How to Remove Wallpaper

Thinking of redecorating but you’re met with walls and walls full of dated wallpaper? Fear not, there’s a couple of methods you can try to strip the wallpaper, leaving you with a blank canvas for painting or adding a new wallpaper design to.

Both steaming and chemical stripping work to loosen the adhesive behind the paper, making it easier to peel and scrape off the wall. Different wallpaper types will need different levels of care, so keep reading to find out the best ways to remove your wallpaper.

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To remove wallpaper, you’ll either need to use a steamer or a chemical stripper. Before either, score the wallpaper to make the adhesive more accessible to the steam or solution. If using a steamer, all you need to do is let the machine heat up for 10-15 minutes, so it starts producing steam, and then press the steam plate onto the wallpaper for up to 30 seconds, starting from the top. Remove the plate and you should be left with moist wallpaper which you can easily take off using a plastic scraper.
To remove wallpaper with a chemical stripper, all you need to do is apply it with a spray bottle or paintbrush directly onto the wallpaper, let it soak and then remove the paper with a plastic scraper. Always air out the room for proper ventilation.
When removing wallpaper, steamers use hot steam to loosen wallpaper, and chemical strippers dissolve the adhesive, making them ideal for stubborn areas.
After stripping your wallpaper, you’ll need to clean the walls with warm soapy water and remove any residue or leftover paper to ensure a smooth surface for redecorating.

What to do before removing wallpaper

Wallpaper can be very tedious to remove, especially if it’s been stuck on the wall for years, which means it can be a messy process too. So, before you start, you’ll want to either remove all your furniture in the location, or cover it with dust sheets. It’s also a good idea to completely cover your floor so discarded wallpaper sheets don’t stick to it.

It’s important to keep in mind that both methods of removal involve using liquid, so it’s worth covering any electrical sockets with masking tape and plastic sheets too. You may also need to loosen fixtures such as light switches to remove any paper found behind the switch face. While doing this, don’t forget to turn off the electricity for that room just to be safe.

Whether you’re using a steamer or a chemical stripper, scoring the wallpaper beforehand is a vital step. This allows the steam or stripper to get behind the wallpaper and seep into the adhesive, loosening it. Once moistened, it should be much easier to peel away.

To score wallpaper, you can either make small cuts with a utility knife or use a dedicated wallpaper scoring tool. You’ll want to create small holes all around the paper sheet, but make sure your cuts are even, and don’t press too hard when cutting as you may damage the wall underneath.

How to remove wallpaper with a steamer

To set your wallpaper steamer up, just lay it flat, fill it with water to the marked line, and switch it on. It will take around 10-15 minutes to boil, and then you should have steam.

Starting at the top of your wall, press the steam plate onto the wallpaper for around 30 seconds. Certain paper types may need longer or shorter amounts of time to start lifting, so feel free to experiment until you get it right.

Use a scraper to get underneath the wallpaper, making sure you keep the tool flat so you don’t cause any damage to the wall. If it’s still difficult to pull away, place the steamer back onto the paper, but avoid leaving it there for too long. Many wallpaper steamers come with a smaller plate that can be helpful when you’re dealing with smaller, hard-to-reach areas. Use this plate when you’re removing paper around light switches or plug sockets.

NOTE: If removing wallpaper from the ceiling, avoid holding the plate directly above you, as boiling water may drip down. You should wear long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection to protect yourself.

For more information on this method, check out our dedicated article on how to use a wallpaper steamer.

How to remove wallpaper with a chemical stripper

Before using a chemical stripper, you’ll need to open your windows to ensure proper ventilation and also wear a face mask for safety reasons. It’s also advisable to wear gloves, eye protection, and long sleeves to avoid exposure to the liquid.

Some chemical strippers will need diluting, but some can be used straight out of the bottle, so always check the manufacturer’s instructions to see which applies to your product.

When using a stripper, you can use a spray bottle, paintbrush, or paint roller to apply it. If you’re using a spray bottle, spray the mixture across the wall without using too much as you don’t want to oversoak the paper, causing the solution to drip down the walls. If using a roller or brush, you’ll need to consider this too, so avoid overloading them with the liquid.

Leave the stripper to soak into the wallpaper and penetrate through to the adhesive. It’ll likely take a few minutes for the adhesive to dissolve enough so you can peel off the paper. However, we recommend that you don’t wait too long as if the solution dries out, you’ll have to spray it again.

Starting at the edges, use a scraper to get underneath the wallpaper, making sure the tool remains flat so you don’t cause any damage to the wall. Short, sharp movements will be more effective at removing small pieces.

Top tip: tidy up removed paper as you go so it doesn’t stick to the dust sheets.

How to remove stubborn wallpapers

Unfortunately, some wallpapers will be more difficult to remove than others. In these cases, you can try scoring more lines, holding your steamer on for longer, using a bit more chemical stripper, or letting the stripper soak for longer. You may have to follow these extra steps for woodchip or vinyl wallpapers.

How to clean the wall before redecorating

If you want to re-paper or paint the wall after you’ve removed the wallpaper, it’ll need to be completely flat and free of imperfections. To achieve this, you’ll need to clean off any remaining paper or residue by using a stiff broom to scrape it off. For really stubborn areas, use extra chemical stripper to loosen the adhesive. Finally, to remove any residue left on the wall, soap and warm water on a cloth should do the trick. Now your wall will be ready to redecorate.

There are a couple of ways to tackle old and unwanted wallpaper; either a stripping solution which is great for tedious patches, or a steamer that just uses water and steam for a safer, less potent option. No matter the process, always remember to score and prep the wall to get the best results. If you’re short on time or resources, check out our tips on how to paint or wallpaper over your current wallpaper.