I have heard that using fabric softener and water can help remove wall paper, did it work for you?

Question

ANY tips would be appreciated...like...formulas for mixing and instructions...Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I have used a "steam" remover, which is messy and hot and time consuming due to its size and whether or not adhesive was used and how thick.  

Have also used a product that purports to assist removal of wallpaper, with a pump action sprayer.  Hot water, the solution, and wet will usually get it off.  If this is over drywall, you have to be careful not to get behind the drywall's paper covering.

They make a little scoring tool that has a bunch of teeth that you can use to score the paper, allowing the moisture to get behind the paper.  Cheap.  Looks like a pregnant hockey puck on top, with about three metal toothed wheels underside.

Answer 2

I have tried almost everything you can think of to remove wallpaper.  The best thing I have ever used is Diff" wallpaper remover.  

Use a "Paper Tiger" to score the wallpaper, spray on the Diff (I like the gel type best), let soak in, the paper will peel right off.

Both the Diff & Paper Tiger are available at Lowes.

Answer 3

I have seen them use this technique on Sell This House! It seemed to work for them, Tanya Memme and Roger Hazard.

Not sure what the formula, water to fabric softener ratio would be, maybe us just use it full strength, most fabric softeners already have water in them. Good luck, i know removing wallpaper can be a pain the butt.

Answer 4

I've been using it for years.  I use 1/2 and 1/2, and hot water in a spray bottle.  Make sure you take off the top layer first.  If you don't, nothing will work.

Answer 5

Warm water with 1/10 of vinegar. OK, it doesn't smell good, but it does the job. To make it easier you should use a scoring tool to make little holes on the paper prior to spraying the water mixture. It's a small red (or yellow) round tool (very cheap $4-$6) the water can penetrate under the wallpaper. A wallpaper steamer would also be a good idea, but if there is only one layer of wallpaper the water with vinegar will do the job. Buy a scraper, that's really gonna help to remove the already wet paper. I found this video that might help. You can replace the remover with the vinegar mixture to save some money.

http://www.ehow.com/video_221_remove-wal...

Hope it helps, I've been trough that, it's a lot of work, but worth it.

Answer 6

I tried that and I have to honestly say, IT DID NOT WORK. I was trying to remove wall paper that was almost 20 years old. I have a keen dislike for wallpaper and I have removed some and had to repair the wall. I have sandpapered some and then painted with a primer, and then I have just primed wallpaper. When I did that the seams were really good and all of the wallpaper was still attached well to the wall.

Of all of those things, priming the wallpaper was the fastest and easiest.

Unless this wallpaper is falling off the walls (I was lucky with that a time or two), anything you do is not going to be easy. Priming will take several coats, and it doesn't smell too good.

Answer 7

Any detergent will increase the 'wetting' characteristics of water (it reduces surface tension). So washing up liquid or the like will do the trick. No need to go mad just a couple of squirts in the bucket and off you go. Remember to give it time to soak in and dissolve the glue - you should see the paper bubbling merrily which is when you use the scraper. Make sure there isn't any water resistant finish (paint) - if there is give the wall a going over with a wire brush. If it is vinyl - dry strip the surface - should come off in one piece and then soak the backing as you would normal paper.

Depending on the age of your house steam strippers are too risky as they can knacker your plaster if it is a bit dodgy, or you are not truly adept.