How to Strip Wallpaper

Posted by Bob Bulmer on Thu 16th August 2007 at 06:00 AM, Filed in Decor

The ideal tool for stripping wallpaper is of course the Steam Stripper.

However, if you don’t have a Steam Stripper to hand you could always try the alternative method set out below:

1. You will need a sponge, wide stripping knife, warm water, detergent and cellulose paste.

2. Add some cellulose paste to a bucket of warm water along with some detergent - washing up liquid will do.

3. Dampen a whole wall with this mixture using the sponge. The cellulose paste should help keep the water to the wall and the detergent aids penetration into the paper.

4. Let the mixture soak into the wall surface for a good 5 minutes.

5. See if the paper is ready to be removed by trying to slip your stripping knife under a wallpaper seam.

6. The best way to use a stripping knife is to hold at an angle of approximately 25 degrees whilst pushing away from yourself. You’ll soon recognise if the paper is ready to come off or not.

7. Reapply the mixture a couple of times if you are having trouble getting the paper off. 

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