It’s time to remove wallpaper from a room in my house. Maybe I’m a bit of a DIY nerd, but I thought it’d be fun to experiment to find the best way to remove wallpaper! I want the wallpaper to come down in the easiest and fastest way without damaging the drywall. So I decided to test 4 methods and report to you the best one so you can be prepared if your’d taking down wallpaper too.

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I first put up the wallpaper in my laundry room. At the time, I loved it! But after some water damage and a recent flooring update, the wallpaper doesn’t quite fit anymore—it’s time for a change! Let’s get started- I’m excited to show you the best tools and techniques for taking down old wallpaper so I can save us both time, effort, and frustration

the best way to remove wallpaper

Testing 4 Wallpaper Removal Methods

To find the best way to remove wallpaper, I tested these four approaches in my laundry room:

Store-Bought Wallpaper Remover (Roman Gel Spray Wallpaper Remover)
DIY Vinegar and Water Solution
DIY Fabric Softener and Water Solution
Using a Clothes Steamer

A wallpaper steamer can be purchased for less than $60, making it a cost-effective option—especially for older, stubborn wallpaper.

SUPPLIES

prep

To begin, let’s prep the room. With all DIY projects a lot of the success is found in how good you prep!

Step 1: Protect Your Floors

Removing wallpaper can get messy—expect pasty water everywhere! Lay down a drop cloth to keep your floors safe from moisture and debris.

Step 2: Turn Off Power and Remove Electrical Covers

Take off switch plates and outlet covers to get the wallpaper behind them. Since this is a wet job, safety first! Cut the power to the room and cover switches and outlets with painter’s tape to avoid water exposure.

Step 3: Score the Wallpaper

Use a wallpaper scoring tool in a circular motion with light pressure across the entire wall. This creates tiny perforations, allowing your wallpaper remover to seep through and reactivate the adhesive. Be careful not to press too hard—you don’t want to damage the drywall.

how do you remove wallpaper?

Here’s a quick overview of how to remove wallpaper-

1: Score the Wallpaper
2: Apply Your Wallpaper Removal Solution
3: Peel off Wallpaper
4: Clean Up

4 Wallpaper Removal Methods: What Worked Best?

With removing wallpaper, the prep and scoring steps are the same. The variety comes with the different wallpaper removal products.

Now, it’s time to test each method! I’m starting with the Roman Gel Spray Wallpaper Remover, followed by the DIY vinegar solution, the fabric softener method, and finally, the clothes steamer.

I wanted to use methods that incorporate items most people would probably have on hand or can affordably purchase.

Note, if you have newer wallpaper (anything installed in the last 10 years), the wallpaper should come off really easily! Why? Modern wallpaper is usually installed with a weaker adhesive than was previously used. The backing is also designed to be easier to peel off the wall. For me, this makes installing wallpaper less of a big deal since I know it’ll come off quickly.

Even though wallpaper recently installed should come down fast, I would still use one of the below methods for removal. The edges might peel up, but lots of times the middle is really glued down and pulling off dry wallpaper can damage the drywall. Repairing ripped up drywall is a pain, so it’s better to follow one of the below steps that take a few minutes to dissolve the adhesive.

Older wallpaper (usually anything installed before 2000) will be harder to remove. Why? Ofter, stronger adhesives were used that become more robust and challenging to break down over time. Additionally, the paper can become brittle and prone to tearing, making removal trickier than with wallpaper installed in the last decade. So if you have old wallpaper, the wallpaper usually comes off in smaller pieces making it a slower process.

1. Store-Bought Wallpaper Remover (Roman Gel Spray Wallpaper Remover)

How to Use It: Work in sections, removing about 3-4 wallpaper panels at a time. Spray the wallpaper generously with the remover and wait about 15 minutes for it to fully penetrate the adhesive. Then, use the Roman scraper to loosen the edges and peel the wallpaper away.

Results: This method is just ok. Because it’s a gel spray, it didn’t seem like the solution penetrated the wallpaper (like it does with the other methods). Because it sits on top, it isn’t messy but it wasn’t as effective either. It worked, but I got the most drywall damage with this one.

Pros:

Less messy
No reapplication needed
No mixing required

Cons:

More expensive than DIY options
Chemical-based
Didn’t penetrate wallpaper well enough to fully soak it

2. DIY Vinegar Wallpaper Stripping Solution

Recipe:

1/3 of the bottle white vinegar
2/3 hot water

Results: This method is budget-friendly and eco-friendly, and it works nicely. It is effective and once the wallpaper was soaked, worked great to loosen the adhesive so it was easy to remove. But it did smell strongly of vinegar.

Pros:

Affordable
Non-toxic and eco-friendly
Easy to mix with household items

Cons:

Not as effective on stubborn or old wallpaper
Strong vinegar smell

3. DIY Fabric Softener Wallpaper Stripping Solution

Recipe:

1/4 of the bottle fabric softener
3/4 hot water

Results: This method worked surprisingly well—even better than the store-bought remover! I had to reapply the solution as if I took too long getting to a section. However, it smelled amazing, which was a nice bonus.

Pros:

Pleasant smell
Inexpensive
Easy to make with household items
Worked best overall

Cons:

Requires reapplication
Can leave a residue that needs cleaning

4. Clothes Steamer Method

How to Use It: I slowly passed over the paper several times with the clothes steamer, section by section. The goal is to get it very saturated with steam; it will change to a darker shade because it has so much moisture in it.

Then, scrape it off with the Roman scraper with roller. I tried this on one section and I hated it. Why? I was holding the steamer for a long time to get it to saturate the wallpaper with steam. Even then, it wasn’t enough to remove the wallpaper. I have an older steamer that’s small so it’s probably the model I have. I tried once, but because it was so labor intensive, I quickly gave it up.

Pros:

Great for stubborn wallpaper, especially older types
No chemicals needed
Affordable wallpaper steamer options are under $60

Cons:

Slow process
Heavy to hold
Had to refill the water in my small steamer frequently

clean up

Once all the wallpaper is removed, it’s time to tidy up! Start by gathering all the peeled wallpaper and tossing it into a trash bag—I like keeping one handy throughout the process to avoid a big mess.

Then, wipe down the baseboards, walls, and any surfaces where the wallpaper remover may have dripped. If you used a DIY solution or a store-bought remover, a damp sponge with warm water will help remove any leftover residue. This final step ensures your walls are clean and prepped for whatever comes next—whether it’s a fresh coat of paint or brand-new wallpaper!

Wrapping Up

After testing all four methods, I found that the DIY fabric softener solution worked best overall. It and the vinegar solution were the most effective at loosening the wallpaper, but the fabric softener had the added bonus of a pleasant scent. If you’re looking for an easy, budget-friendly option, I’d recommend giving it a try!

Note, I tested out the wallpaper scraper and didn’t like it. It didn’t seem to be that helpful. I preferred to use my fingers- it seemed more effective and less work. So if you have a putty knife at home, I’d suggest using that or just your hands. I wish I’d have saved the money and not bought the scraper.