Depending on the type of wallpaper you're dealing with, and your personal preferences, you can tackle wallpaper removal in a few different ways:

Dry-stripping
Chemical Soak
Steam Application

Dry-stripping
If your walls are covered with strippable wallpaper, consider yourself lucky! Strippable wallpaper is the easiest and quickest to remove by following these simple steps:

Step 1. Test the wallpaper
Test the wallpaper to ensure it can be removed by stripping. Lift a corner of the paper from the wall with a putty knife or other flat tool. Grasp the paper with both hands and slowly peel it back at a 10-15-degree angle.

Step 2. Strip the paper
If the paper peels easily, you're set. If it's more stubborn, remove it strip by strip at the corners. Avoid pulling straight out as you may damage the surface.

Step 3. Remove old adhesive
With a sponge, use a heavy-duty detergent such as trisodium phosphate (TSP) to remove the excess adhesive from the walls. Always wear rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect yourself.

Step 4. Wash up
Clean the wall using water and a sponge to remove any excess adhesive. Do not wallpaper or paint over the walls until they are completely dry.

Chemical Soak
If you're not dealing with strippable wallpaper, you can remove it using a chemical wallpaper remover solution and some additional elbow grease.

Step 1. Score the wallpaper
Many types of wallpaper are made of vinyl or acrylic, which are nonporous and waterproof. You must roughen the surface or score the surface first so the chemicals can soak into the paste and soften it. To score the paper, make cuts in a crisscross pattern with a scoring tool. A scoring tool will prevent you from cutting into the surface too deeply, therefore damaging the walls.

Step 2. Soak the surface
Most chemical removers need to be mixed with water, so check the manufacturer's directions before applying. Using a sponge, paintbrush, roller or spray bottle, apply the chemical removal solution evenly over wallpaper. Let soak 20-30 minutes.

Helpful Tip:

• You'll have faster results applying with a garden sprayer or spray bottle rather than using a sponge.

Safety Alert!

• When working with a chemical wallpaper remover, always wear protective goggles and rubber gloves. If you prefer to avoid strong chemicals, you can also mix a gallon of hot water with a 1/4 cup of white vinegar or fabric softener for an effective, gentle solution.
• Cover exposed outlets and turn off the power to the room before you start.

Step 4. Remove old adhesive
With a sponge, use a heavy-duty detergent such as trisodium phosphate (TSP) to remove any excess adhesive from the walls. Always wear rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect yourself.

Step 5. Wash up
Clean the wall using water and a sponge to remove any excess adhesive. Do not wallpaper or paint over the walls until they are completely dry.

Steam Application
Want to avoid a mess? An electric steamer can be used as an alternative to chemical removers for softening wallpaper paste. A steamer is easy to use and can be purchased or rented at M&S True Value.

Step 1. Score the wallpaper
As with chemicals, when using steam, wallpaper must be scored properly before you start. To score the paper, make cuts in a crisscross pattern with a scoring tool.

Step 2. Prepare the steamer
Fill the steamer's tank with water and heat it electrically according to the instructions. Once the hand-held plate starts to pump steam, it's ready to use.

Step 3. Apply the steam
Hold the steamer against the wallpaper until the paste becomes soft. Only steam a small portion at a time before scraping if off.

Safety Alert!

• The steamer will be hot, so hold it at a good distance from your body and don't forget to wear protective gloves and goggles. Steam can create condensation and water, so cover all outlets and turn off the power to the room before you start.

Step 4. Scrape off wallpaper
As soon as the glue has been loosened by the steam, use a putty knife or wall scraper to scrape the paper off. The surface may be soft, so be careful not to damage it.

Step 5. Remove old adhesive
With a sponge, use a heavy-duty detergent such as trisodium phosphate (TSP) to remove the excess adhesive from the walls. Always wear rubber gloves and protective goggles to protect yourself.

Step 6. Wash up
Clean the wall using water and a sponge to remove any excess adhesive. Do not wallpaper or paint over the walls until they are completely dry.

Congratulations on successfully removing your wallpaper! Now you're all set to begin your paint project. To get started, visit M&S True Value for all the materials you need, then follow our step-by-step advice within our paint project section.