12 Effective Tips for Removing Wallpaper with Ease

Wallpaper removal can be a massive headache! However, if you have dated wallpaper that no longer matches your style, don’t be afraid to take it down.

It doesn't matter if you have the traditional paste, peelable, or removable wallpaper — there are a few effective ways to remove it without damaging your walls. Sure, it can be stubborn, but with the right tools and techniques, you can do the job in a jiffy.

We have found simpler, sanity-saving ways to remove wallpaper easily. Here are 12 effective tips that will help you out the next time you try.

Determine the Wall Type

Before you get to work, you need to determine whether the wall type is drywall or plaster wall.

Removing traditional wallpaper from any surface is a similar process, but you may need to take more care when removing it from a drywall because it is prone to water damage. Knowing your wall type will help you make better decisions later on.

Determine the Wallpaper Type

Peel-and-stick or removable wallpaper comes right off due to its backing adhesive and can be reused. Peelable wallpaper, on the other hand, leaves a paper backing, as it consists of two layers.

If your wallpaper doesn’t budge at all with a putty knife, you have traditional wallpaper and paste, which will take even more grit to remove.

Prepare the Room

Get a friend to help if needed. Move the furniture away from the walls and out of the room if you can. Cover the remaining furniture in the room with a drop cloth.

Drop cloths act like a safety net for surfaces when you are doing tasks like painting and removing wallpaper. They should also be placed on the floors, which will make gathering the scraps of wallpaper easier.

According to Jeff Patterson, a home improvement expert from Home Repair Tutor, water may also run down the wall onto the drop cloth if you use a steamer.

Tear Off the Wallpaper

Tear off as much of the first layer of wallpaper as you can, according to Patterson.

You may need a putty knife for this step. These handy little tools will help you tear from the corners of the first layers so you can peel the strips more easily.

Using your hands, peel at a 10 to 15-degree angle. If you are left with minimal strips of the second paper layer, you can then repaper or paint over the wall. A liquid solvent will get rid of any of the remaining strips.

Use a Scoring Tool

Use a scoring tool on the top layer of the wallpaper. Regardless of the type of wallpaper, a scoring tool will make it easier to apply a remover solution or use steam.

“When you score the paper, the small holes allow the steam to penetrate it,” Patterson says. “And when the steam penetrates behind the paper, it allows the lift off the wall a lot easier.”

Don’t apply too much pressure with the scoring tool, Patterson warns, or you could leave indentations in the drywall.

Use a Liquid Solvent

After you have removed the first layer of the wallpaper, Sarah Fogle, creator of Ugly Duckling House, a DIY renovation blog, tells Business Insider that the second layer can be removed with a liquid solvent. This will break down the wallpaper so you can peel it off gently with your hands or a putty knife.

Add the solvent to a spray bottle with some water, carefully following the written instructions on the label. To avoid damaging the wall, test it on a small section of the wall first before proceeding.

Opt for a Natural Liquid Solvent

While there are many store-bought solvents, you can actually make a homemade one that works just as well.

Fogle recommends using a fabric softener solvent, which combines one part fabric softener to three parts hot water, or a vinegar solution, containing one part white vinegar to two parts hot water.

Tackle Tricky Adhesive Areas

If you still face a few tricky spots, staff at Benjamin Moore Paint & Stain write: “Remove any remaining adhesive spots by going over them again with your cleaning solution and carefully scraping off the leftover wallpaper glue with your putty knife.”

Fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit) and a sanding sponge may also do the trick. Wipe the wall down with a wet rag while sanding down any rough spots and allow the wall to dry.

Use a Power Steamer

The other option is to use a steamer to remove wallpaper, though this is not recommended for drywalls as water can damage them. After you fill the steamer with water, you have to let it heat up.

“With your steamer in one hand and a joint compound knife in the other…” Patterson says. “What you do is put the steam on the wall… for about 10 to 15 seconds or until the paper starts to get moist enough, whereby you can scrape it off with your putty knife.”

You will see glue underneath as you are scraping off the layer. Try to remove as much glue as possible, too.

Clean the Drop Cloth and Walls

When you take off the wallpaper, pick it up from the drop cloth as soon as you can. It’s easiest to pick up when it’s slightly wet and not stuck to the ground.

Patterson recommends washing the walls down with one gallon of warm water, one teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing soap, and a grout sponge. “I also like to use a grout sponge,” he says, “because one side is rough, and the other side is soft.”

Dip the grout sponge into the bucket and wipe the wall in circular motions with the rough side of the sponge to remove any remaining glue.

Prime Your Wall Before Painting

Don’t paint directly over the wallpaper; this is why we put this tip last!

After removing your wallpaper, you may want to run over it with some paint. Before you do, consider prepping your wall with a primer. The staff at Benjamin Moore recommends an oil-based primer such as INSL-X Prime Lock Plus.

If You Are Using Temporary Wallpaper

Temporary or peel-and-stick wallpaper is usually reusable, so you want to take care when removing it. To remove, start at the top corner and pull it downward.

Be sure to keep the backing adhesive and reapply it once you’ve removed the wallpaper. Store it in a cardboard tube until you want to use it again.