How to Remove Stubborn Wallpaper

How to Remove Stubborn Wallpaper
Written By
C
Contributor
Published: Dec 14, 2008
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
1 minute read

Things You Will Need

  • Vinegar
  • Dish soap
  • Water
  • Fabric softener
  • Wallpaper scoring tool
  • Trisodium phosphate
  1. Use some liquid help. Mix some white vinegar and a little dish washing soap in hot water to wash over the surface. Try fabric softener in your hot water instead of the vinegar and soap. Sponge on the liquid, use a rag or spray it on with a plastic spray bottle, which is the easiest method.

  2. Complete one area at a time in succession. Perforate the paper with the wallpaper scoring tool. Soak the paper with the hot water solution. Wait for about a half hour -- during which you can start the next section -- then peel off the paper. Scrape or wash off any remaining glue with trisodium phosphate mixed in water.

  3. Get some commercial help from a liquid wallpaper stripper such as DIF wallpaper stripper from RustOleum. DIF is available in a non-drip gel that you can spray right onto the wall to loosen up stubborn wallpaper, so it won't create a mess.

The Drip Cap

  • You've scraped and scraped and you still can't get that ugly, stubborn wallpaper off the bedroom wall.
  • Rest your aching arms, there's still hope.
  • Try fabric softener in your hot water instead of the vinegar and soap.
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