Wallpaper Removal

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Any good ideas to remove wallpaper? It was pre-glued and was wet and then applied. This was about 10 years ago. Now it is coming off very SLOWLY in small pieces. Very tedious. I am looking for a shortcut!

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), September 14, 2001

Answers

get a hot steamer and it should help melt the glue and wet the wallpaper to come off faster. But it is still very slow.

-- phillip (raines@rainesridgefarm.com), September 14, 2001.

Hi Anne, I just stripped wallpaper in a couple of rooms, not long ago, and I sure don't envy you! Here's how I ended up finally doing it...went to Sherwin Williams and got some stuff in a gallon jug that they make specifically to strip the paper. Get the kind that comes in a jel. Got one of those paper tigers (think that's what their called), used it on the paper, then slathered on the jel, pretty heavy with a brush. Wait a few minutes, and then scrape. Came off alot easier than just using water. Then here's something else, although I didn't try it....As I was leaving the store, after I already bought the jel, the man told me that using Downy (liquid fabric softener), worked just as well or better than the jel. Cheaper too. Didn't try the Downy, but it might be worth it.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), September 14, 2001.

Wire brush the surface of the paper, then liberally sponge on hot water. Allow to remain wet for as long as necessary till the paper comes off. Rewet if necessary. Yes, it is tedious and horrifically messy.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), September 14, 2001.

I do not envy you one bit! I am living in my grandparents' old house and my grandmother wallpapered anything that stood still-walls, ceiling, countertops...in the kitchen I went through 10 (count 'em TEN) layers of wallpaper going back I figure well into the 40's...

I used hot soapy water in a spray bottle or garden sprayer if you have a clean one & the paper tiger. Came off pretty well except where she had painted over it (about 4 layers) and those required extra paper-tiger work so the water could get in under the paper. I've got three rooms left to go so I'm going to try the Downy idea. Never heard of that.

-- Cass (olaf72@advant.net), September 14, 2001.


Wow, thanks for the suggestions. I really have an easier job--only one layer of paper. Am trying to be careful not to ruin the drywall too bad, so I guess it will take some time. A friend mentioned spray starch, which was a bit helpful. I'll see her tomorrow to find out if I used it right.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), September 14, 2001.


Just goes to show what a curious world this is, until I opened and read this thread, I thought you all were talking about "wallpaper" on a computer. ROFL. Silly me.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), September 15, 2001.

Vinegar in a spray bottle works great also. Just let it sit a bit. Absolutely no need to buy costly chemicals.

-- Sandy Davis (smd2@netzero.net), September 15, 2001.

Ditto on the vinegar. I used 50/50 vinegar/hot water on a wall that had no less than 5 layers of wallpaper on it. Take a big sponge, wet the wallpaper, let it set for a couple minutes, then scrape. I scraped one section while letting another section set.

-Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), September 16, 2001.


Get an old spray bottle or buy one to use. Mix some liquid fabric softner with hot water at a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio (water:softner), spray the wall liberally and let it set for awhile. If it doesn't come loose after 15 to 20 minutes and the paper looks dry, spray more on the paper and let it set a little longer, then try again. I've used this a couple of times and it works well. It was recommended to me by a professional wallpaper installer.

-- Claudia Glass (glasss2001@prodigy.net), September 21, 2001.

Here's what worked best for me....a wet (not damp) cloth that I sponged over a small area (about 1 foot by 2 foot) and then sponged another area, by then I went back to first area and used a scraper to scrape while it was wet. Made much shorter work of the job. Thanks for all your help.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), September 23, 2001.


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