Easy Techniques for Removing Wallpaper in Your Home

One of the very first things that people notice about a room is the condition of the walls. If they are covered with old and stained wall paper, chances are the room will have a dated and uninspired look. In addition, unlike crisp paint, wallpaper limits the decorating ideas that will work in the room. So if you're interested in removing some old wallpaper from the walls in your room, here are a few easy techniques that just about anyone can do.

Technique # 1: Fabric Softener and Hot Water

Surprised? This very simple technique for loosening the wallpaper adhesive is great because it uses things that just about everyone has on hand. Just mix a solution of 1/2 fabric softener and 1/2 hot water and put in a spray bottle. Then, spray the wall, making sure you saturated in fully. The mixture of fabric softener and water will easily loosen the wall paper adhesive, no matter how old or new. Once it is saturated, start peeling the wallpaper off, using downward strokes, following the seams of the strips. Once the wallpaper is off, be sure to clean the surface to remove any left over adhesive and dirt.

Technique # 2: A Sponge or a Steam Iron

This is perhaps one of the most common methods for wallpaper removal, especially if it has been on the wall for a number of years. It takes a bit more elbow grease than the previous method, but since it uses only hot water, there is less chance of chemical damage. Keep in mind, though this method does use extremely hot water or a hot steam iron, so caution should be taken.

The point of this method is to use the heat of the water to loosen the sticking power of the adhesive. Simply take a sponge that has been soaked in very hot water and apply it to the wallpaper. Once the paper is properly soaked, start peeling. Every so often, you'll have to reapply heat either with more hot water or a hot steam iron, but pretty soon, removing wallpaper will become a very easy thing to accomplish.

Technique # 3: Wall Paper Steamer

If your room is rather large, you might want to consider using a wallpaper steamer for removal. Most local hardware stores offer a rental program for equipment like this, ranging in price between $5 and $10 per day. It's an electrical unit that is filled with water, and heated until steam is produced. That steam then travels down a tube to a waiting steamer plate which is about the size of a standard sheet of paper. Simply hold the plate to the wallpaper for about a minute or two, and the adhesive will be loosened enough for you to scrape it off with a putty knife. Another great thing about this particular method is that is can easily penetrate numerous layers of wallpaper. It might cost a bit more to accomplish the same task, but the increased ease of removal can make up the difference.

These are just a few of the simple techniques that can be used to remove wallpaper from areas around your house. They're simple, straight forward, and in most cases offer a non-abrasive way to remove stubborn wallpaper.