Remove Wallpaper Paste

Nothing looks more dull and unkempt like old faded wallpaper. If you want to give a room a face lift, a great way to renovate is by changing the existing wallpaper. However, changing the wallpaper is no easy task, which is why you should give yourself enough time to do it. If you need to get it done fast, involve as many friends and family members as willing. Though an easy task, it will take a good amount of time and elbow grease to accomplish. And as if stripping the wallpaper isn't hard enough, stubborn wallpaper paste that refuses to come off can really leave you exasperated. To help you along the way, we have some suggestions of tackle and remove wallpaper paste residue. Read more about wallpaper removal tips.

Removing Wallpaper Paste
Before getting started, there are a few preliminaries to get done. Clear the room of all its contents, and seal all the electrical sockets. Next, you need to find a way to protect your floor. If you have wooden flooring, or wall to wall carpeting, you need to be extra cautious. We suggest a layer old towels (or any absorbent material) covering the floor with a layer of plastic over it. Even if you don't need to be very careful, still use one of the two. Also, keep a few old towels at hand that you can use to mop up any spills.

Now gather all the supplies you will need; a bucket, detergent, warm water, bath sponge, scrub brush and metal sponge (steel wool) should suffice for now. Fill the bucket with hot or warm water, and add a tablespoon of liquid dish-washing detergent to it. Dip the sponge in the soapy water and soak the areas covered with wallpaper paste. Then use the scrub brush or metal sponge to work the area. Remember to replace the water every time it cools. If this method is getting messy, you could put the solution into a hand sprayer, and squirt it on to the pasty areas. Once you're done, discard the soapy water, and fill the bucket with fresh clean water, and lightly clean the walls with it.

Remedies for Removing Wallpaper Paste

One way to remove wallpaper paste from wall is to use wall paper stripper. It is available in most stores, and is effective for removal of both the wallpaper and paste. It is usually used diluted with water, then applied to the wall (with a garden sprayer/sponge/paint brush) and left on for 20 to 30 minutes. After it soaks, rinse the wall well with water, during which time the paste should come out too. It does not, then pry it lose with a sharp instrument.

If the wallpaper is old, and so is the glue and paste, then the challenge is greater. Here the usual methods used to remove wallpaper paste before painting or re papering may not work. You may need to bring out the big guns, by which I mean a pole sander and 100 grit sandpaper. First use the pole sander on all the stubborn spots, and then follow it up with some scraping with the sandpaper for smooth walls.

Another method of removing wallpaper paste is to apply a solution of warm water and Tri Sodium Phosphate (TSP). While this is a remedy that many have found success with, if you aren't too inclined to try it, you could use a wall cleaning product your paint store representative suggests. I do hope that you are able to successfully remove wall paper paste by using one of these methods. If you decide to go a different way, ensure you do not use any technique that will damage your walls in the process.