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Removing 20 year old wallpaper!

12 years ago
Presently removing wallpaper from approx 20 years, not sure if sizing was used...would appreciate any advice to make this grueling task more tolerable! Thanks...

Comments (9)

  • 12 years ago
    The best way I ever found was renting a steamer from a rental store. Had a flat plate on it that steamed the wallpaper and it just peeled right off after dissolving the paste with the steam.
  • 12 years ago
    Beth-I've had great luck with scoring, then wetting with Dif wallpaper remover, and steaming. I've seen videos on youtube as well.
  • 12 years ago
    You can also use a spray bottle to spray it down with water and a little downy fabric softener. Let it soak in and then start scraping! Don't know that anything will make it super easy, I had to scrape it off of every room in my house… good luck! You will never want to put up wallpaper again :)
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Score with 80 grit sand paper then use a garden sprayer with hot water to saturate the walls
  • 12 years ago
    I always use Downey and hot water in spray bottle ,but if you get a piece that is really stuck ,plug in your iron and use it on the wall over a damp cloth to steam it
  • 12 years ago
    Dif wallpaper remover and a Paper Tiger to score the old paper. But use the Paper Tiger, or any paper-removing tool carefully, so you don't mess up the wall too much.
  • 12 years ago
    I've had luck with a little scoring, then heating up 409 in the microwave and soaking the wallpaper liberally.
  • 12 years ago
    Just recently removed 6 rooms of wallpaper in a 31yr old home we are remodeling. If possible, pull off the top layer gently by starting in a corner (works well with vinyl & can come off in big pieces). Then use the paper tiger to score the bottom layer. I bought a Wagner power steamer at a junk store for $6... It saved our sanity! Hold steamer on for a minute or two, & then gently scrape paper layer onto floor. Have another person scoop up the trash since its sticky and gets on shoes & dries to other surfaces. Then, wash the wall with a moderate amount of dish liquid in a small tub, using a soft but strong cleaning cloth. Rinse well.This step is really important if you will be retexturing & painting because you must remove the paste residue.( If you don't, your new texture will crack.) Let wall dry overnight & then retexture with premixed joint compound. Let dry again overnight & sand lightly. Then paint with Kilz to seal before your final paint coats.
    I'm an expert now :) even thought I didn't want to be. Even so, I convinced my husband to install beadboard over the last 2 areas of master bed & bath because they had multiple layers of paper! Ack! Enough already!