Been staring at ugly wallpaper for two years, finally tackled this wallpaper removal project last weekend when mom announced her visit. Nothing gets you moving like surprise guests, right?
Challenge To Remove Wallpaper
Your wallpaper removal strategy depends completely on the wallpaper type. Spent an hour googling wallpaper removal tips before starting this DIY wallpaper removal project.
- Regular Paper Stuff feels rough when you touch it. Soaks up water like a sponge. This is your lucky day if you have this.
- Vinyl Nightmare: Smooth and plastic-y. Water just rolls off it. You’ll hate this type. I sure did.
- Peel-and-Stick: Newer stuff that’s supposed to come off easily. Sometimes does, sometimes leaves a gooey mess everywhere.
- Fabric/Textured Fancy wallpaper that tears if you look at it wrong. Handle it like it’s made of tissue paper.
Do the water test thing everyone talks about. Drop some water on the hidden corner. If it soaks in – paper. If it beads up – vinyl. Simple.
Tools That Don’t Suck (And Ones That Do)
Home improvement stores want to sell you everything. Here’s what you need:
Get These:
- Scoring wheel thingy (looks weird but works)
- Wide putty knife, not those tiny ones
- Spray bottles
- Drop cloths unless you enjoy cleaning forever
- Work gloves because your hands will thank you
Maybe Get These:
- Steamer, if you can rent one cheaply
- Plastic scrapers for delicate work
Don’t Bother:
- Fancy chemical removers (total ripoff)
- Those electric sander things (way too aggressive)
The whole shopping trip cost me $52. Could’ve been worse.
| Item | DIY Cost | Professional Cost |
| Basic Tools | $52 | Included |
| Steamer Rental | $35/day | Included |
| Cleaning Supplies | $15 | Included |
| Wall Repairs | $10 | Extra $50-100 |
| Labor Time | 2 full days | 1 day |
| Room Total | $112 | $450 |
DIY Wallpaper Removal Methods That Work (Tried Them All)
Here are the wallpaper removal tips that work:
Just Rip It Off
- If wallpaper’s already peeling, start here. Find a loose spot, pull steadily at an angle. Don’t yank it.
- Works maybe a quarter of the time. When it works, it’s awesome; when it doesn’t, try something else fast.
Wallpaper Removal Tips – Soapy Water Method
- This became my favourite DIY wallpaper removal approach. Mix dish soap with warm water in a spray bottle. Nothing fancy – whatever’s under your sink works for wallpaper removal.
- Spray it well, wait fifteen minutes, scrape gently. The key keyword is gently. I learned this after gouging my wall three times during wallpaper removal.
Steam Treatment
Borrowed neighbour’s steamer for stubborn sections. Game changer, but makes the room feel like a jungle.
Steamer on the wall for thirty seconds, scrape immediately while it’s hot. Work fast because stuff cools down quickly. You can also use ceiling fans.
Remove Old Wallpaper – Vinyl Wallpaper Is the Worst
Half of my room was vinyl during this wallpaper removal project. Discovered this after wasting an hour trying to soak it with water. Just sat there laughing at me.
Had to score it first with that wheel thing for proper wallpaper removal. Make little crosshatch marks everywhere. It felt like I was damaging my wall, but that’s how water gets through when you remove old wallpaper.
Score, soak, wait longer than paper stuff, then scrape. This wallpaper removal method takes twice as long and requires three times the patience.
Getting Rid of Sticky Gunk
Wallpaper comes off but leaves gross residue everywhere. This part is harder than removing wallpaper itself.
Don’t waste money on:
- Special adhesive removers (barely work)
- Scraping dry gunk (ruins walls)
Works:
- White vinegar mixed with water (mom’s suggestion, naturally)
- That TSP cleaner stuff from the hardware store
- Fabric softener solution (sounds crazy, but it works)
Scrub with sponges, rinse everything twice. Don’t skip this, or your paint job will look terrible.
Problems Everyone Runs Into
- Stubborn spots that won’t budge. Heat the Steamereamer or hair dryer, and scrape while warm. Sometimes takes several tries.
- Accidentally damaged walls happen when you get frustrated and scrape too hard. Spackle fixes most damage easily.
