Step 1: Prepare the Room

  1. 1

    Protect floors and switch off power to outlets

    Lay plastic sheeting on the floor — wallpaper removal is messy and wet. Tape it at the skirting boards. Turn off electricity to the room at the circuit breaker if you are using a wet removal method near power outlets. Cover outlet faceplates with tape.

Method 1: Dry Stripping (Try This First)

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    Find a seam or loose corner and pull

    Work a putty knife or your finger under a seam or corner. Pull the paper slowly at a very low angle (almost parallel to the wall) rather than pulling away from the wall. A low angle reduces tearing. Some modern vinyl wallpapers and the top face of duplex papers strip off in large sections dry.

  2. 3

    Remove the backing separately if needed

    Many wallpapers have two layers: a decorative face and a paper backing. The face may strip cleanly but leave the backing stuck to the wall. This backing still needs to be soaked and removed.

Method 2: Wet Removal (Most Common)

  1. 4

    Score the wallpaper lightly

    Use a wallpaper scorer (a tool with small wheels that perforates the surface) or a scoring sponge. Score the entire surface lightly — this allows the removal solution to penetrate to the adhesive behind the paper. Do not press too hard — scoring too deeply damages the plaster underneath.

  2. 5

    Apply removal solution

    Mix equal parts fabric softener and warm water in a spray bottle. Or use a dedicated wallpaper remover solution (available from hardware stores). Spray generously over a manageable section (about 1 square metre). Leave for 5–10 minutes to soak through.

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    Scrape and peel

    Using a wide flexible putty knife or wallpaper scraper, slide under the soaked paper and peel it away. Work in sections, keeping them wet. Rinse the wall with a damp sponge as you go to remove adhesive residue.

Method 3: Wallpaper Steamer (Best for Thick or Stubborn Paper)

Hire a wallpaper steamer from a hardware store ($30–50 per day). Hold the steam plate against the wall for 20–30 seconds per section. The steam penetrates and dissolves the adhesive. Peel immediately while the adhesive is hot. Very effective for old, thick or heavily painted-over wallpaper.

After removal — prepare walls before paintingFill any holes, gouges or tears in the plaster with wall filler. Sand smooth when dry. Apply a coat of PVA sealer or sugar soap solution before painting — this seals any remaining adhesive residue that would otherwise cause new paint to bubble or not adhere properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

It can, particularly with older plaster walls. Soaking too aggressively can damage friable (crumbly) plaster. Score gently, do not oversoak, and use a flexible scraper rather than a rigid metal one. Some damage (small tears, areas of lifted paper or plaster) is almost inevitable — plan to fill and sand before painting.
Yes — paint seals the surface and prevents soaking solution from penetrating. Scoring is essential and you may need to score more aggressively. A steamer is particularly effective for painted-over wallpaper. In some cases where wallpaper has been painted over multiple times, it may be more practical to skim coat over it (apply a thin layer of plaster) rather than attempt removal.