Method #3: Stripping Solution
You can also use a homemade one or Store-bought paint stripper solution to loosen the wallpaper glue. The homemade recipes aren’t complicated and use ingredients you probably already own. Here are some options:
- Fabric softener + hot water
- Detergent + hot water
- White vinegar + hot water
- Dishwashing liquid + hot water
For each solution, mix the two ingredients about 50/50 – perhaps a little more water for the last two. The hot water will help reactivate the glue while the cleaning products will help dissolve it.
Using a spray bottle or sponge, wet your wallpaper with the solution and wait a few minutes for it to take effect. If you use a store-bought stripperTo use, follow label instructions. You can then peel it off by hand or with a small spatula. Here too, your paper may come off separately from the glue. We often had to go back a second time, re-spray the glue and remove it separately.
For small sections of glue, we have also found that rubbing with the rough side of a small, damp sponge helps remove small, hard-to-see parts. They also sell Wallpaper scraper to help with this task, but we didn’t use one.
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