Easiest way to strip wallpaper

The top layer is often made of vinyl and should pull off easily. Cover the draped plastic with more plastic and top that with towels to absorb the water as it runs down the walls. Remove every speck of paste. With some modern papers and vinyls, the backing can be left on the wall as the lining paper for the next wall covering. Electric steamers Steamers are the tool of last resort. Many wallpapers are "strippable," which makes removing wallpaper a much easier project.

Use gel stripper on stubborn paste Spray any remaining paste and backing with gel stripper and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, wipe down the wall with a moist sponge and let it dry for a few days. Once the wallpaper and its backing are removed, spray the wall with the mixture one last time and scrape off any missed spots. Scrape off the backing Use a metal spatula or putty knife with a flexible blade and rounded corners to scrape the backing off the wall. If the whole thing peels away in one piece, you have strippable wallpaper. Take everything off the walls, including vents, outlet covers and switch plates, and mask the openings with plastic and tape.

If you don't want to score your wallpaper, use grit sandpaper with a vibrating sander. If the whole thing peels away in one piece, you have strippable wallpaper. There are several options, including steaming or spraying with chemicals, but you'll have to decide which one will work best for you and your wallpaper. Go over what is left with a scorer tool and apply the stripping liquid. But it takes a lot of patience, and there's an art to stripping wallpaper.