Removing wallpaper is often the most time-consuming part of any renovation project. While some wallpapers peel away easily, others cling stubbornly to the wall, leaving behind torn paper, adhesive residue, and damaged drywall if removed incorrectly.
The good news is that most wallpaper can be removed successfully with the right combination of preparation, tools, and technique. Understanding what type of wallpaper you’re dealing with is the first step toward choosing the safest and most effective removal method.
In this guide, our professional wallpaper installers explain how to remove different wallpaper types, tackle stubborn adhesive, avoid damaging your walls, and prepare the surface for painting or installing new wallpaper.
Before reaching for a scraper or steamer, spend a few minutes preparing the room. Proper preparation helps prevent wall damage, protects your flooring, and makes the entire removal process faster.
✅ Identify the wallpaper type.
✅ Protect floors and nearby furniture.
✅ Turn off electricity before working around outlets and switches.
✅ Gather all necessary tools before starting.
✅ Test your removal method on a small hidden section.
✅ Ensure good ventilation if using chemical removers.
Professional Tip
Many homeowners begin scraping wallpaper immediately. Instead, test a small section first to determine whether the wallpaper is strippable, peelable, vinyl, or traditional paper. This simple step often saves hours of unnecessary work.
Not all wallpapers are removed the same way. The material, adhesive, and wall surface all influence which removal method will work best.
Before choosing tools or chemicals, identify the wallpaper type. Using the wrong removal method can waste time and increase the risk of damaging drywall or plaster.
| Wallpaper Type | Best Removal Method | Difficulty |
| Paper Wallpaper | Hot water and wallpaper remover solution | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| Non-Woven Wallpaper | Dry stripping or light steaming | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| Vinyl Wallpaper | Score, soak, then steam | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Textured Wallpaper | Steam combined with repeated soaking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Textile Wallpaper | Steam + chemical remover | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Traditional paper wallpaper absorbs moisture quickly, making it one of the easiest types to remove.
Warm water mixed with a small amount of dish soap is often enough to soften the adhesive. Older installations, however, may require several soaking cycles before the wallpaper begins releasing from the wall.
Many modern non-woven wallpapers are designed to peel away in large sheets when installed correctly.
If the wallpaper resists removal, lightly dampen the surface or use steam to soften the remaining adhesive before pulling each strip away.
Vinyl wallpaper requires a different approach because its waterproof surface prevents moisture from reaching the adhesive underneath.
Always score the vinyl surface first using a wallpaper scoring tool before applying water, gel, or steam. Once the backing softens, remove the wallpaper slowly to reduce the risk of damaging the wall.
Professional Tip
If you’re unsure whether your wallpaper is vinyl, check our Guide to Different Types of Wallpaper, where we explain how to identify different wallpaper materials before starting removal.
Fabric wallpapers, grasscloth, and multi-layer wallcoverings are among the most difficult materials to remove.
These coverings usually require several techniques combined:
Patience is essential. Attempting to remove these materials too quickly often damages the wall beneath.
Some wallpaper simply refuses to come off using water alone. Multiple layers of adhesive, years of paint, or moisture-resistant finishes can make removal much more challenging.
Professional installers usually follow one simple rule:
Soak → Score → Soak Again → Remove Slowly
This gradual approach allows moisture to reach the adhesive while minimizing damage to drywall or plaster.
Steam remains one of the most effective wallpaper removal methods, especially for older installations and heavily bonded adhesives.
For best results:
Working in small sections helps keep the adhesive soft and easier to remove.
Scoring creates small openings that allow moisture to penetrate the wallpaper. Steam then softens the adhesive beneath the surface, making removal easier while reducing the amount of scraping required.
When water alone isn’t enough, commercial wallpaper removers provide deeper penetration and faster softening.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure adequate ventilation while working with chemical products.
Sometimes you’ll hit a point where the wallpaper won’t budge, the walls start to crumble, and the glue just builds up. In such cases, it’s better to stop and invite a specialist.
A professional will assess the surface condition, select equipment, and get the job done faster and more safely. This is especially true if the area is large or the covering is rare (for example, textile wallpaper). Thus, bringing in a pro can save time and spare you expensive wall repairs.
Removing wallpaper that has been painted over is one of the most challenging renovation tasks. Paint creates a waterproof barrier that prevents moisture from reaching the adhesive underneath, making standard soaking methods ineffective.
Before attempting removal, inspect the wall carefully. If several layers of paint and wallpaper are present, a more aggressive approach may be necessary.
Professional Tip
If the wallpaper is bonded to damaged drywall or crumbling plaster, forcing it off can cause more harm than good. In some cases, removing the wallpaper together with the damaged skim coat and applying a fresh skim coat afterward is the faster and more cost-effective solution.
Vinyl wallpaper requires a different removal process because its protective top layer prevents water from penetrating to the adhesive.
Fortunately, most vinyl wallpapers are designed with a removable decorative layer, allowing the process to be completed in two stages.
Start at a loose corner and gently peel away the decorative vinyl layer. In many cases, this outer layer comes off in large sheets.
Once the vinyl layer has been removed, soak the remaining paper backing using warm water, wallpaper remover, or steam.
Allow the adhesive to soften completely before carefully scraping away the backing with a plastic putty knife.
Professional Tip
Avoid using excessive force. Patience removes wallpaper—scraping damages walls.
Decorative wallpaper borders often adhere more strongly than the main wallpaper, particularly around ceilings, windows, and baseboards.
Fortunately, they can usually be removed without damaging the surrounding wall if softened properly.