- Found wallpaper under wallpaper. Some genius layered it. Remove the top layer first, then tackle what’s underneath the same way.
- Nasty stuff growing behind it. Mould loves wallpaper. Wear a mask, clean with mould killer before doing anything else.
What This Actually Costs
Doing it yourself:
- Basic tools: $50ish
- Steamer rental: $35 per day
- Cleaning stuff: $15
- Wall fixes: $10
Total around $110 for an average room.
Hiring someone: Got a quote for $450 on my 10×12 room. That’s like $3.50 per square foot.
I saved $340 doing it myself, but I worked the entire weekend. Worth it though.
Stuff I Wish I Knew Before Starting
- Test your method first. Try whatever approach in the closet or somewhere hidden. Saves time if you need a different strategy.
- Don’t spray huge areas. Work in sections. The solution dries out before you can scrape everything.
- Take real breaks. Your back will hate you if you don’t rest regularly. I’m still sore three days later.
- Prep the room right. Move everything out, cover the floors completely. This gets messy fast.
- Patience pays off. Every time I rushed, I made more work for myself. Slow and steady wins.
Safety Stuff You Can’t Ignore
- Lead paint worries. Houses built before 1978 might have lead under wallpaper. Test kits cost ten bucks. Just do it.
- Ventilation matters. Even soap needs air circulation. Open windows, use fans.
- Hot steam bSteamer gets incredibly hot. Learned this by grabbing it the wrong way. Ouch.
After Wallpaper’s Gone
Don’t start painting immediately. Prep work prevents problems later.
- Clean everything twice. Any leftover adhesive shows through the paint. Get it all off.
- Fix holes and dings
Spackle, let dry, sand smooth. Don’t rush this step. - Prime before painting, seal stains, to help paint stick better. A good primer saves headaches later.
- Check with a flashlight. Walk around looking for spots you missed. Fix them now, not after painting.
How Long Does This Take
- Small room: Full weekend, Saturday removing wallpaper, Sunday cleanup and repairs.
- Big room: Maybe three days. More surface area means more time. Plan accordingly.
- Multiple rooms: Hire pros or plan several weekends
Always takes longer than you think. Don’t schedule anything else.
DIY or Pay Someone?
Do it yourself if:
- You’ve got the whole weekend free
- Just one or two rooms
- Regular paper wallpaper
- You like this stuff
Pay professionals if:
- Time is money for you
- Whole house project
- Vinyl or difficult wallpaper
- You hate tedious work
I’m glad I did it myself, but I wouldn’t want to do the whole house this way.
Remove Wallpaper – Final Thoughts
This wallpaper removal project tested my patience more than anything I’ve done. It looked impossible at the start, but it broke down into doable steps with the right wallpaper removal tips.
The room looks incredible now with fresh paint. Mom’s gonna be shocked when she visits after this old wallpaper transformation.
Key things to remember:
- Figure out the wallpaper type first
- Test the removal method somewhere hidden
- Work in small sections
- Clean all adhesive off completely
- Prime the walls before painting
Anyone can tackle this with the right approach and a realistic timeline. Just don’t plan a dinner party the same weekend.
FAQ
Q: Can I just paint over wallpaper?
I tried this in my bathroom, and it looked terrible. Seams showed through, and paint started peeling. Remove it properly the first time.
Q: How long does this actually take?
It took me the entire weekend to build a 10×12 bedroom. Saturday removal, Sunday cleanup. My back hurt for three days after.
Q: What if I damage the wall?
Happens to everyone. Made three gouges, being too aggressive. Small holes fix easily with $3 spackle and twenty minutes.
Q: Do I need that scoring tool?
For paper wallpaper, no. For vinyl, absolutely yes. I spent two hours trying vinyl without scoring – it was a complete waste of time.
Q: Should I worry about lead paint?
If the house was built before 1978, get $10 test kit. My 1975 house tested clean, but better safe than sorry.
Q: What’s the easiest wallpaper to remove?
Regular paper by far. Absorbs water so the solution penetrates. Vinyl is the worst because it repels everything.
Q: Rent or buy a steamer?
Rent unless doing the whole house. Bought $90 steamer, used once, now collects dust. $35 rental worked just as well.