How to remove old wallpaper (Without losing your mind)

Removing old wallpaper can feel intimidating, especially when staring at peeling seams, stubborn glue, or layers upon layers of questionable design choices from a decade ago. The good news? While it's quite an unpleasant process, wallpaper removal doesn't have to be a nightmare if you are using the right tools and have a little patience.

Whether you are prepping for paint, new wallpaper, or a full room makeover, this step-by-step guide will show you how to remove old wallpaper safely, effectively, and with minimal damage to your walls.

Earlier this year, I removed an old vintage wallpaper from my dining room, and over Christmas break, I renovated my niece's bedroom, where she had wallpaper that was on the wall for 25 years! The glue held up so well that it took a bit of an effort to take it down, but we did it! And I want to share with you my tips and tricks.

Why does proper wallpaper removal matter?

Before we dive in, here is a truth: rushing wallpaper removal almost always leads to damaged drywall, extra repairs, and a lot of frustration. While I was working on my niece's room, my sister became impatient and used the steamer too forcefully, leaving deep dents in the drywall. Nothing is unfixable, but it added an extra step that could've been avoided.

Taking time to remove wallpaper correctly will:

Protect your drywall or plaster walls
Save money on repairs
Create a smooth surface for paint or new wallpaper
Make your DIY project look professional

Tools you'll need to remove old wallpaper

Having the right tools makes a significant difference. I have removed old wallpaper from a few rooms and can't stress enough how much the right tools and techniques matter. Here's what I recommend for DIY wallpaper removal:

Wallpaper scoring tool or a putty knife
Spray bottle
Warm water and vinegar
Drop cloths or plastic sheeting
Sponge and bucket
Utility knife (for edges)
Wallpaper steamer (great for stubborn or vintage wallpaper) or a regular multipurpose steamer. My sister has this one, and it was a game-changer.

Step 1. Test your wallpaper type

Not all wallpaper is created equal. Before removing wallpaper, test a small corner:

Peelable wallpaper may come off dry in large sheets
Vinyl-coated wallpaper usually needs scoring
Older wallpaper almost always requires soaking

Knowing what you’re dealing with helps you choose the best wallpaper removal method.

Step 2. Protect the room

Wallpaper removal is messy, and there is no way around it. If you care about your floors, covering them is necessary. Or otherwise you'll end up with pieces of glue stuck to the floors and create for yourself unnecessary work cleaning up the pieces after.

Do yourself a favor and cover floors with a drop cloth. Remove all the outlet covers and switch plates. And if you are using a lot of water (or aggressively steaming), turn off the electricity if you are using a lot of water - it's better to be safe than sorry.

Step 3. Score the wallpaper

Use a wallpaper scoring tool to lightly penetrate the surface. This allows moisture to reach the adhesive underneath.

When I was removing wallpaper for the first time (in the dining room), I skipped this step, and needless to say, I regretted it tremendously. The second time around, I was much more prepared, and scoring the wallpaper made a huge difference in removing the wallpaper.

Important: Don’t press too hard - you want to break the surface, not damage the drywall.

Step 4. Apply wallpaper-removing solution

Mix this DIY wallpaper remover solution: warm water + white vinegar in a ratio of 1:1.

Some resources online swear by another solution - a mix of warm water and fabric softener. I haven’t tested that since white vinegar worked like a charm, but I can imagine that fabric softener could also work. So if you are out of vinegar, try that instead.

You need to spray generously and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. This step is key to loosening old wallpaper glue!

I was a bit impatient and tried to remove the wallpaper right away, which ended in frustration. Don’t be like me - wait! When you see that seams and bottom edges are soaking wet and have changed color, it means the wallpaper is ready to be removed.

Step 5. Scrape gently or peel off the entire sheet (if you are lucky)

Using a putty knife or wallpaper scraper, begin removing wallpaper from seams or edges. If the wallpaper is properly soaked, some of the sheets will come off as a whole piece. Just grab it on the bottom edge and slowly peel off.

Tips for success:

Work slowly
Keep the wall wet (when it dries, it hardens again)
Scrape (or pull) at a low angle
Reapply the solution as needed

If wallpaper doesn’t budge, let it soak longer - do not try to force it!

Step 6. Remove wallpaper glue residue

Even after the wallpaper is gone, the adhesive often (always happens to me) remains. And this step is crucial before painting or re-wallpapering.

To remove wallpaper glue, you can do a few things:

Wipe walls with warm water and vinegar with a sponge (not a scraper) and repeat until walls feel smooth and glue-free.
Use a steamer

I used the first method in my dining room, and I’m not kidding you when I say it took my friend and me five hours to remove everything. This method works, but definitely not the most efficient. Besides taking a long time, it’s very frustrating.

I decided to use a steamer in my niece’s room (mainly since my sister had one that she loves to use for the floors). It took me much less time and effort to remove everything, and the process was quite satisfying- glue residue was coming off so neatly that I wouldn’t mind doing it for longer.

Here is the steamer that I swear by. Bonus point, it’s very versatile, and you can use it on the floors, furniture, or clothes!

Step 7. Repair and prep walls

Once the wallpaper is fully removed, there are important steps before painting or rewallpapering.

Let the walls dry completely. It will likely be a bit gooey and sticky.
Patch any dents or tears. If the holes are small, you can use spackle, but if there are dents, you should use joint compound and smooth the wall, sanding in between layers. If it’s a vintage wallpaper, most likely seams were cut with a knife, and there are cracks between wallpaper sheets - patch those with joint compound.
Lightly sand for a smooth finish - do not skip this step! Most likely, you have small pieces of glue and wallpaper on the wall, so sanding is a necessary step to get a professional finish.
Optional: Prime before painting. This step is in my opinion, isn’t always necessary, especially if you are putting up another wallpaper. And even if you paint on top, I think it depends on the condition of the wall, and not always a must. Use your own judgment.

Common wallpaper removal mistakes to avoid

Scraping dry wallpaper is a no-no! It won’t get you far, and you will likely damage the wall.
Skipping the scoring step. It might look unnecessary, but I can tell from personal experience, it does help a lot! It penetrates moisture under the wallpaper, ensuring smooth wallpaper removal.
Using tools aggressively. Won’t help you do the job faster; it will just add an extra wall repair.
Painting without removing glue.

Avoiding these mistakes saves time and frustration.

Final thoughts: You CAN remove old wallpaper yourself

Wallpaper removal is one of those DIY projects that feels overwhelming until you break it down step by step. With the right tools, patience, and technique, removing old paper is absolutely doable, even for beginners.

And trust me - once it’s done, the transformation is worth every minute.

xoxo,

Adam

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