Hey everyone! I'm excited to share that I'm closing on my very first house in just 6 days! However, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed since I've never tackled wallpaper removal before. Growing up, my family never used it at home, so I'm starting from scratch here. In the new place, I've got both vinyl and regular wallpaper to deal with in 3 bedrooms and the living room. I plan to spend next weekend removing all the wallpaper, and during the week, I want to start painting as soon as I can. Can anyone recommend effective methods for removing it, specific tools I might need, or any tips that might help? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
A scoring tool can be really helpful here! Score the wallpaper and then mix up a solution of 25% water and 75% fabric softener. Apply that to the walls and let it sit for about half an hour. It’s been the most effective method I’ve found. If some stubborn patches remain, you can go back and spray it again to lift the rest. Good luck, it’s definitely an adventure!
I recommend getting a steam cleaner from the hardware store, usually around $60-$70. It works wonders on wallpaper! For stubborn bits, a product called DIF gel is great too. Once everything's off, and if your drywall ends up damaged, you can use a sealer like Gardz to prep it for painting.
Removing wallpaper can be a total pain! First, it really depends on the type you’re dealing with. A common method is to peel off the top layer, then spray the remaining adhesive with water and scrape it away. Just remember, after all that back-breaking work, lay down a good coat of primer to prevent any leftover glue from messing up your paint job.