With over a century of craftsmanship within our walls, we have a wealth of experience when it comes to how to remove wallpaper.
After all, lovingly crafted, hand-selected wallpaper deserves to be pasted onto smooth, clean walls for that perfect finish. Whether it’s being hung on ceilings, walls or as small accent features in unexpected places (inside a wardrobe perhaps), it’s important that any old or unwanted wallpaper is stripped, prior to painting or wallpapering a space.
As standard practice, there are two ways to remove wallpaper; one requires a steamer, the other relies on a chemical solution. Both processes are equally efficient and offer that clean, smooth desired finish.
If you have a large area or particularly challenging wallpaper to remove, it might be beneficial to purchase, rent or borrow a wallpaper steamer, as it will help alleviate those stubborn spots. The steamer works to soften the paste between the wallpaper and the wall, while the chemical solution is ideal for smaller spaces such as a feature wall.
As with all your home decor queries, Morris & Co. are on hand to guide you through how to remove wallpaper, without damaging your walls, to carefully replace it with your chosen pattern.
Wallpaper Removal Toolkit
- Wallpaper liquid stripper solution
- Brush
- Scraping tool
- Knife
- Sandpaper
- Steamer (optional)
- Sponge
- Bucket
- Cloth
Preparation
First, clear the space near the wall you’ll be stripping. Cover furniture and fixtures with dust sheets to protect them against falling dust and debris.
Now it’s time to inspect your surroundings:
- Examine the type of wall underneath your wallpaper, as plaster walls are more solid than drywalls. Drywalls will require more care when scraping back wallpaper, so you don’t damage the wall.
- Assess the type of wallpaper you are removing. Some new wallpapers can easily be peeled off, but they might leave some backing on the wall to remove. On the other hand, older wallpaper might require a steamer as it might not absorb water as well.
For safety, we’d always recommend wearing goggles when stripping wallpaper to protect your eyes. Turn off the electricity into the room, and put masking tape or plastic over any sockets or switches to prevent any steam or water accidentally seeping in.
If you have any switches on a wallpapered wall, loosen them to be able to remove any wallpaper tucked behind them.
How to remove wallpaper without a steamer
- Start at the bottom and apply your wallpaper stripping liquid to the walls with a brush, working your way up the wall.
- Let the liquid soak into the wallpaper for a few minutes. Now it’s time to use your scraping tool to remove the paper.
- Carefully repeat this process.
Expert tip: For any challenging sections, score the surface of the wallpaper or sand it down so that it is easier for the paper to absorb the liquid. Repeat this process multiple times and leave it for longer to soak in.
How to remove wallpaper with a steamer
- Hold the pad of the steamer onto the top corner of your wallpaper for 30 seconds. This will loosen the wallpaper and allow you to gently remove it.
- Use a scraping tool to remove the remaining wallpaper and carefully repeat this process.
The finishing touches
Now it’s time to prepare your walls for redecorating! Take a sponge and bucket of water and clean the walls from any residue or leftover paste. If there’s any challenging areas, use the chemical solution to remove the residue.
Glance over your walls to assess them for any damage. This is the perfect opportunity to repair any small holes or uneven edges, ahead of painting or re-wallpapering the wall. Dry the walls with a cloth, before leaving them overnight to dry completely.
Congratulations! Your walls are now ready to hang your beautiful new wallpaper or heritage paint.
In need of some expert advice? Look no further than our how to wallpaper guide to walk you through the process for a top notch, professional finish to your wallpapering.
