It's been a few years since the old wallpaper was put up, and you want to replace it but are at a loss as to how to remove the old one. Now, the editor will share with you how to remove the old wallpaper! In most cases, the best way to deal with old wallpaper is to peel it off; do not leave it on the wall. Removing the old wallpaper from the wall allows the new wallpaper to be more firmly attached. Depending on the type of wallpaper and wall surface, this article introduces several methods for handling.
You can apply new wallpaper over the old one, but this is sometimes not a good idea, especially with non-woven fabric wallpapers, because moisture in the adhesive may cause both the new and old wallpapers to fall off the wall together. Moreover, if you cover the seams of the old wallpaper with new wallpaper, overlapping marks will appear on the new wallpaper. If due to circumstances you still wish to apply new wallpaper over the old one, you should first grind the seams flat, tear off any loose strips of wallpaper, and re-adhere any loose edges of the old wallpaper onto the wall before starting to apply the new wallpaper. When applying wallpaper over metallic foil or vinyl wallpaper, use coarse sandpaper to grind the shiny areas overall, then use a vacuum cleaner to remove the dust from grinding, or wipe it directly off the wall.
If you have decided to remove the old wallpaper first, you can refer to the detailed instructions below. When peeling off strippable wallpaper, lift a corner of the wallpaper and tear it off the wall, keeping your hand as close to the wall as possible, which minimizes the possibility of tearing the wallpaper.
**Strippable Wallpaper**
Most strippable wallpapers have a smooth surface and a texture similar to plastic (including vinyl wallpaper, fabric-backed vinyl wallpaper, or fabric-backed wallpaper). However, there is only one way to determine whether the wallpaper is strippable: try peeling it off the wall. The specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Select an inconspicuous corner at the top of the wall and lift the wallpaper with the tip of a craft knife.
Step 2: Pinch a corner of the wallpaper as close to the wall as possible and try to peel it off the wall. Peel the wallpaper towards yourself, making it easier to remove. If it is strippable wallpaper, it will come off the wall smoothly with steady and moderate force. If not, it might be non-strippable wallpaper, and you need to use soaking, steaming, or dry stripping methods. However, avoid using soaking or steaming methods on plasterboard walls, as water can soften the decorative paper and plaster core. In such cases, use the dry stripping method instead.
**Cutting and Soaking**
When using this technique, you can use a craft knife, razor blade, or wallpaper scraper (a specialized tool available at wallpaper stores) to cut the old wallpaper horizontally. Make cuts about 20 or 25 centimeters apart so that warm soapy water or wallpaper remover can penetrate behind the wallpaper, softening the adhesive, allowing you to peel or scrape the wallpaper off the plaster wall. You can apply these solutions using a sponge or spray bottle. Warning: If spraying wallpaper remover, wear a painter's mask to avoid inhaling chemical fumes.
Step 1: Apply clear water or wallpaper remover and wait a few minutes for it to fully soak through the wallpaper.
Step 2: Repeat the same treatment on the next strip of wallpaper, then return to the first strip and re-soak it from top to bottom with the solution.
Step 3: Start removing the wallpaper using a multi-purpose scraper with a moving blade about 8.9 cm wide. Begin with a pre-cut horizontal strip of wallpaper, place the blade under the upper edge, and hold the scraper at a 30-degree angle to the horizontal plane. Slide the blade to scrape off the wet wallpaper. A strip of wallpaper as wide as the scraper will peel off with the blade and roll onto the scraper as you push downward.
Step 4: Continue pushing downward until no more wallpaper can be peeled off. If the wallpaper strip breaks, re-soak the area and start scraping another strip. If significant adhesive residue remains on the wall after repeated soaking and scraping, you will need to use another method to handle it.
On walls made of plasterboard, cut the wallpaper horizontally with a wallpaper scraper according to the above method but do not soak it. Simply slowly scrape or tear it off the wall.
One way to remove non-strippable wallpaper is to make some cuts in the wallpaper and soak it. Make cuts every 20 or 25 centimeters; this allows warm soapy water or wallpaper remover to penetrate the back of the wallpaper and soften the adhesive.
**Steam Method**
Many tool rental stores and wallpaper shops rent out electric steamers, allowing you to remove wallpaper yourself. These devices typically have an electronically heated water tank connected via a long hose to a perforated steam panel. Here's how to use them:
Removing old wallpaper is not easy. You can rent a steamer, but you will still need to use a wide-bladed putty knife to scrape off most of the wallpaper.
Step 1: Once the water is hot, press the steam panel against the wall until the wallpaper around the edges of the steam panel darkens due to moisture. Start peeling the wallpaper from the top down along one strip.
Step 2: After steaming half a strip, use your fingernail or a craft knife to lift a corner at the top of the strip and tear off the wallpaper. If the wallpaper cannot be peeled off, use a wall scraper to scrape it off. You may need to steam the same area two or three times to loosen older adhesives behind the wallpaper.
Official website of TERUI Wallpapers: http://www.teruiwall.com