Hey everyone! My boyfriend and I are super excited because we just bought our first home! The only downside is that half the house is covered in wallpaper, and the wood floors could use a little TLC. I'm looking for easy and budget-friendly methods for both removing the wallpaper and restoring the floors. I'm sure some of you out there have some awesome tips or tricks—please share!
3 Answers
If you can, you might consider just painting over the wallpaper if it's in good shape. Use an oil-based primer to lock it in, and then you can spackle and paint over it like normal drywall. As for the floors, start with a cleaning and see if that’s enough. Sometimes a mop with a good floor polish does wonders! Congrats on the new home!
When it comes to your wood floors, a good cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap can really help revive them. If they’re looking worse for wear, you might need to rent a sander. Just be cautious, as it’s easy to create divots if you linger too long in one spot. If the floors are in decent shape, sometimes just a coat of polish can work wonders without a full refinishing effort.
For wallpaper removal, a steamer can work wonders. I’ve tried it and got mixed results, but it's chemical-free and fairly easy to use! Alternatively, a mix of white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle can do the trick too. Just spray it on, let it soak in for a bit, and then scrape it off with a plastic scraper. It’s an old-school method, but surprisingly satisfying!
I totally second the vinegar and hot water method! Just keep in mind that some old wallpaper, especially from bathrooms, can be pretty tough. You might need to remove the top layer first before spraying again to get rid of the glue.
Definitely learned the hard way about sanding! Just take your time and maybe practice on a less visible area first. You’d be surprised how much life a bit of oil soap and polish can add back!