Our expert tips for easy wallpaper peeling

In the middle of renovations or in the mood for a change, do you need to peel off some wallpaper? A tedious step in the renovation of a house or an apartment but one that should go well if you follow our few technical tips.

Whatever method is used, removing wallpaper remains a long and tedious task. There are still a few tips to know to facilitate this renovation step without investing in heavy tools or using chemicals that are harmful to you and your home. Follow our expert advice!

The right material to take off wallpaper in all situations:

  • Masking tape and tarpaulin
  • A wide spatula or a painter's knife
  • A basin, a bucket, a vaporizer or a steam generator
  • A large sponge, paint roller or large brush
  • A wire brush for thick or waterproof wallpaper
  • Trash
  • A stepladder

Before you start …

Taking off the wallpaper requires in all cases to wet your walls with plenty of water. It is therefore imperative to secure the area. First by cutting the power and covering the switches and electrical outlets. Then, by covering the floor with plastic and protecting all the furniture or objects in the room. If you can, empty the room as much as possible or gather everything in the center.

The essential recipe for taking off wallpaper

The technique for removing wallpaper could not be simpler! It consists of soaking the wallpaper with hot water to dissolve the glue. To speed up this process, you can use a steam generator or mix hot water with detergent or washing up liquid or even white vinegar and baking soda.
Place this solution in a spray bottle if you have one or in a basin. Then soak your wallpaper with this mixture. You can use the spray bottle or a large sponge, a large brush or a paint roller.
Your paper should be completely soaked and starting to blister. Be careful not to sprinkle too much water either so as not to wet the wall behind too much, especially if it is plasterboard.
Once the blisters appear, peel off one corner of the paper and pull from the bottom to the top. Some wallpapers will peel off in large slices and others in small pieces, depending on the consistency of your paper or the quality of the glue or wall. Unfortunately, we cannot predict anything, it will take patience! If the paper does not come off easily, use a large spatula to scrape the paper. Do not hesitate to sprinkle water again if the paper is dry.


How do I remove thick or waterproof wallpaper?

In the case of thick or waterproof wallpaper (vinyl paper or wallpaper for example), or even several layers of wallpaper, it is useful to scrape it with a wire brush before starting to soak it with water. This will make it easier for water to seep into the paper. Once the paper is soft, all you need to do is scrape and peel off the wallpaper with a spatula.


Invest in a wallpaper stripper

Before investing in a steam peeler, test your wallpaper with the previous methods. If the work seems too tedious to you, the peeler will surely help you save several minutes or even several hours of work. It may be worth investing if you have several rooms to renovate. You can buy or rent them at home improvement stores. Also think about the loan between neighbors. For a small area, there is still the trick of the iron …

WAGNER W 16 electric steam wallpaper stripper, 49 €

Once the wallpaper is peeled off …

You will certainly need to scrape and sand any residue left by glue and paper on the surface. Be careful not to damage your wall at this stage. Soak off the water residue well and scrape with a spatula. Finish by sanding.
Depending on the type of backing you have, you will have more or less prep work before you put wallpaper back on or paint on it.
If your plaster wall is new, we advise you to cover it with a protective coating and to glue wallpaper on it. If it is an old plaster wall, fill in the imperfections with a plaster and sand.
Finally wash off and let your wall dry. It will then be ready for a facelift with a paint stroke or a new wallpaper to your liking!

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Video by Anne-Laure Mayor