If the border tears repeatedly, apply steam locally using a narrow steamer attachment before continuing.
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Textured wallpapers and wall liners are designed for durability, which also makes them more difficult to remove.
Because these materials absorb moisture slowly, repeated soaking combined with steam usually produces the best results.
Working patiently reduces the risk of tearing drywall paper or damaging plaster.
Although many wallpaper removal projects can be completed successfully as DIY tasks, certain situations often require professional equipment and experience.
Consider hiring a professional if you encounter:
Professional wallpaper removal often reduces repair costs by minimizing accidental wall damage during removal.
Removing the wallpaper is only half the job. Any remaining adhesive must also be removed before painting or installing new wallpaper.
Even a thin layer of glue can prevent paint from adhering properly or create visible imperfections beneath new wallpaper.
| Method | Best For | Risk Level |
| Warm water + dish soap | Fresh adhesive | ⭐☆☆☆☆ |
| Steam | Thick adhesive | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| Plastic putty knife | Softened glue | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ |
| Commercial remover | Old adhesive | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Combined method | Heavy residue | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Plastic or silicone putty knives are ideal for removing softened adhesive without scratching drywall.
Always scrape gently while keeping the blade almost parallel to the wall surface.
Steam softens thick adhesive quickly, making removal much easier.
Work slowly and avoid overheating drywall paper.
Commercial removers penetrate deep into old adhesive and work particularly well after wallpaper has been removed.
Wear gloves and ventilate the room while using chemical products.
Once all adhesive has been removed:
Skipping primer is one of the most common mistakes after wallpaper removal and can reduce the durability of the new finish.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is generally easier to remove than traditional wallpaper, but that doesn’t mean it should be rushed. Removing it too quickly or at the wrong angle can pull away paint, damage drywall, or leave adhesive residue behind.
Taking your time helps preserve the wall surface and makes any future decorating project much easier.
Even after peel-and-stick wallpaper has been removed, small adhesive spots may remain.
To clean the wall:
Professional Tip
Avoid using metal scrapers on painted drywall. Plastic putty knives remove adhesive much more safely while reducing the risk of scratches.
Wallpaper removal doesn’t have to take an entire weekend. A few simple techniques can make the process much faster while reducing frustration.
✔ Test different removal methods on a small hidden section first.
✔ Work on one wall section at a time instead of soaking the entire room.
✔ Combine methods when necessary (water + steam or steam + remover).
✔ Keep several putty knives of different sizes nearby.
✔ Replace dirty water frequently for better results.
Working systematically is usually much faster than trying to force wallpaper off the wall.
Using the correct tools not only speeds up wallpaper removal but also helps protect both your walls and yourself.
| Tool | Purpose |
| Plastic putty knife | Safe scraping |
| Wallpaper scoring tool | Opens waterproof surfaces |
| Spray bottle | Applies water or remover |
| Wallpaper steamer | Softens stubborn adhesive |
| Microfiber cloth | Cleaning walls |
| Bucket and sponge | Washing residue |
| Utility knife | Cutting loose sections |
Before starting:
☐ Switch off electricity near outlets and switches.
☐ Wear gloves when using chemical removers.
☐ Protect floors with drop cloths.
☐ Open windows for ventilation.
☐ Wear safety glasses when scraping overhead areas.
☐ Read the instructions for all commercial removers before use.
Proper preparation helps prevent injuries and reduces the likelihood of damaging your walls.
One of the biggest concerns during wallpaper removal is protecting the wall underneath. Fortunately, most wall damage occurs because wallpaper is removed too aggressively rather than because of the wallpaper itself.
If sections of drywall paper begin lifting, stop immediately and soften the adhesive further before continuing.
Even experienced DIYers occasionally make mistakes that create extra work later.
Avoid these common problems:
❌ Pulling wallpaper before the adhesive softens.
❌ Skipping the wallpaper type identification step.
❌ Using excessive force with metal scrapers.
❌ Forgetting to remove adhesive residue before painting.
❌ Applying new wallpaper directly over old adhesive.
❌ Skipping primer after wallpaper removal.
Correcting these mistakes early helps ensure a smoother finish for your next decorating project.
Modern non-woven and peel-and-stick wallpapers are generally the easiest to remove because they’re designed to peel away in large sections with minimal wall damage.
Yes. Many paper wallpapers can be removed using warm water and a wallpaper removal solution. Steam becomes most useful when dealing with vinyl, multiple wallpaper layers, or stubborn adhesives.
Common reasons include waterproof vinyl surfaces, painted-over wallpaper, multiple wallpaper layers, or adhesives that haven’t softened enough. Identifying the wallpaper type usually helps determine the most effective removal method.
Yes. Any remaining adhesive can affect paint adhesion and cause imperfections beneath new wallpaper. Always clean, rinse, dry, and prime the wall before applying a new finish.
It can, but damage is usually preventable. Working slowly, using plastic tools, and allowing adequate soaking time significantly reduces the risk of tearing drywall paper.
Wallpaper removal doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right preparation, proper tools, and patience, even stubborn wallpaper can usually be removed without damaging the underlying wall.
Understanding your wallpaper type, choosing the appropriate removal method, and cleaning away adhesive thoroughly will make painting or installing new wallpaper much easier.
If you’re planning to replace your wallpaper after removal, explore our Guide to Different Types of Wallpaper, Wallpaper Installation Tips, and Wallpaper Trends articles for inspiration and practical advice. And if you’d rather leave the hard work to experienced professionals, our Wallpaper Removal Services team is ready to help.
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