Find out how to remove wallpaper with four easy, low-cost methods.
Protect floors and baseboards with sheet plastic, cardboard, or towels.
Remove everything on the walls: pictures, shelves, and mirrors.
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Unscrew and remove electric outlet and light switch covers.
Fill the steamer reservoir full of water up to the waterline mark.
Plug in the steamer and turn it on.
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Wait for it to build up full steam.
Steam the Wallpaper
Lay the plate on a wallpaper section.
Press the trigger for 15 to 20 seconds.
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Remove the steamer and quickly but safely set it aside.
Scrape the Wallpaper and Adhesive
Immediately peel off that section of the wallpaper with the putty knife.
Continue steaming and peeling until the wallpaper is gone.
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With the paper removed, re-steam the wall and scrape the residualwallpaper glue.
Wipe down the wall with a damp sponge.
Steam that section and peel it up.
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Once soaked, the paper will separate from the walls.
Scrape and Peel the Wallpaper
Gently peel off the saturated wallpaper with the scraper.
If the wallpaper resists, soak and try peeling again.
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Wait for five minutes as the stripper penetrates the paper.
Wipe drips before they reach the baseboard or floor.
For vinyl wallpaper, begin by scoring the paper with the scoring tool.
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Remove With a Putty Knife
Gently push the putty knife under the paper and lift it away.
Do not scrape or gouge the wall with the knife.
The wallpaper should easily lift off.
It’s also helpful to first score the wallpaper with the scoring tool.
Allow the gel-based stripper to sit and remain moist for 15 to 30 minutes.
Gel-based wallpaper strippers work slower than liquid strippers.
Lift off the wallpaper with the putty knife.
Tips for Removing Wallpaper
The easiest way to remove old wallpaper is by using a steamer.
Steam the wallpaper with the wallpaper plate attached to the steamer.
Leave the steamer on the wall for about 30 seconds.
Remove and quickly peel away the wallpaper with a putty knife.
Removing wallpaper is not especially easy.
As withpainting over wallpaper, it’s usually easier to avoid removing the old wallpaper before adding new wallpaper.
Generally, though, it is better to remove the old wallpaper first.
Removing the old wallpaper allows you to assess the condition of the wall before adding the new wallpaper.
About Lead Based Paint.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
