Remove old wallpaper
Lift the facing, soften the backing and leave a clean wall ready for repair.
Home · 1–2 days · Medium
Before you start
Turn off affected circuits and verify outlets are dead before working with liquids nearby. Keep liquids out of electrical boxes. Wear gloves and eye protection, ventilate, and stop for mold, friable plaster or suspect old coatings.
Tools and materials
- Compatible wallpaper remover, sponge, clean water and waste bags
- Broad scraper, optional light-duty scorer, plastic sheeting, absorbent towels, tape, gloves and eye protection
Check the problem
Try a small dry peel
Lift a corner. If whole sheets release, keep peeling dry; if only the decorative face comes off, leave the backing for a wet-removal test.
Test the wall and remover
Try a discreet patch using label dilution and dwell time. Stop if the wall face softens or tears; forcing a scraper can destroy unprimed drywall.
Steps
Protect and isolate
Clear the room, protect floors and baseboards, and isolate affected electrical circuits. Mask dry boxes and keep water away; tape is not waterproof electrical protection.
Peel off the facing
Start at a seam and pull slowly at a low angle. Remove as much dry facing as releases without tearing the wall.
Open resistant surfaces lightly
If the remover instructions require scoring, use very light pressure through wallpaper only. Do not puncture the drywall paper beneath.
Soften a manageable section
Apply remover to backing with a sponge or recommended applicator. Allow label dwell time, keeping it damp as directed rather than flooding the wall.
Lift the backing gently
Slide a broad scraper nearly flat under softened paper. Reapply remover where it resists instead of digging harder.
Clean away residual paste
Use the remover’s cleanup method and clean water as directed. Change rinse water often. Repeat until no slippery or sticky residue remains.
Dry and inspect
Let the wall dry completely. Repair gouges and torn paper with compatible products, then prime as specified before painting or repapering. Check for lingering adhesive and bubbles.
Let the wall dry completely. Repair gouges and torn paper with compatible products, then prime as specified before painting or repapering. Check for lingering adhesive and bubbles.
Tips
Small areas stay workable
Large soaked sections can dry before you reach them.
Stop before the paper facing tears
More dwell time is safer than extra scraping pressure.
Do not paint over paste
Residual adhesive can spoil the new coating.