HOW TO REMOVE OLD WALLPAPER FROM A WALL?
It is normal for the wallpaper to deteriorate over time. Although materials that achieve great durability and resistance are used today, it is likely that tears or stains will occur in the most trafficked rooms. Also, changes in decorative trends may make you feel the need to remove the wallpaper you have placed.
Removing an wallpaper can be somewhat more complicated. Older models do not have the features that are offered today. Some types of wallpaper, such as the one with a TNT base, can be removed very easily, but this is a relatively recent innovation.
That's why, especially in older homes, we may encounter the rather cumbersome task of removing old wallpaper. The first thing you should do is arm yourself with patience and prepare for a few hours of intense work.
Steps to follow to remove the wallpaper
The first step is to prepare the room so that it does not suffer any type of damage. You must cover floors, furniture, doors and windows so that they are not affected or damaged.
The next thing you need to do is to soften both the paper and the glue. You can use several alternatives for this. The first is using warm water and soap (you can use dish soap). You should distribute it well over the entire surface of the wallpapered wall and let it sit for about fifteen minutes.
'If this doesn't work, then you should switch to using a mixture of water and solvent. Apply it in the same way on the wallpaper to ensure it soaks the paper well and reaches the glue. This product is very aggressive and, therefore, there is a risk of damaging other surfaces.'
If you still haven't managed to soften it enough, you can use specific products that exist to solve cases where the wallpaper is very stuck. Similarly, it is diluted in water and applied with a roller. It should also be left to act for a quarter of an hour.
With this procedure, you now have the wallpaper ready to be removed.
The next step is to remove the old paper, exposing the wall. If everything has gone well, you should be able to remove it without difficulty, removing each strip in its entirety. If not, you still need to soften the paper a little more. To do this, you can continue using water with the previous product.
To carry out this process effectively you must have a spatula. It must be large to exert the necessary pressure to remove the strips easily. It will also help you eliminate any small remains or pieces that may remain.
Once you have removed all the wallpaper, you can get rid of the remnants of glue with the help of warm water and soap. Your wall is now ready for any type of intervention on it.
Other options to soften the wallpaper
Another very effective option to remove paper is to use water vapor. For this, specific machinery can be used such as strippers that require certain experience. The water vapor is very hot and can cause burns. It can also generate humidity if the room does not have sufficient ventilation. That is why manipulation with an expert is always recommended.
Other alternatives are the use of steamers or irons (for clothes, yes). However, it is not particularly recommended. In neither case are they devices that are specifically designed for this use. There are different types of steamers ranging from those used as handheld equipment to true and powerful robots.
Depending on the type of steam cleaner and its power, you can obtain better or worse results.
As for the iron, the risks of using it for this purpose are more than evident. You will not be able to cover large surfaces and you will surely be limited by the length of the cable. That is, a lot of surface area is probably not within your reach.
After the steam to soften the wallpaper, you just need to follow the same steps we explained earlier. In these cases, you will be able to remove the wallpaper without having to wait any time. The glue will soften immediately and you will be able to remove it almost right away.
At ALF&Mabi we are specialists in wallpaper and we will help you with any questions you have about decorating your home. Our wallpapers are designed to help you achieve the decoration you want at any moment without great difficulties.
