Remove old wallpaper easily with this step by step guide.
Do you love your home, but you cringe every time you walk by that old wallpaper, printed in yesteryear’s colors and pattern? Don’t avoid the room or cover the wall with endless pictures, knickknacks and clutter in an attempt to cover it. Strip the wallpaper and start with a fresh wall to decorate instead. While stripping is a bit of a hassle and makes a mess as well, a simple household ingredient will make the job much easier.
Spread plastic sheeting along the base of the wall, extending out 3 to 5 feet. Old tablecloths or cut-open garbage bags will work as well in a pinch. Throw additional protection against nearby furniture.
Mix a stripping solution with your choice of vinegar or fabric softener. Fill a bucket or bowl with water that's as you can handle combined with either an equal amount of fabric softener or 3 to 4 cups vinegar per gallon of water. Heat helps the solution soak into the wallpaper and loosen the glue.
Wash the stripped wall with a mixture of about 1/3 cup of trisodium phosphate and hot water. Apply with a clean cloth or plastic scouring pad and scrub slightly. Not only is TSP commonly used to prepare wall surfaces for painting, but it will help remove any adhesive film and the vinegar or fabric softener. Rinse with clean, warm water. Follow this with a rubdown using a dry towel to prevent a soggy wall.