Strip wallpaper
Save £100–200 today
Half a day · Beginner · Saves £100–200 vs a decorator
Last updated: March 2025
Before you start
Stripping wallpaper is straightforward but hard work. The key is soaking the paper properly — rushing it causes the paper to tear into tiny pieces and takes four times as long.
Test a small area first. Some wallpaper strips dry in one piece (vinyl-coated paper). Most paper-backed wallpaper needs soaking with water or a stripping solution.
Tools needed
- ✓Plastic dustsheets or newspaper — to protect the floor and skirting
- ✓Bucket and large sponge — for applying the soaking solution
- !Wallpaper scorer — buy: buy: £3–5 — scores the surface so water penetrates through vinyl-coated wallpaper
- !Stripping solution — buy: buy: £4–8 — mix with warm water; warm water alone works for uncoated paper
- !Broad scraper (4–6 inch) — buy: buy: £5–10 if you do not have one
Protect the floor
Lay dustsheets across the whole floor and tape them against the skirting boards. Wallpaper stripping creates a mess and the water can damage wooden floors.
Where beginners go wrong
Not soaking long enough — this is the single biggest cause of slow, frustrating stripping.
Skipping the scorer on vinyl paper — water will not penetrate and the paper will not budge.
Not protecting the floor — the water and paste make a substantial mess on wooden or laminate floors.
Stop and call a decorator if...
The plaster beneath the paper is crumbling or coming away — stripping has damaged the wall
There is mould behind the wallpaper — treat the mould and find the source of damp before redecorating
Multiple layers of very old paper — this can take significantly longer and may need a steam stripper
Cost breakdown
What you just learned
You now know how to remove wallpaper efficiently and prepare walls for redecoration. This is the first step in transforming any room.
What this unlocks
With bare walls, you can now fill and sand any damage, then paint or re-paper to completely transform the space.
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⚠️ Watch out if you rent
Never strip wallpaper in a rented property without written permission from your landlord. If you expose damaged plaster underneath, you may be liable for the repair cost.