How to Remove Wallpaper Glue
Removing wallpaper is easy but the sticky old glue left behind is the main problem. It is important to remove the old glue so you can put wallpaper on your walls again with ease. It is also necessary if you want to paint the walls after stripping down your wallpaper.
Wallpaper paste is essential to stick wallpapers on your walls. It is composed of modified methyl cellulose or starch. If you fail to remove this glue prior to re-wallpapering or paint then surface will be uneven or the pain may wear out.
Instructions
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1
Preparing room for removing wallpaper glue from the walls
First of all you need to cover or tape everything attached to the walls including vents, switches and baseboards. You can do this with plastic covers or painter’s tape.
You should also cover floors with canvas tarps or plastic near walls where you will be working. If your floor is carpeted then you can roll carpet away from walls.
Take out your furniture or cover it with plastic tarps to protect them. You can also move all your furniture or your stuff into the centre if you have a big room.
For further caution, you should also turn off your room electricity. This will prevent any electrical mishaps. -
2
Pour liquid paste remover in a spray bottle
You need to mix liquid wallpaper glue remover inside a spray bottle. Use any one of the following methods to make a glue removal solution.
- Easiest way is to buy get a commercial wallpaper paste remover which is easily available from any paint shops or hardware stores. It comprises of ingredients which dissolve the wallpaper glue. You need to follow the directions written on it carefully to mix it.
- You can remove the wallpaper glue with a dish detergent. Mix 1-2 table spoons of dish detergent in warm water. It will help remove the wallpaper paste by softening it.
- Baking soda can also help remove the wallpaper paste. Mix 1-2 table spoons of baking soda in hot water. It will help dissolve the wallpaper paste.
After mixing the ingredients, you need to adjust nozzle of the spray bottle to smoothly spray on the walls. -
3
Soften the wallpaper glue
Gradually spray the paste remover on a 5 ft by 5 ft area consisting of wallpaper glue. You need to wait for 4-5 minutes for the wallpaper glue to soften. -
4
Scrapping the wallpaper paste
After the glue is soften, scrape the wallpaper past with a putty knife. Remember, do it carefully so you won’t damage your wall or hurt yourself. -
5
Repeat the process and remove residual wallpaper paste
After removing the portion of the wallpaper glue, spray in other 5ft by 5ft area of your room and scrape it. Repeat the process until most of the wallpaper glue is scraped out.
Later spray more mixture and carefully remove residual wallpaper paste. You can do it with help from steel wool and forceful scrubbing. -
6
Clean the walls and spot clean covered areas
You need to clean the walls with more wallpaper glue removing mixture. Later remove the surface moisture by drying it with a clothe piece or towel.
Next carefully remove cover of vents, switches, baseboards and outlets. Then remove spots of wallpaper paste in small areas with help from sponge and spray. -
7
Leave walls to dry
After cleaning the walls, allow it to dry for 12 hours to whole day. The walls must be now smooth but if it steel feels sticky, then repeat the process.
