Old wallpaper can make a room feel dated, and painting over it rarely works well. Taking it off sounds messy, and it can be, but with the right approach it’s mostly a patience game. Here’s how to remove wallpaper without damaging drywall and get your walls ready for paint.
Figure Out What Kind of Wallpaper You Have
Pick a corner and try to peel it back dry.
- Strippable wallpaper comes off in whole sheets with little effort. Lucky you.
- Peelable wallpaper leaves a thin paper backing on the wall that needs soaking.
- Traditional wallpaper is glued on firmly and needs scoring and soaking.
Knowing the type tells you how much work is ahead.
Tools and Supplies
- Drop cloths and painter’s tape
- Wallpaper scoring tool
- Spray bottle or garden pump sprayer
- Wallpaper remover solution, or warm water with a little dish soap or fabric softener
- Wide plastic or metal putty knife
- Sponge and bucket
- Optional: wallpaper steamer for stubborn paper
Step 1: Prep the Room
Move furniture out or to the middle of the room. Cover floors with drop cloths and tape plastic along baseboards. Turn off power to the room at the breaker and remove outlet and switch covers. Water and electricity don’t mix.
Step 2: Peel What You Can Dry
Start at a seam or corner and pull slowly at a low angle. Strippable paper often comes off completely at this point. Save your energy for the parts that fight back.
Step 3: Score the Wallpaper
Roll the scoring tool over the paper in light circles. The small holes let your solution soak through to the glue. Don’t press hard, because deep scoring can damage the drywall paper underneath.
Step 4: Soak and Wait
Spray a section about four feet wide until it’s thoroughly wet. Wait 10 to 15 minutes so the solution can soften the adhesive. Work in small sections so the paper doesn’t dry out before you get to it.
When to Use a Steamer
If soaking doesn’t loosen the glue, a rented or bought steamer helps. Hold the plate against the wall for 20 to 30 seconds, then scrape. Wear gloves, because the steam and plate get very hot.
Step 5: Scrape Gently
Slide the putty knife under the loosened paper at a shallow angle and push it off. Let the solution do the work. If the paper resists, spray again rather than digging. Gouges in drywall mean more patching later.
Step 6: Wash Off Leftover Glue
Glue residue causes paint to crack and peel. Wash the walls with warm water and a sponge, rinsing often. Run your hand over the wall. If it feels slick or tacky, wash it again.
How Long Does It Take to Remove Wallpaper?
Strippable paper in a small bedroom can be gone in an hour or two. Older, glued paper in a large room often takes a full day, plus time to wash and dry the walls. Several layers of paper, or paper hung straight onto unprimed drywall, will slow you down. Plan for two days so you aren’t rushed.
Repair and Prime Before Painting
Let the walls dry for a day. Fill any torn drywall paper or dents with joint compound, sand smooth and apply an oil-based or shellac primer over damaged areas. Primer seals the surface so moisture from new paint doesn’t bubble the drywall paper.
Next Steps for Your Walls
Small gouges are easy to fix with our guide on how to patch drywall holes. When the walls are smooth, learn how to paint a room like a pro and use our paint calculator to buy the right amount. Redoing the whole room? Install laminate flooring after the walls are finished. Want a feature wall afterward? Try a peel and stick backsplash in the kitchen or hang a heavy mirror as a focal point.
