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Tips to remove wallpaper without damaging your walls

Wallpaper can be a fantastic addition to your home’s decor, but if you’re ready for a change or tackling a renovation project, removing it doesn’t have to be a daunting task.

With the right tools and techniques, you can bid farewell to outdated wallpaper and welcome a fresh canvas for your walls. Here are three easy methods to remove wallpaper without causing harm to your walls.

How to easily remove wallpaper without damaging your walls:

1. Stripping Spray Method

Materials Needed:

  • Drop cloths
  • Scoring tool
  • Stripping spray
  • Putty knife
  • Dish soap

Preparation:

  • Clear the walls of decorations, including mirrors and shelves.
  • Remove outlet and switch plate covers.
  • Cover furniture and baseboards with towels or plastic drop cloths.

Procedure:

  1. Saturate the walls with stripping spray after preparation.
  2. Allow the liquid stripper to sit for the recommended time.
  3. Gently peel off wallpaper sections using a putty knife.
  4. If the top layer comes off separately, score the wall liner underneath.
  5. Apply stripping spray to the wall liner.
  6. Scrape the walls with a putty knife until smooth.
  7. Wipe down walls with a mixture of dish soap and water.
  8. Let the walls dry.

wallpaper removal

Unsplash

2. Steaming Method

Materials Needed:

  • Drop cloths
  • Steamer
  • Putty knife
  • Dish soap

Preparation:

  • Clear the walls and cover furniture as mentioned earlier.

Procedure:

  1. Steam a small section of the wallpapered area.
  2. Peel off the steamed section using a putty knife.
  3. Repeat the steaming and stripping process for each wallpaper section.
  4. If the top layer comes off separately, score the wall liner.
  5. Steam the wall liner in small sections.
  6. Scrape the wall with a putty knife to remove the liner and adhesive.
  7. Wipe down walls with a mixture of dish soap and water.
  8. Let the walls dry.

wallpaper removal 2

Image: The Spruce

3. DIY Solution with Laundry Detergent

Materials Needed:

  • Drop cloths
  • Putty knife
  • Spray bottle
  • Water
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dish soap

Preparation:

  • Clear the walls and cover furniture as mentioned earlier.

Procedure:

  1. Mix a solution of 50% water and 50% laundry detergent in a spray bottle.
  2. Saturate the walls with the DIY solution.
  3. Peel off wallpaper sections using a putty knife.
  4. If the top layer comes off separately, score the wall liner.
  5. Spray the wall with the DIY solution again.
  6. Let the spray sit for a while.
  7. Scrape the walls with a putty knife until smooth.
  8. Wipe down walls with a mixture of dish soap and water.
  9. Let the walls dry.

With these three easy methods, you can say goodbye to outdated wallpaper and hello to a refreshed and stylish living space. Experiment with these techniques to find the one that works best for your specific wallpaper and wall type.

Compiled by: Meagan-Leigh Jacobs

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