Art of wallpaper removal

Rule #1: If you have to work hard to remove the paper, it has not soaked up enough water/remover mixture.


Supplies and Prep:

- WP Chomp Super Concentrate wallpaper removal solution. Buy one more bottle than you think you'll need; you'll need it!

- 3" flexible putty knife or a wallpaper scraper

- Wall paper perforation/piercing tool like the Zinsser® Paper Tiger Wallpaper Scoring Tool (2966)

- Trash container that is easy to move along with you as you remove the paper.

- Large sponge or an old hand towel

- Lots of water!


Rule #2: It's really messy. Cover the baseboards and floor.

Step 1 Prepare the wallpaper.

If you are lucky and the wallpaper can be peeled off the wall, then do that. If it does not peel off, get ready for a fine upper body workout and get that Paper Tiger out and score the wallpaper.

Rule #3: You cannot put too many scoring holes in the wallpaper. These holes are your BEST FRIEND. If you think you've scored enough, score some more.

Step 2 Apply the paper removal solution on the paper or whatever remains of it if you were able to peel it off the wall. Work on 3' x 3' sections at a time. You can work on two sections at a time; soaking one while removing and cleaning the other.

Rule #4: Work top to bottom. The solution will run down the wall so the paper below will absorb the runs.

Keep applying the solution until it has fully saturated the paper; it takes a lot more solution than you think. If the paper can absorb more, give it more.

Rule #5: Be patient and let water do all the work for you; see Rule #1!

Step 3 Remove the wallpaper. In general, it should just slide off the wall in large chunks. If it does not, apply more solution and wait.

After the paper comes off, the wall will be covered in wet glue.

Step 4 While the glue is still wet, apply more solution and use the sponge or hand towel to wipe it off. These should be wet but wrung out. You'll need to rinse and wring the sponge/towel very often.

Step 5 If you are going to paint the walls, let them dry, paint them with a primer that is compatible with your paint.