How to remove wallpaper

Before removing wallpaper in your home, check out the following suggestions for making the job easier and neater to perform.

Down with the old and up with the new may be a motto many folks use for stripping wallpaper. This can be a challenging task, and there are many ways to complete it successfully. But as with any household task, you have to remember to take precautions.

The right tools will make the job a lot easier and quicker. You will need safety glasses, rubber gloves, and work shoes, new or old. Try to open a window for ventilation to avoid noxious fumes. Other tools you will need are a streamer, which you can rent at a tool supply store, usually for a few days at a time, and often at reasonable cost. Other tools for the job include a putty knife, a utility knife, masking tape, and a drop cloth so you won't get the floor wet or messy. Experts often recommend using a chemical stripper. But not everyone likes to do this because of potential health risks. If you do, make sure you cover your nose and mouth with the proper breathing mask.

To get started, open a window or two in the room where you will be working. Next, cover the floor with a drop cloth or newspaper. You might want to mask off any electrical outlets and cover anything close by that you don't want to get wet. The next step is to score the wall that you are working on. This means to take a utility knife and make an 'x' about two feet long every foot or two apart. This will allow the chemicals that you are about to apply to get to the paste behind the paper and break it down so the wallpaper will become easier to strip off with the putty knife. Make sure when you are scoring the wall that you don't go too deep or you will end up having to patch the wall.

When you finish scoring the wall, apply the chemical stripper with the right brush that can be purchased at the hardware; ask the sales assistant if you aren't sure which one to get. If you opt not to use chemicals, use hot water with rags or a sponge for application.

When the wallpaper streamer has heated up, slowly start moving it up and down the wall. Then take the putty knife and start scraping the paper loose. It should start coming off in long strips. Sometimes it is easier to have someone follow you with the putty knife for prompt removal. You will find spots with a lot of glue, and you may need to go over these areas a couple of times to get all the paper off.

After you are done, let the wall completely dry. The more wallpaper that was on the wall, the longer it will take, because many homeowners will wallpaper over the old paper. Make sure you clean up the old wallpaper as soon as you can. With the chemicals on it, you don't want pets or children getting into it. Be prepared to sand the rough edges where paper stuck to the wall or glue was thick. When the walls are dry, prepare for painting or for new wallpaper application.

Removing old wallpaper can be costly and messy. Follow steps like those outlined here to make the job inexpensive and manageable.