Let's admit it: wallpaper is not the current trend in home design. So if you decide to sell your home in Albuquerque and there's wallpaper on the walls, you will need to get rid of it. Most buyers will find your wallpaper to dated and undesirable. Leaving wallpaper on the walls will certainly hinder your chances of selling your home.
But the good news is that removing old wallpaper is not as hard as you may think. Here is how you can remove wallpaper and make your home ready to sell.
Clear and Prepare the Room
Begin by removing items from the walls and moving furniture to the center of the room, or out of the room if possible. Cover floors and remaining furniture with drop cloths to protect them from getting wet.
Cut the Power
Shut off the electricity to the room and cover any outlets or light switches with painter’s tape.
Determine Your Wall and Wallpaper Type
Before you start peeling off your wallpaper, you need to figure out if your walls are plater or drywall. If drywall gets too wet, it can be damaged, so you have to be careful not to soak it too much.
You also need to figure out what type of wallpaper you have. Loosen a corner with aputty knife and try to peel it off. If it easily comes off, you just lucked out and have strippable wallpaper. If it peels off but leaves a paper backing, it's peelable wallpaper. If the walpaper doesn't budge, it's traditional and needs to be removed with water and chemical stripper.
Here's how to remove each type.
How to Remove Strippable Wallpaper
1. Gather your Materials
Putty Knife
Soap
Water
Rags
2. Loosen the Corner and Pull
Use your putty knife to lift the corner of the paper. Use your hands to peel the paper from the wall, pulling as close to the wall as you can to avoid tearing the paper. If the paper does rip, loosen another corner and start again. Repeat the process around the entire room.
3. Clean the Walls
Once all the paper has been removed, clean the walls with soap and water to remove any residue. Allow the walls to dry completely before painting.
How to Remove Traditional Wallpaper
1. Gather your Materials
- Water
- Wallpaper stripper
- Spray bottle, garden sprayer, or paint roller
- Putty knife
- Scoring tool (if necessary)
- Ladder
- Soap
- Water
- Rags
- Rubber gloves
2. Mix the Solution
Combine hot water and wallpaper stripper according to the manufacturer's instructions. Pour the solution into a spray bottle or garden sprayer.
3. Apply Solution
Use a spray bottle, garden sprayer, or paint roller to apply the solution to a small section of the wall, about 3’x3’. Let the solution sit and absorb for several minutes.
4. Scrape the Wallpaper Off
Use your putty knife to peel off the wallpaper, working your way up the wall. Be careful not to gouge the drywall as you scrape. Once the paper has been removed from the section, move on to the next area.
5. Score if Necessary
If the solution doesn’t absorb and the wallpaper is difficult to scrape, you may need to score the wall before applying the solution. Roll a scoring tool over the paper, making overlapping circles.
6. Clean the Walls
Wipe down the walls with soap and water to remove any residue. If there’s stubborn adhesive left behind, follow our guide on how to remove wallpaper glue.
How to Remove Peelable Wallpaper
1. Gather your Materials
- Water
- Wallpaper stripper
- Spray bottle, garden sprayer or paint roller
- Putty knife
- Scoring tool (if necessary)
- Ladder
- Soap
- Water
- Rags
- Rubber gloves
2. Remove the Top Layer
Begin by peeling off the top layer of the wallpaper. Loosen the corner with a putty knife and pull the paper off the paper backing.
3. Remove the Backing
To remove the paper layer left behind, you’ll use the technique described above for removing traditional wallpaper.
How to Remove Wallpaper When Nothing Else Works: Grab a Steamer
If your wallpaper refuses to budge no matter how much you spray and scrape, you may need to use an electric steamer, which can be rented from a home improvement store.
1. Gather your Materials
- Electric steamer
- Putty knife
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Scoring tool (if necessary)
- Soap
- Water
- Rags
2. Set Up the Steamer
Follow the manufacturer’s directions to prepare the steamer. You’ll add water to the steamer and let it heat up before beginning. Be sure to wear protective gloves and long sleeves so you don’t get burned by the steam or drips of hot water.
3. Steam the Wallpaper
Hold the steamer to the wallpaper to loosen the adhesive. If you have drywall, be careful not to oversteam. Scrape the wallpaper off with a putty knife. If the steam doesn’t penetrate the wallpaper, use a scoring tool to make small holes in the paper. Continue the process of steaming and scraping until all the wallpaper is removed.
4. Clean the Walls
Clean off any residue with soap and water. Allow the walls to dry completely.