Before starting, note that many manufacturers now make removable wallpaper that can simply be peeled away. To check, try to lift a corner of the wallpaper and see if it peels away easily. If the wallpaper doesn’t come off easily, proceed as follows:
- Using a scoring tool, make holes in the wallpaper (be careful not to make holes in the drywall). This will allow the wallpaper stripper to penetrate through the paper.
- Following the manufacturer’s instructions, mix the right quantity of wallpaper stripper and water in an empty 5-gallon plastic pail. Or if you prefer, you can use an electric wallpaper steamer instead of liquid stripper.
- Apply the stripper solution with a sponge on a section of 4 ft. sq. Allow the solution to penetrate the surface for approximately 5 minutes. Do not let the solution dry.
- Starting with one corner of the wall, peel away a 4 ft. sq. section of the wallpaper. Repeat the process until all of the wallpaper has been removed.
- Use a putty knife to remove the more stubborn sections of wallpaper. If any wallpaper glue remains, keep wetting and scraping the surface until the glue has been removed.
- Using a scrub brush, scrub the surface to remove any remaining residue.
- To remove stripper solution residue and glue, wipe the surface with a sponge or damp rag. Any remaining paper or glue will cause the surface to crack or chip when you paint.