Wallpaper Glue Removal

Putting on new wallpaper can change your room from being boring and drab to bright and beautiful. For that, the old wallpapers must be removed but then you encounter a problem. The papers are stuck so good that you literally have to scrap them out and that too leaving bits and pieces behind. Finally, you manage to get all the wallpapers off the walls and then come face to face with another problem. You thought that removing the wallpaper was the only difficult part! What do you do now with the glue that is sticking onto the wall? Removing the glue is important to get the smooth clean surface, so that when you put on the new wallpaper, it doesn’t show any bumps. Any starch-based glue can be removed easily with warm water and detergent. The headache starts when you try to remove the chemical based glue. These types of glue forms a chemical bond with the walls that they can only be removed through certain solutions that breakdown these bonds and certain specific techniques. Read the article given below to know how to remove wallpaper glue.

How To Remove Wallpaper Glue

Determining Your Wall Type

The first step is to determine the type of wall you have, that is, if you have a dry wall or a plaster wall.
Dry walls need more care, as they are more susceptible to damage by water and scraping.

Wetting The Paper

The paper must be saturated to dissolve the waste.
Cutting or puncturing the paper will make the moisture permeate. This is very effective for saturated or vinyl coated wallpaper as they resist the moisture.
You can moisten the paper by using water or a solution containing a mixture of water and vinegar.
The water should be applied with a steamer or a spray bottle.

Peeling And Scraping

If the paste is old then the paper may be peeled off without scraping. Otherwise, you have to use a wallpaper scraper to scrap off.
If the paper does not come off easily then use a solvent or chemical removal.

Removing Residue From Walls

After removing the wallpaper the next thing to remove is the adhesive residue.
The adhesive can be easily removed with any detergent or adhesive removal chemicals or a mixture of water and vinegar.
Rub the adhesive with a sponge or use a spray bottle. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes before wiping or scraping.

Wallpaper Glue Removal
Removing wallpaper is made difficult by the sticky residue that is left behind. There are various ways to remove this glue.

Removal With Fabric Softener
Because fabric softeners come in various tones, you may need to experiment with different solution amounts.

Mix three parts of fabric softener in one part of warm water. Mix it in a spray bottle.
Work one wall at a time. Spray the solution, and leave for five minutes and then scrap the glue from the wall. It is better to use a plastic scrapper rather than a metal one.
Wipe all the glue and the softener mixture on a paper towel from the scrapper.
After removing the glue, wipe the walls with a damp cloth. However, take care not to make the wall too wet.

Removal With Dishwashing Liquid

Make a solution by mixing dishwashing liquid with hot water.
The solution must be applied to the walls with a sponge or a spray bottle.
Let it sit for five minutes and after that add a second coat of the solution.
Leave it again for five minutes and then scrap the glue off the wall.
After scraping off the glue, wipe the walls with warm water.

Removal With Vinegar

If the wallpaper is not vinyl coated then the vinegar-water mixture can be effectively used to remove the wallpaper and the glue.
Make a solution using equal parts of vinegar and water. The vinegar has the capability to ‘eat away’ the adhesive, which makes removing it very easy.

Commercial Wallpaper Glue Removal Solutions
There are many adhesive removal solutions that can do the job. Some of them are enzyme based while some have chemicals. The chemicals can sometimes be harsh on the walls. It is always better to use eco friendly ones.

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