wallpaper

[Minelson]

I'm trying to remove a strip of wall paper. It's like a border but it's lower... It's about 10" wide and runs along the top of some wainscoating in our dining room. I want it off. It's peeling off in pieces. Is there an easy way to get it off using household items? Should I get it wet maybe? I have no clue.

[DAVID In Wisconsin]

Generally you peel off the top layer. Then using hot water with vinegar keep the wallpaper soaking wet for about 10 minutes. It should then easily come off with the help of a flat scraper. If you are careful, everything should come off without hurting the sheetrock underneath. I'm a painter and do this all of the time.

[simplegirl]

I have also heard that a little liquid fabric softener added to your warm water will help you get it off more easily. Good luck. Some are tougher than others!

[lovinthislife]

I always take an old squirt bottle and put a little bit of downy in it with warm water and squirt the paper and let sit for 5 min. and then it comes right off.

[insocal]

Originally Posted by lovinthislife

I always take an old squirt bottle and put a little bit of downy in it with warm water and squirt the paper and let sit for 5 min. and then it comes right off.

This is what I keep hearing. Makes sense, and I haven't heard that it's bogus or problematic.

[TheMartianChick]

I used fabric softener and water on a sponge to remove wallpaper in my rental properties. I just buy the cheap stuff.

[Minelson]

I'm using the vinegar and hot water method that David/Wisconsin suggested. It's going slow but doable. I don't have any fabric softner

[Joshie]

One part Downy to five parts water. Mist the border. If it's got a vinyl coating on the surface you might have to score the paper first. Wash with TSP after you finish and be certain to prime the area below the border in case you ever wish to paper again.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Thank goodness it's not wallpaper on all the walls. I've removed whole room wallpaper before & that was a job for sure. Very slow going like you said.
To this day I don't have any wallpaper or border anywhere in my house. Never will I put that stuff up either!

Good luck, I'm sure it will look really nice when your done.

[poorboy]

They make a steamer that you cant rent to slide over the wall to loosen it..works best of all methods,to my way of thinking, if yer patient..don't know if a regular steam iron will work in a vertical position or not.

[Joshie]

Originally Posted by poorboy

They make a steamer that you cant rent to slide over the wall to loosen it..works best of all methods,to my way of thinking, if yer patient..don't know if a regular steam iron will work in a vertical position or not.

We have one of those units. Stopped using it after we discovered the Downy method.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

Thank goodness it's not wallpaper on all the walls. I've removed whole room wallpaper before & that was a job for sure. Very slow going like you said.
To this day I don't have any wallpaper or border anywhere in my house. Never will I put that stuff up either!

Good luck, I'm sure it will look really nice when your done.

That's the next project We have rooms that have wall paper where they painted over the wall paper!!!