Before starting to remove old wallpaper glue from your walls, it is important to learn how to remove the adhesive left behind. Failure to do so can result in spending hours scraping the paper away and still being left with a sticky residue on the walls. This can impede plans to paint the walls and make it difficult to achieve a smooth, clean surface. To effectively remove wallpaper glue, it is recommended to use a liquid stripper or water to soak the wall surface and scrape it with a putty knife.
To prepare for removing the wallpaper glue, move any furniture out of the room or to the center of the room to protect it from getting wet. Cover floors and remaining furnishings with plastic tarps and use painter’s tape to seal off electrical outlets, light switches, and vents. It is also recommended to turn off the power to the room for safety measures.
To remove the wallpaper glue and achieve a smooth, clean wall, mix hot water, liquid dish soap, and baking soda in a bucket. This solution will soften the glue and make it easy to scrape or wipe away. If the glue is not easily removed with this solution, you can add vinegar (about 1 cup per gallon of water) to the mix. Distilled white vinegar is commonly used for this purpose. For particularly stubborn glue, a commercial wallpaper stripper may be necessary.
Removing Wallpaper Glue:
Is a tedious and time-consuming process, but it is necessary to achieve a smooth and clean surface for new wallpaper or paint job. Remove the wallpaper glue residue by working in small sections, focusing on areas no larger than five feet by five feet at a time. Begin by putting on rubber gloves and using a damp sponge to apply the cleaning solution, which consists of hot water, liquid dish soap, and baking soda, to the first section of the wall.
Allow the solution to sit for a few moments before wiping off the glue residue with a rag. For stubborn pieces, use a putty knife or wallpaper scraper to gently scrape them off. Repeat the process of applying the solution and scraping off the residue, working one section at a time, across the entire room. If necessary, use a ladder to reach higher sections and be sure to check the baseboards closely. If any last bits of glue refuse to come off, try using a chemical stripper. Dispose of the residue in trash bags. Keep in mind that the process is tedious and time-consuming, but the end result will be worth it.
Once you have applied the cleaning solution to the walls and let it sit for a few moments, it is time to wipe it off. Start by putting on a pair of rubber gloves, to protect your hands from the cleaning solution. Take a clean, damp rag and use it to wipe the solution off the walls in a circular motion. Be sure to pay close attention to areas that may have been particularly difficult to remove the glue residue from.
Use a little warm water to help remove any remaining traces of the cleaning solution. Once you have wiped off the cleaning solution, take another clean rag or towel and dry the wall thoroughly. Make sure to dry the wall completely, as any remaining moisture could affect the final outcome of your wallpaper or paint job.
After removing the wallpaper glue from the walls, it is important to properly clean up the room. Begin by airing out the room and allowing the walls to dry completely. This process can take up to 24 hours, so it is important to be patient. Once the walls are dry, inspect them to ensure that all of the sticky spots have been removed. If there are any remaining areas that need further attention, repeat the process of removing the glue.
When the walls are fully clean and dry, remove any painter’s tape or tarps that were used during the process. Then, move any furniture that was removed back into the room. You can now sit back and admire your clean walls, feeling accomplished for successfully Removing Wallpaper Glue.
