If you’re getting tired of your old wallpaper and are thinking of repainting it, the first step is to remove the old paper. This can be a tricky and messy process, but once you’ve done it, you can call a professional painter to finish off the room with a fresh coat. Here are a few tips for removing wallpaper safely and accurately.

5 Tips for Wallpaper Removal From Cincinnati Painters

1. Be Prepared

The tools you’ll need include plastic drop cloths, a face mask, white vinegar, disposable rags, and a sprayer. For scraping, you’ll need a razor blade with replacement blades for plaster walls, or a spackle knife—which is best for drywall. Before doing any spraying or scraping, turn off the electricity and cap all electrical outlets.

2. Score the Wallpaper

The paper will come off the walls much easier if it’s scored beforehand. Do this carefully or use a specialized wallpaper scoring tool, so you don’t puncture the walls themselves. Scoring will allow the vinegar solution in the following step to penetrate the wallpaper better.

3. Spray a Vinegar Solution

While there are specialized wallpaper removal products available, vinegar is cheaper and more effective. Plus, it’s safer to use than steamers. Create a solution of two parts vinegar to one part hot water and fill your sprayer with it. Then, after ensuring the room is well-ventilated, soak the wallpaper with the solution. Let it sit for 20 minutes before repeating.

4. Scraping the Paper & Glue

Start removing the paper with your scraping tool. Do not force a stubborn piece of wallpaper to come off; instead, professional painters recommend re-saturating it with the solution and trying again after 20 minutes. Once all the paper comes off, dab at the remaining glue with moist rags.

5. Clean Up Old Wallpaper With the Drop Cloths

For the best cleanup experience, choose thick plastic drop cloths to protect your flooring. That way, you can simply collect the corners of each drop cloth to wrap up the discarded wallpaper and carry it out to a dumpster.

 

If the steps above seem overwhelming, remember—you don’t have to do it yourself. For expert help, get in touch with Bill's Painting in Cincinnati, OH. These professional painters have over 35 years of experience helping residential and commercial clients, and they look forward to assisting you too. They promise to clean up after the job so well, it looks like they were never there! For questions, get in touch with the interior painting contractors at (513) 742-3937, or visit them online for details about their painting services.