Do-It-Yourself Wallpaper Removal Tips

Wallpaper removal tips are easy to find, but many homeowners don’t know the best way to remove wallpaper in high-traffic areas. If you’re concerned about an unsightly mess, it’s best to call in a professional. Here are some basic home remedy solutions that homeowners have used with varying degrees of success:

Beating Out The Paper: This method requires a ladder and a trowel. However, if you’re confident you’ll be able to remove wallpaper in several rooms, this is an easy and relatively inexpensive option.

 

Simply spray the paper with water as soon as you come across it, and then use a trowel to beat it out from different parts of the room. Be sure not to leave a mark or mess behind. If you want to try this on your own, there are several products on the market specifically for removing wallpaper.

Water Sponges: You can find numerous products on the market today that perform well for wallpaper removal. Paintless dry stripping is a process where you use a water-based product such as wallpaper glue or dry stripping to remove wallpaper without actually touching the surface. Instead, the sponges soak up the wallpaper’s surface with water and pull it away. This technique isn’t as damaging as dry stripping, but it still leaves a messy residue behind that you have to deal with at home. Many people prefer this method because it requires little work as well as less risk. However, you’ll often need to replace the paper as well as apply a primer on the walls to prevent damage during re-installation.

Steam: A full steam treatment may seem expensive, but many do-it-yourselfers find that it’s well worth the investment, but you can also do it yourself. Basically, a professional uses industrial-strength heat along with water and chemicals to help remove the wallpaper, as well as the damaged area around the wallpaper.