How to Remove Wallpaper: The Complete Guide for Every Wall Type

Removing wallpaper comes down to knowing what type is on your wall and what surface is underneath. Peel-and-stick wallpaper pulls off by hand in minutes. Pre-pasted and traditional wallpaper need warm water or a liquid remover to dissolve the adhesive. Old wallpaper that has been painted over or has been up for decades may require scoring and steam. The wall surface matters too: drywall is more fragile than plaster and needs a gentler approach to avoid gouging. Below is the step-by-step process for every combination.

What You'll Need

Most wallpaper removal requires only a few basic supplies. Gather these before you start:

• Plastic drop cloths and painter's tape to protect floors and baseboards
• Spray bottle filled with warm water (or a pump sprayer for large rooms)
• Wallpaper scoring tool (a small handheld roller with tiny teeth — only needed for vinyl-coated or painted-over wallpaper)
• Broad putty knife or wallpaper scraper (a 6-inch flexible blade works best)
• Liquid wallpaper remover concentrate (DIF is the most common brand) or white vinegar
• Sponge and bucket for washing walls after removal
• Steamer (rental or purchase — only needed for stubborn, multi-layered, or very old wallpaper)

If you are removing peel-and-stick wallpaper, you likely need nothing more than your hands and a hair dryer for stubborn spots.

How to Remove Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is designed to come off cleanly without tools, chemicals, or water. This is one of the main reasons renters and homeowners choose it — when you are ready for a change, removal takes minutes instead of hours.

Steps:

1. Start at a corner. Lift the bottom or top corner of a panel with your fingernail or a thin putty knife.
2. Pull slowly at a 45-degree angle. Do not yank straight out from the wall. A slow, steady pull at an angle keeps the adhesive from separating from the backing.
3. Use a hair dryer on stubborn spots. If the adhesive resists, apply low heat from a hair dryer for 15-20 seconds. The warmth softens the adhesive and makes it release cleanly.
4. Wipe the wall with a damp cloth. After removing all panels, go over the wall with a warm, damp cloth to pick up any faint adhesive residue.

What if there is residue left behind? On properly primed walls, peel-and-stick wallpaper should leave no residue. If you see a sticky film, it usually means the wall was not primed before installation or the paint had a stain-resistant finish that prevented proper bonding. A small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cloth will remove any remaining adhesive without damaging the paint.

Applied Coverings tip: Our Peel & Stick Canvas and Peel & Stick Linen are both engineered for clean removal when applied to primed surfaces. If you are planning to install peel-and-stick wallpaper and want easy removal later, always prime first — it makes a significant difference.

How to Remove Pre-Pasted and Traditional Wallpaper

Pre-pasted wallpaper (the type you activate with water before hanging) and traditional paste-the-wall wallpaper both use water-soluble adhesives. The removal process is the same: re-wet the adhesive so it softens, then peel and scrape.

Steps:

1. Protect the room. Lay plastic drop cloths on the floor along the base of the wall. Tape them to the baseboard with painter's tape. Wallpaper removal is a wet process — water will run down the wall.
2. Try a dry peel first. Some modern pre-pasted wallpapers are strippable. Lift a corner and pull slowly downward at a 45-degree angle. If the wallpaper comes away from the wall in full sheets with minimal tearing, you have strippable wallpaper and can skip the wetting step.
3. If it tears or resists, wet the wall. Mix warm water with a capful of liquid wallpaper remover (or a 1:1 solution of warm water and white vinegar). Use a spray bottle or pump sprayer to saturate a section of wall, about 4 feet wide. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes.
4. Score vinyl-coated wallpaper before wetting. If the water beads up on the surface instead of soaking in, the wallpaper has a vinyl coating. Use a wallpaper scoring tool to create small perforations across the surface. This lets the water penetrate through to the adhesive layer. Score gently — you want to puncture the wallpaper, not gouge the wall underneath.
5. Scrape in sections. Once the adhesive has softened (the wallpaper will feel spongy and may start to bubble or droop), slide a broad putty knife under the edge at a low angle and push forward. The wallpaper should peel away from the wall in strips.
6. Re-wet stubborn areas. Some sections will dry out before you get to them. Spray again, wait 5 minutes, and scrape. Do not try to force dry wallpaper off the wall — you will damage the drywall surface.
7. Work top to bottom. Gravity helps. Start scraping from the top of each section and let the water run down to pre-soak the wallpaper below.

How long does this take? A single accent wall (roughly 8 feet by 10 feet) typically takes 1-2 hours. A full room with four walls may take 4-6 hours spread across a day, including drying time between wetting and scraping.

