great for this step. Once a corner has been pryed up, grab the tip of it and try to pull it down the surface of the wall, keeping it as close to the wall as possible. The closer you keep it to the ...  more

EASY WAY!!! I learned this from a contractor friend of mine. You take a bucket of warm water (1 gallon should be fine... 5 gallons if it is a very large room) and add white vinegar. (about 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar) You may wish to score, but ONLY lightly, as if it is done correctly you can just peel the paper off the wall in large pieces. Sponge the vinegar mixture generously over the wallpaper and after a little time (about 2-3 minutes) you will notice the wallpaper darken. At this point you can literally PEEL the wallpaper off. I got rid of the wallpaper in 2 rooms this way, got it finished in just a few hours. It is the best way to go hands down.  more

You can get this little tool that you rub over the wall, and it makes holes in the wallpaper. Then you put this goo over it that seeps into the holes. You can use a steamer to help peel it off. Sorry I don't know what any of these things are called, but I'm sure if you go to Sears or someplace the salesperson can tell you.  more