Interior Painting Ottawa, Ontario: 5 Easy Ways to Remove Old Wallpaper

Planning to transition your home interior from wallpaper to paint?
Well, peeling off an old wallpaper is not easy. You will have to be patient, have the right equipment, but above all, the right technique.

If you don’t have the time or the right equipment, consider hiring a professional in Ottawa, Ontario for some help.
Otherwise, here is a quick look at the common methods used to remove old wallpaper from home interiors.

1. Hot Water And Detergent: The Most Economical

The oldest method, but also the least expensive, is to prepare a mixture of hot water and detergent in a basin.

Moisten the walls with a sponge or with a spray bottle. Once the wallpaper is well soaked (about 2 minutes), peel it from bottom to top with a spatula.

This technique will work if you only have one layer of wallpaper to remove.

Tip: You can replace the detergent with dishwashing liquid.

2. Water And Vinegar: The Most Ecological

Another method is to peel off the wallpaper with vinegar.

Mix half of white vinegar and water in a bowl. You can also add a tablespoon of baking soda.
Use the sponge or spray bottle to soak the walls.
Wait for at least 5 minutes before removing the wallpaper with the spatula.
Certain chemicals can damage your walls, so choose carefully.

3. Choose a Special Wallpaper Remover

Which product should I use to remove wallpaper? Certain chemicals in powder, gel or liquid, are available in DIY stores for the general public to peel off the wallpaper.

These products dissolve the glue once they’re mixed with lukewarm water.
You should allow the product to work for about 45 minutes before removing the wallpaper.

4. A Steam Stripper To Remove Thick Wallpaper

The best technique for removing thick wallpaper is to use a steam stripper.
It might be a little expensive, but it’s faster and more efficient, it is also recommended for large wall surfaces.
You can buy a wallpaper stripper at Homedepot or rent it from a specialized store.

Tip: For a small surface, you can also peel off the wallpaper with a steam iron box. Apply some steam on the wallpaper and pass the iron box over the part that you need to peel off.

5. Hard-to-remove waterproof wallpapers

The vinyl and washable wallpaper are often placed in steamy rooms such as bathrooms and are much tougher to remove.
In this case, you will have to cut the corner of the strip with the cutter and pull from the bottom up to peel it off.
You can also scrub it with a wire brush to remove it more easily.

Pro Tip: Before installing your new wallpaper or applying paint, you will need to remove glue and paper residue from your walls. Wash, sand, and dust with a damp cloth

Precautions to Take

Before removing wallpaper from walls, for your safety, turn off the power at the circuit breaker. You will also need to protect and cover the outlets and switches in the room to prevent contact with water. Finally, don’t forget to cover your furniture and the floor with a plastic sheet or painter’s canvas.

Need Help With That?

We understand removing wallpaper and painting your home interior can be a tall order if you don’t have the skills, tools or time.

So, if you need professional help with wallpaper removal and repainting your home interior, our team at Millers Painting Company can help.

We offer high-quality residential and commercial painting services in Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven and Westboro areas of Ottawa, Ontario.

To get started with us, book a FREE estimate or call us on 613-979-5435.

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