How to Remove Wallpaper Borders

Wallpaper borders — those decorative strips installed along the top of a wall or at chair-rail height — use the same adhesives as full wallpaper but are often more stubborn because the adhesive has had years to cure in a narrow, concentrated band.

Steps:

1. Heat the border with a hair dryer or heat gun set to low. Move it slowly along the border about 6 inches ahead of where you are peeling. Heat loosens the adhesive and makes the border flexible.
2. Peel slowly. Lift a corner and pull at a 45-degree angle. Borders are narrow enough to peel in one continuous strip if you keep the heat ahead of your peel point.
3. Spray remaining adhesive. Borders almost always leave a visible strip of adhesive residue. Spray it with warm water mixed with wallpaper remover, wait 5 minutes, and wipe clean with a sponge.

Why are borders harder to remove? Borders are often installed over painted walls (rather than primed surfaces), and many use a stronger adhesive than standard wallpaper. The narrow width also means the adhesive-to-surface ratio is higher — more glue per square inch. If heat and water are not enough, use a steamer directly on the border strip.

How to Remove Old Wallpaper

Wallpaper that has been on the wall for 10, 20, or 30+ years presents unique challenges. The adhesive has fully cured and hardened. The paper may have been painted over (sometimes multiple times). There may be multiple layers of wallpaper stacked on top of each other.

Steps:

1. Test what you are dealing with. Lift a corner. If it comes away easily, follow the standard removal steps above. If it tears into tiny pieces, shreds, or reveals another layer of wallpaper underneath, you are dealing with old, difficult wallpaper.
2. Score the surface. A scoring tool is essential for old wallpaper, especially if it has been painted over. The paint layer seals the wallpaper and prevents water from reaching the adhesive. Scoring creates thousands of tiny holes that let moisture penetrate.
3. Apply remover solution generously. Use a stronger concentration of wallpaper remover than the label suggests, or switch to a gel-based remover that clings to vertical surfaces longer. Apply, wait 15 minutes (longer than normal), and test a small area.
4. Use a steamer for the worst sections. A wallpaper steamer is a tool that holds the equivalent of a small iron plate against the wall and forces hot steam into the wallpaper. Hold the steamer plate against a section for 20-30 seconds, then scrape immediately while the area is still hot and damp. Steamers are available at most home improvement stores for $30-50, or you can rent one.
5. Remove one layer at a time. If there are multiple layers, do not try to remove everything at once. Strip the top layer completely, then assess what is underneath before wetting and scraping the next layer.

A warning about lead paint: If your home was built before 1978, wallpaper that has been painted over may have lead paint on it. Disturbing lead paint creates hazardous dust. Test with a home lead test kit (available at any hardware store for under $15) before scoring or scraping painted-over wallpaper. If the test is positive, hire a certified lead abatement professional.

How to Remove Wallpaper from Drywall

Drywall is the most common wall surface in homes built after the 1950s, and it requires more care than plaster during wallpaper removal. The paper facing of drywall can tear, bubble, or delaminate if you over-soak it or scrape too aggressively.

Key differences from plaster:

• Use less water. Drywall absorbs water. Over-saturating will soften the gypsum core and cause the paper facing to bubble or peel. Spray lightly and work in small sections.
• Use a flexible putty knife, not a rigid scraper. A flexible 6-inch blade bends slightly against the wall surface, reducing the risk of gouging. Hold it at a very low angle (almost flat against the wall).
• Never score drywall aggressively. If the wallpaper needs scoring, use the lightest pressure possible. Deep scores cut through the paper facing of the drywall, creating damage that requires skim coating to repair.
• Let the remover do the work. If wallpaper is not releasing, apply more solution and wait longer. Resist the urge to scrape harder — patience prevents drywall damage.

If you do damage the drywall: Small tears and gouges in the paper facing are repairable. Apply a thin coat of drywall joint compound (also called mud) with a wide putty knife, let it dry, sand smooth, and prime before repainting or installing new wallpaper.

How to Remove Wallpaper Glue and Paste After Stripping

Removing the wallpaper itself is only half the job. The adhesive residue left on the wall must be completely removed before you can paint, prime, or install new wallpaper. Leftover glue causes paint to bubble, new wallpaper to fail, and primer to adhere unevenly.

