It takes time to remove antique wallpaper.
Historic and older homes often have wallpaper that seems permanently stuck on the walls. The glue used during other eras was slightly stronger than the wallpaper glue used today and, in some cases, you may even find multiple layers of wallpaper. Instead of removing one layer, the new homeowner simply placed their own wallpaper on top of the existing design. Professionals use expensive steamers, but you can use similar things to remove the paper without spending as much money.
Instructions
1. Combine one part fabric softener with one part hot water and fill a spray bottle. The heat from the water helps melt the glue holding the wallpaper in place and the fabric softener contains chemicals that help soften the wallpaper and glue.
2. Saturate the bottom or top of the wall with the solution. You want to find the end of the wallpaper and work up or down, rather than starting at the middle. This helps pull the wallpaper off in strips instead of random-sized pieces.
3. Let the solution sit on the walls for at least five minutes and then gently scrape at the edge of the wallpaper with a putty knife. The solution softens the glue, letting you remove the antique wallpaper. Look for any signs that the wallpaper is rolling up or curling on the edges.
4. Lift the edge of the wallpaper up and spray underneath with the solution. This gets to the glue behind the antique wallpaper and makes removing it easier. Each time you pull up a part of the wallpaper, spray underneath or behind it and wait another five minutes.
5. Aim a steam iron underneath the edge of the wallpaper if you have problems removing the stuck-on glue. Once you pull up a part of the wallpaper, spray underneath it with the iron, which slowly heats up the glue and melts it.
6. Repeat the method on any other layers of wallpaper found on the walls. Apply Goo-B-Gone or another degreaser product to the walls once the wallpaper is gone. These products remove all traces of the glue, but you may need to scrape off the glue with your putty knife to get all traces of it. Glue remover products made for fabric may work as well.
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