7 Hacks To Make Wallpaper Removal A Breeze

Wallpaper comes off fastest in this order: test how the paper comes off, score it, loosen the glue with a solvent or steam, scrape at a low angle, then wash the glue off the wall. Skip a step and you end up gouging the drywall.

Updated October 25, 2026.

How long have you been staring at that old wallpaper? Most of us have lived with a wall we did not pick and just stopped seeing it. But wallpaper is not meant to stay up forever, and if yours has been there long enough, it is high time to strip it. It does not have to be a nightmare. I have spent years on home projects, and stripping paper taught me one thing: the wall matters more than the speed. A torn drywall face costs you a weekend of patching. Most of that damage comes from rushing the scraper or soaking the wall. Here are 7 hacks to make wallpaper removal a breeze.

Prepare the Room Before Wallpaper Removal

Prep is the most important part of any big job, and this one can get dirty, wet and messy. Good prep makes a huge difference. Take off outlet covers and switch plates, then tape over the outlets and switches. Cover the floor and the baseboards with a water-resistant drop cloth or plastic sheeting, and wear rubber gloves and eye protection. HGTV recommends all of this before you wet anything.

One check comes first in an older house. EPA says about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint, and that includes paint under old wallpaper. The federal lead renovation rule generally does not cover work you do in your own home, but EPA still says to use lead-safe work practices on DIY projects. If you rent out all or part of the home, the rule does apply.

Test the Paper, Then Tear Off the Face

Lift a corner or a seam with a putty knife. HGTV notes that some papers, especially foil and water-resistant types, come off easily. If yours peels cleanly, you may not need solvent or steam at all. If you have ever peeled a sticker off a jar, you know some come off in one pull and others leave sticky gunk behind. Wallpaper is the same. Start where the paper is already loose, like a corner near a switch plate, and pull the top layer off with steady pressure. The more you rip off now, the less scraping and cleaning you have later, and the glue left behind can often be scraped off afterward.

Score the Surface So the Solution Reaches the Glue

Scoring just means poking small holes in the paper so the liquid can get underneath. Vinyl-coated and water-resistant paper blocks liquid, so it has to be scored first. Sherwin-Williams says to score vinyl wallpaper before steaming so the steam reaches the glue. HGTV points to a scoring tool, often called a paper tiger, which punches small holes with spiked rollers. On a tight budget, some people use a fork instead of buying one. Whatever you use, go light. If any paper is stuck and making removal harder, use a sharp edge to cut it free from chair rails, baseboards and molding.

Use light pressure on drywall. HGTV warns that pressing too hard can puncture the paper face of the board. Patch any nicks with spackle before you repaint or re-paper.

Soak With Fabric Softener, Vinegar or a Stripper

You can skip the store-bought chemicals. Sherwin-Williams gives two budget mixes. For fabric softener, use one part softener to three parts hot water. For vinegar, use one part white vinegar to one part hot water. Try each one on a small patch of wall and see which works best for your job. Use a sponge or spray bottle to wet the paper, and keep the mix warm. Wet the paper well without soaking it, because too much water can damage drywall, and wet stubborn spots again.

Mix small batches so the water stays hot, and work in small sections. Open a window. Sherwin-Williams warns that vinegar and softener fumes can trigger asthma attacks in people who are sensitive to them. For a store-bought gel, score first, spray a small section and wait 5 to 10 minutes, until the paper starts to wrinkle.

Use a Steamer on Stubborn Paper

Sometimes a mix just will not budge stuck-on paper, and that is when you bring in the big gun. Steam works best on stiff, heavy or old paper. Sherwin-Williams says to work from the top down in small sections and hold the steam plate on the wall no more than 30 seconds at a time. HGTV adds that too much steam can damage drywall or soften plaster, and that the room needs fresh air because steamers add a lot of moisture. A small handheld steamer is a better pick than the big industrial ones, which are heavy, loud and messy.

Go to the scraper, not your fingers, after steaming. Steamers give off hot steam and drip hot water, which is why HGTV calls for gloves and eye protection here too.

Scrape at a Low Angle

Scraping can seem like the worst part of the job. One way to dodge kneeling in soggy paper is to start at the bottom of the wall and work up. Start at a seam or a scored edge once the paper sags. Hold a wallpaper scraper, plastic putty knife or drywall knife at a low angle, and work in sections. Wet or steam stubborn spots again instead of forcing the blade. Anyone who has handled wet paper knows it is heavier and clingier than it looks, so set a trash barrel or a plastic-lined bucket under your work to catch it as you move up the wall.

Clean Off the Adhesive and Repair the Wall

Leftover glue will bubble under new paint. Sherwin-Williams says to wash it off with warm water and dish soap, wipe with clean water and let the wall dry. HGTV uses a small amount of TSP in very hot water, sponged on and kept only lightly wet, then rinsed and towel dried. Get the wall truly clean and it will be ready for whatever you put up next.

Fill nicks with spackle or joint compound. Let it dry fully, sand lightly with 150-grit paper and wipe the dust off. Uneven walls may need several coats of compound. Most home projects take longer and get messier than you planned, so give this last step the time it needs.

Wallpaper Removal FAQ

What is the easiest way to remove wallpaper?

Lift a corner first. If the paper peels cleanly, pull it off dry. If not, score it with a perforating tool and spray a fabric softener or vinegar mix, or use a steamer. Work in sections, scrape at a low angle and wash off the glue when the paper is gone.

How do you make a fabric softener wallpaper remover?

Sherwin-Williams says to mix one part fabric softener with three parts hot water. Saturate the paper without soaking it, since too much moisture can damage drywall, then peel with a scraper. For vinegar, use one part hot water to one part white vinegar. Ventilate the room well.

How long should I hold a steamer on the wall?

Sherwin-Williams advises holding the steam plate over the wallpaper no longer than 30 seconds at a time. HGTV says too little steam makes removal harder and too much can damage drywall or soften plaster. Work from the top down in small sections.

Is it safe to remove wallpaper in an older home?

EPA says about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still contain some lead-based paint. The federal renovation rule generally does not apply to work in your own home, but EPA recommends lead-safe work practices for DIY projects or hiring a lead-safe certified contractor.