Before you can hang new wallpaper or paint a feature wall, old wallpaper usually has to come off first. It can feel like a slow job, but with the right approach it is one of the more straightforward parts of a room refresh.
How Do You Remove Wallpaper?
To remove wallpaper, score the surface with a scoring tool, apply a wallpaper stripping solution or hot water, let it soak in for several minutes, then peel and scrape the softened paper away with a wide putty knife. Scoring first is the step most people skip, and it is what allows the solution to actually reach the adhesive underneath.
What You Will Need
- A wallpaper scoring tool
- A wallpaper steamer, or a spray bottle with hot water and fabric softener or a stripping solution
- A wide putty knife or wallpaper scraper
- Dust sheets to protect the floor
- Rubber gloves
- A sponge and bucket for cleaning residue afterward
How to Remove Wallpaper: Step by Step
1. Protect the Room
Lay dust sheets along the skirting and floor, and move or cover furniture nearby, since the process involves water, adhesive residue, and falling strips of paper.
2. Test a Small Area First
Peel back a corner of the paper to see whether it comes away easily. Some vinyl or peelable wallpapers can simply be pulled off in full strips, leaving only a paper backing layer behind that needs a separate removal step.
3. Score the Surface
Run a scoring tool over the wallpaper in overlapping strokes. This creates small perforations that let water or stripping solution penetrate through to the adhesive beneath, rather than sitting uselessly on the surface.
4. Apply Water or Stripping Solution
Using a spray bottle, generously wet the scored wallpaper with hot water, ideally mixed with a wallpaper stripping solution or a splash of fabric softener, which helps break down the adhesive. A wallpaper steamer works even more effectively on stubborn or multiple layers of paper.
5. Let It Soak
Leave the solution to work for ten to fifteen minutes. You should see the paper starting to bubble or lift slightly at the edges, a sign the adhesive underneath is softening.
6. Scrape Away the Paper
Using a wide putty knife held at a low angle to avoid gouging the wall, gently scrape the softened wallpaper away in sections. Work from an edge or seam where you have the best purchase.
7. Reapply and Repeat as Needed
For stubborn sections, reapply solution and let it soak again rather than forcing a dry scrape, which risks damaging the plaster underneath.
8. Wash Down the Walls
Once all the paper is off, wash the walls with a sponge and warm water to remove any leftover glue residue, then let them dry fully before painting or hanging new paper.
Removing Wallpaper From Plasterboard
Plasterboard walls need a lighter touch than solid plaster, since excess water can soften the paper facing of the board itself. Use less water, work in smaller sections, and avoid oversoaking any one area for too long to protect the surface beneath.
If you are stripping paper as the first step before a full room refresh, our guide to hanging wallpaper and guide to painting a room like a professional cover the next steps once the old layer is off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to score wallpaper before removing it?
Yes, in most cases. Scoring creates small perforations that let water or stripping solution reach the adhesive underneath, which makes removal significantly faster and easier.
Can you remove wallpaper without chemicals?
Yes. Hot water alone, applied generously after scoring, is often enough to loosen most wallpaper adhesives, particularly on older, more porous paper.
Is it faster to steam or soak wallpaper off?
A wallpaper steamer generally works faster on thick, multiple layers or stubborn adhesive, while a spray bottle with hot water works well for lighter, single-layer wallpaper.
What if my wallpaper will not come off in full strips?
Some wallpapers leave a paper backing layer once the top layer is peeled away. This backing still needs to be softened with water or solution and scraped off separately before painting or repapering.
How do I remove wallpaper glue residue from walls?
Washing the wall with warm water and a sponge, working in small sections, usually removes most residue. For stubborn patches, a fabric softener and water solution left to sit briefly can help lift it before wiping again.
Test any stripping solution on a small, hidden area first, and always allow walls to dry fully before painting or hanging new wallpaper.
About the Author
Spire Homes Editorial Team researches and writes practical, UK focused home improvement guides covering renovation planning, financing, interior design, and property maintenance. Our content is reviewed for accuracy and updated as guidance changes.
