How to Remove Wallpaper

Removing wallpaper is one of those jobs that takes either two hours or two weekends, based on what is behind the paper. The split is rarely the wallpaper itself. It is almost always the prep work the first installer did (or did not do) and which of four ways to remove wallpaper you pick. The right method makes it easier to remove the paper without having to damage the wall under it.

This step-by-step guide shows how to spot the type of wallpaper you are dealing with, the four wallpaper removal methods that work, soak times for a stubborn wallpaper, what to do when nothing works, and how to handle the paste film and wall repair after the paper comes off.

Identify Your Wallpaper Type First

Before you pull off old wallpaper, figure out what kind you have. Knowing the type of wallpaper sets the method, since newer wallpaper and older traditional rolls behave differently.

  • Strippable wallpaper. Modern, mostly post-1990, often a newer wallpaper that pulls clean. Has a vinyl or fabric front bonded to a paper backing as one layer. Test: lift a corner with a putty knife and pull. If a long strip lifts clean, you have strippable wallpaper.
  • Peelable wallpaper. The top layer of wallpaper peels off the paper backing in two passes. After the front layer is off, you scrape or wash off the wallpaper backing.
  • Traditional wallpaper. Pre-1980 installs and many top-end wallpapers. Tears in chunks rather than lifting in strips. Needs water or steam to release the glue layer that binds it.
  • Painted-over wallpaper. The hardest case. Paint seals the wallpaper and keeps water from getting through. Score before any wet method.
  • Layers of wallpaper. Some homes have a different wallpaper layer or two stacked on top of each other. Each layer needs its own pass.

Run the corner test in a hidden spot before you pick a method. If the strip starts coming up clean, save yourself the steamer rental.

Tools and Supplies You Will Need

The full kit for any method:

  • Plastic drop cloths to guard floors and trim
  • Painter's tape for outlet covers and switch plates
  • A 6-inch plastic putty knife (metal scrapes drywall too fast)
  • A wallpaper scoring tool (looks like a small wheel with metal teeth)
  • A spray bottle or pump sprayer
  • Wallpaper stripping solution, fabric softener, or dish soap based on the method
  • Clean rags and a bucket of warm water for cleanup
  • A wallpaper steamer (rental, $25 to $40 per day) for tough jobs
  • Spackle and sandpaper for any drywall paper damage during removal

Total cost for DIY supplies, not counting the steamer rental: under $30. The steamer is optional unless you have tried hot water and stripping solution first. Plan to work on one wall at a time so the soak window does not dry out before you scrape.

Method 1: Dry Stripping Wallpaper

For strippable wallpaper only. Lift a corner with the putty knife. Pull at a 45-degree angle, slow, in one smooth motion. The strip should come away in one piece. If you feel pushback or see paint coming off with the wallpaper, stop and switch to a wet method.

Dry stripping is the fastest method when it works. Plan 15 minutes per wall.

Method 2: Hot Water and Dish Soap

The cheapest wet method, and it works on most traditional wallpaper. Mix one tablespoon of dish soap (Dawn or any grease-cutting liquid soap) with two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Soak a 3 by 3 foot section. Wait 15 to 20 minutes for the water to soak in and break the paste. Scrape with the putty knife at a low angle.

If the wallpaper has been painted over, score the surface first with the scoring tool. The score marks let water reach the paste under it.

Method 3: Wallpaper Stripping Solution

Store-bought wallpaper stripping mixes (DIF, Piranha, and the like) have agents that cut into paste faster than soap to break down the glue under the paper. Mix per the bottle (often one part stripper to four parts hot water). Spray on, wait 15 to 20 minutes, then scrape.

Fabric softener is a known DIY swap. White vinegar mixed half and half with hot water is another household remedy. Pros recommend using stripping solution for thicker traditional wallpaper, since vinegar is gentler. The same rule applies to either: spray, wait, scrape.

Method 4: Wallpaper Steamer

For the toughest jobs. Using a steamer pushes hot steam through the paper and into the paste layer. That sets it loose in seconds, not minutes. Hold the steam plate on the wall for 15 to 30 seconds per section, then scrape right away while the paste is still hot. The steam can also help lift any leftover bubble that formed under a stubborn run.

Per the steamer guidance from Homes & Gardens' "How to Use a Wallpaper Steamer": check the water level in the steamer often. Running the steamer dry trips the auto-shutoff and harms the unit. Refill with hot tap water as needed.

Steamer rentals run $25 to $40 per day at most hardware stores. Buy a steamer ($60 to $120) only if you have many rooms to do or expect to remove wallpaper again later.

How Long to Soak Wallpaper Before Removing

The most common slip is impatience. Wet methods need full soak time to work. The specifics:

  • Hot water and dish soap: 15 to 20 minutes per section
  • Store-bought stripping solution: 15 to 20 minutes per section, sometimes 30 for thick wallpaper
  • Fabric softener mix: 20 to 30 minutes
  • Steamer: no soaking, just direct steam for 15 to 30 seconds per section

If the wallpaper is not letting go after 20 minutes of soak time, the paste may be water-resistant or the wall behind it has been sealed. Switch to a steamer.

