What is the easiest way to remove old wallpaper from a living room by hand?
My parents are trying to remove wallpaper from my dining room by hand without hiring someone. They use this stuff called DIF wallpaper remover but water workds just as well. However, it is a complete nightmare scraping the wallpaper with our fingernails and using a scraper damaged the wall, as we found out. If you know how to remove the wallpaper quick and easy please share your tips! THANK YOU!!!!!
I have used a mixture of vinegar and water, and that has worked as well or better than DIF. Sometimes, wallpaper is a nightmare to remove, and there is nothing you can do about it. My painter will remove it, but usually charges by the hour to do it (instead of doing an estimate) since the job could take 2 hours or it could take 2 days – he can’t tell until he starts! It all depends on the type of wall, the type of wallpaper, how many layers, how long it’s been there and the prep that was done before installation.
I have used the Tiger mentioned by someone else, and had some damage done to the sheetrock – make sure not to press too hard! The idea of the Tiger is to get the removing solution behind the front layer of paper and to the glue behind it.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any magic tips for you – it sounds like you have a huge job on your hands. If you find that a scraper damages the walls, try a plastic one. You may end up having to skim coat the walls before you paint. Good luck!
Go to Home Depot or any home store and buy a "Tiger" scorer. It really helps to zip the paper off. They could also rent a wallpaper remover machine that uses steam to get the stuff off the walls much more efficiently than trying to do it by hand.