Steps:

1. Mix a cleaning solution. Warm water with a generous amount of wallpaper remover concentrate, or a 1:1 mix of warm water and white vinegar. For very stubborn paste, add a tablespoon of baking soda per gallon.
2. Apply with a sponge, not a sprayer. At this stage you want controlled application, not saturation. Wring the sponge so it is damp, not dripping.
3. Wipe in circular motions. The friction helps dissolve the adhesive. You will feel the wall go from rough and tacky to smooth as the glue dissolves.
4. Rinse frequently. Dunk your sponge in clean water often. If you are just spreading dissolved glue around, the surface will dry sticky again.
5. Do a hand test. When you think you are done, run your palm across the dry wall. It should feel smooth and clean, like bare drywall or plaster. Any tackiness means there is still adhesive present — go over the area again.
6. Let the wall dry completely. Wait 24-48 hours before priming or painting. Moisture trapped under primer or paint causes problems.

How to know if all the glue is gone: Spray a small section with water. If the water beads up, there is still a glue film. If the water absorbs evenly into the wall surface, the glue is gone.

When to Call a Professional

DIY wallpaper removal is entirely manageable for most single-room projects. But there are situations where hiring a professional installer saves time, money, and wall damage:

• Multiple layers of old wallpaper — especially if any layer has been painted over
• Walls with existing damage (cracks, water damage, or previous bad repairs)
• Lead paint concerns in pre-1978 homes
• Large commercial spaces — hotels, offices, and restaurants where speed and clean results matter
• You want to install new wallpaper immediately after — a professional can remove, prep, and install in one visit

Applied Coverings offers professional wallpaper installation and removal services in San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. If you are replacing old wallpaper with a fresh design, we handle the full process — removal, wall prep, and installation of your new custom-printed wallpaper.

Ready for New Wallpaper?

Once your walls are clean, smooth, and primed, they are ready for a fresh start. Browse our full wallpaper collection or upload your own image to create something completely custom. Every design is printed to your exact wall dimensions on your choice of five materials — from renter-friendly peel-and-stick to commercial-grade Type II vinyl.

Need help measuring? See our complete guide to measuring your walls for wallpaper.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove wallpaper without damaging the wall?

Use warm water mixed with a wallpaper remover to soften the adhesive before scraping. Work in small sections, keep the putty knife at a low angle, and let the solution do the work rather than applying force. On drywall, use less water and a flexible scraper to avoid tearing the paper facing.

How do I remove wallpaper glue from walls?

After stripping the wallpaper, wash the wall with warm water mixed with wallpaper remover or white vinegar. Use a sponge in circular motions, rinsing frequently. The wall should feel smooth and non-tacky when all adhesive is gone. Let it dry 24-48 hours before painting or priming.

Can I paint over wallpaper instead of removing it?

It is possible but not recommended. Paint over wallpaper tends to show seams, bubbles, and texture through the paint. If the wallpaper ever lifts, the paint goes with it. For a clean result, removal is always the better approach.

How do I remove wallpaper that has been painted over?

Score the surface with a wallpaper scoring tool to create perforations in the paint layer, then apply wallpaper remover solution and wait 15 minutes. A steamer works best for painted-over wallpaper. Test for lead paint first if the home was built before 1978.

How long does it take to remove wallpaper from one room?

A single accent wall takes 1-2 hours. A full room (four walls) typically takes 4-6 hours including drying time between wetting and scraping. Old, multi-layered, or painted-over wallpaper can take a full day.

Is peel-and-stick wallpaper easy to remove?

Yes. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is designed for clean removal without tools or chemicals. Lift a corner and pull slowly at a 45-degree angle. Use a hair dryer on low heat for any stubborn spots. On properly primed walls, it leaves no residue.

Does removing wallpaper damage drywall?

It can if done carelessly. Over-soaking drywall or scraping too aggressively tears the paper facing. Use minimal water, a flexible putty knife at a low angle, and let the wallpaper remover solution soften the adhesive before scraping. Minor damage can be repaired with joint compound.

How do I remove wallpaper border from the top of a wall?

Heat the border with a hair dryer or heat gun on low, moving slowly along the strip. The heat softens the adhesive. Peel at a 45-degree angle, then spray and wipe away any remaining adhesive residue with warm water and wallpaper remover.

What is the easiest way to remove old wallpaper?

A wallpaper steamer combined with a scoring tool is the most effective method for old, stubborn wallpaper. Score the surface, apply steam for 20-30 seconds per section, and scrape immediately while the area is still hot. For less stubborn old wallpaper, a strong solution of warm water and wallpaper remover concentrate works well.

Do I need to prime walls after removing wallpaper?

Yes. Always prime bare walls after wallpaper removal and before painting or installing new wallpaper. Primer seals the surface, provides a consistent base for adhesion, and prevents moisture from the new adhesive or paint from penetrating the drywall.