How to Remove Wallpaper from the Walls Without Damaging the Wall

The biggest risks during any wallpaper removal project are drywall paper tearing (when the wallpaper paste sticks harder than the drywall surface) and gouging the drywall with a metal scraper. The goal is to take the wallpaper from the walls cleanly, not damage the wall under it. Three rules to skip both risks:

  1. Use a plastic putty knife, not metal. Plastic flexes and slides over the drywall surface. Metal will dig in.
  2. Hold the scraper at a low angle (10 to 15 degrees from the wall, not straight on). This lifts the wet wallpaper without pressing into the wall.
  3. If you feel pushback, soak longer or try a new method. Forcing it tears the drywall.

If you do tear drywall paper, the fix is simple: a thin layer of lightweight spackle, sand smooth when dry, prime, and paint or hang new wallpaper.

Removing Wallpaper Adhesive and Paste Residue

After the paper comes off, you will usually have a thin film of paste on the wall. Skipping this step ruins your next paint job or wallpaper install. Two methods:

  • Hot water with dish soap or fabric softener. Spray, wait 5 minutes, wipe with a clean rag. Repeat until the wall feels smooth and not tacky.
  • Store-bought wallpaper glue remover (often labeled DIF or the like). Spray on, wait per the bottle, then wipe.

Test the wall by running your hand across it. Any tacky spots mean paste is left and needs another pass. Let the wall dry fully (at least 24 hours) before you prime for paint or new wallpaper. For the full removal of paste residue, see our How to Remove Wallpaper Glue.

What Not to Do During Wallpaper Removal

  • Do not skip cutting the power. Wet methods near outlets and switches can short the circuit. Architectural Digest's "How to Remove Wallpaper" calls cutting the power a top safety step for any DIY wallpaper removal.
  • Do not use a metal scraper on drywall. The risk of gouging is too high.
  • Do not over-soak. Too much water soaks the drywall paper and weakens it. Spray enough to wet the wallpaper, not flood the wall.
  • Do not rush the soak time. The paste needs the full 15 to 20 minutes to let go. Scraping early just moves the wallpaper around without taking it off the wall.
  • Do not paint over old wallpaper as a shortcut. The paint seals the wallpaper but does not fix loose seams or air bubbles under it. Those will show through the paint within a year.

Can You Paint Over Wallpaper Instead?

Sometimes yes. Painting over wallpaper works when the wallpaper is well stuck, the seams are flat, and the surface is smooth. Prep with an oil-based primer (latex primer can wake up the wallpaper paste), let it cure, then paint.

It does not work when the wallpaper has loose seams, bubbles, or texture you do not want showing through. In those cases, removal is needed no matter how nice the shortcut sounds. See our Can You Paint Over Wallpaper? for the full check.

What to Do After You Remove Wallpaper

Three steps before paint or new wallpaper:

  1. Wash the wall with soapy water to lift any last paste film. Let it dry 24 hours.
  2. Fix any damage. Spackle small drywall paper tears, sand smooth when dry, prime the bare patches.
  3. Put on a wallpaper primer or a paint primer based on what is going up next. Wait the full cure time before the next step.

If you are hanging new wallpaper, the wall needs to be at Level 4 finish (smooth, primed, ready). If you are painting, a good paint primer over the cleaned wall works.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the quickest way to remove old wallpaper?

If it is strippable, dry stripping is fastest (15 minutes per wall). If it is traditional, a wallpaper steamer is the quickest wet method. It lets paste go in 15 to 30 seconds per section instead of the 15 to 20 minutes hot water needs.

Does Dawn dish soap remove wallpaper?

Yes. One tablespoon of Dawn (or any grease-cutting dish soap) mixed with two cups of hot water in a spray bottle works as well as store-bought stripping mixes for most traditional wallpaper. The grease-cutting agents in the soap cut into the paste.

What should you not do when removing wallpaper?

Do not skip cutting the power. Do not use a metal scraper. Do not over-soak the wall. Do not rush the soak time. And do not paint over wallpaper as a shortcut for hard-to-remove paper.

How long do you have to soak wallpaper before you remove it?

15 to 20 minutes for hot water with soap or store-bought stripping solution. 20 to 30 minutes for fabric softener. Steamers do not need soaking, just 15 to 30 seconds of direct steam per section.

How do you remove wallpaper adhesive after the paper is off?

Spray the wall with hot soapy water or store-bought wallpaper glue remover. Wait 5 minutes. Wipe with a clean rag. Repeat until the wall feels smooth and not tacky.

Our Take

Most wallpaper removal jobs run slower than people expect because they skip the soak time. The biggest gain in your removal speed is patience: spray a section, walk away for 20 minutes, come back, and the paper will be ready. Trying to scrape early just turns the job into a fight.

If you have removed the wallpaper and are thinking about what to put up next, our guides on Peel and Stick vs Traditional Wallpaper and Can You Put Wallpaper on Textured Walls? cover the next choices. Or browse our patterns if you already know what you want.

Last updated: May 2026.

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