How to Remove Vinyl Wallpaper Paste

For Wallpaper Paste That Has Hardened

• 1

  Rent a wallpaper steamer and soften the paste that way. The intense heat of the steam should soften the paste enough so that it can either be peeled off or scraped off.

• 2

  Scrape off any paste that has hardened with a razor blade and won't come off with steam. If you have a large section of dried paste that you are trying to remove you may need to chisel it off with a 1-inch nail and a hammer. However, keep in mind that this may cause damage to your wall and then you will have to repair those chips.

• 3

  Sand the remaining pieces that you could not get off the wall with 150 grit sandpaper and a palm sander.

• 4

  Texture your walls to hide all remaining paste that will not come off with a high quality wall texture. Make sure that all the wallpaper paste is at least sanded down into a smooth form.

For Wallpaper Paste That Is Fresh And Still Tacky

• 5

  Mix 1 gallon of hot water and 1/4 cup of tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) in a large cleaning bucket. Apply to wall with a large sponge and let sit for 5 minutes. Scrape paste off with a razor blade.

• 6

  Add 2 cups of hot water, baking Soda, and fabric softener to a spray bottle. Shake it well until all ingredients are mixed well together. Spray onto the wall and remove paste with a sponge. If the paste is too hard to come off with a sponge, scrape it off with a razor blade.

• 7

  Mix 1 gallon of hot water and a squirt of Dawn dish soap into a cleaning bucket. Squirt lemon juice directly onto a sponge or lint-free cleaning cloth. Soak this in soapy water, then wipe off the paste.