Removing wallpaper is one word- cumbersome, and after all that time and effort, behold- what stands between you and a clean surface is a thick layering of wallpaper glue. Before stripping wallpapers, learning how to remove wallpaper glue is important so you don’t need to spend hours scraping every last bit off the walls.
The wallpaper stripping process, which involves soaking the wall surface in water and then striping it off with a knife, leaves a sticky residue behind. It is essential to remove the glue residue to get a clean surface that can be repainted.
Removing wallpaper glue doesn’t require fancy tools or anything. Instead, it is a task that requires quite a lot of time and effort. But worry not; we’ll help you decode the trick and remove wallpaper glue quickly and efficiently.
The tools required to get rid of wallpaper glue are:
- Plastic tarp
- Painter’s knife
- Disposable gloves
- Dish Soap
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Bucket
- Ladder
- Sponge
- Cloth
- Trash bags
- Putty knife
Step 1: Clean the room
Clearing the room to get a wide working area is the foremost step. Remove any moveable furniture or expensive items to prevent damage. If there’s something you can’t get out, cover it with plastic tarps and use another tarp to cover the floor. Pro tip- cover electrical sockets with painter’s tape to prevent mishaps.
Step 2: Prepare the water
Mix some hot water in a bucket and dish soap with one tablespoon of baking soda. If the adhesive is too stubborn, add one cup of vinegar for every gallon of water.
Step 3: Soak the adhesive
In the next step, take a sponge to soak patches of leftover wallpaper adhesive. To do so, soak the sponge in the solution, drain out the excess, and dab the sponge on patches of glue. After a while, you should notice that the glue has softened.
Step 4: Remove the glue
Use a rag to test if the glue is coming off; if it does, use a putty knife to scrape it off completely. Having a clean surface before the next paint job is important, so ensure you cover every inch of the wall.
Repeat the entire process of softening leftover adhesive with the solution and scraping it off with a painter’s knife till all of it is removed.
Step 5: Clean the wall and room
Once all the adhesive is cleared, clean the walls with a new cloth to ensure a pristine surface for the next job. You can then clean the room and let it air for at least 24 hours. Once it is aired out, move the furniture back in and remove the painter’s tape from the electrical sockets.
Step 6: Paint a new
If you wish, you can repaint your clean walls, or put on new wallpaper, basically whatever you like!
Conclusion
“How to remove wallpaper glue?” is a very common question. People often assume they need fancy equipment and tools to clean off their walls, but in reality, you need basic ingredients and a lot of effort to get rid of those pesky glue spots. Read our guide to quickly and effectively clean off wallpaper glue for a smooth, clean wall.