Whether you want to replace your wallpaper or start over with paint, grab your sponges and learn how to remove wallpaper glue in our step-by-step guide.

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Tip: If you're replacing wallpaper, you must first remove the old wallpaper before removing the glue. If you only need to remove leftover glue residue, skip to the How to Remove Wallpaper Glue section below.

How to Remove Wallpaper

What to Know Before Removing Wallpaper

Wallpaper is made up of two layers (a top and base layer) and there are two different removal types: strippable and peelable.

Strippable: The top layer and base layer come off the wall during removal.

Peelable: Just the top layer of wallpaper comes off during removal – leaving the base layer on the wall. The base can be used as a liner for new wallpaper, but must be scraped off before applying paint. If some of the base layer comes off during removal, you must remove the entire layer to avoid bumps in the paint or new wallpaper.

What You'll Need

• Ladder
• Sponge
• Towels
• Wallpaper stripping solution
• Wallpaper stripping knife or wide putty knife
• Painter’s tape
• Liquid dish soap
• Rubber gloves
• Bucket

Step 1: Prep the Room
Before removing old wallpaper, shut off electricity to the room as you will be using water to soak the wallpaper. Use painter’s tape to cover outlets, baseboards and trim. Lay tarps over furniture. Place towels at the baseboards to catch drips.

Step 2: Soak the Old Paper
Take a bucket and fill it with warm water. Put on gloves and pour in wallpaper stripping solution. Follow the directions on the bottle regarding how much of the stripper should be used. Dip the sponge in the mixture and rub it over the wallpaper. Only soak an area of the wallpaper that you can remove within a 15 minute span, otherwise the wallpaper will dry and you will have to start over.

Step 3: Strip Away the Old Paper
With your hands, grab the wallpaper from the bottom corner and pull upward to pry it away from the wall. If it isn’t coming off easily, use a wallpaper stripping knife or wide putty knife to scrape it off. Make sure to not press too hard or you may puncture the wall.

Step 4: Remove (or Keep) Lining
If the wallpaper you are removing is peelable, you can leave the bottom lining intact for the new wallpaper. However, if there are patches where the liner came off, remove it entirely so the new wallpaper doesn’t ripple.

Step 5: Clean the Walls
Wipe down the walls with a damp sponge and a mixture of hot water and liquid dish soap. Let it dry before putting on the new wallpaper.

How to Remove Wallpaper Glue

Whether you noticed residual glue on your new home’s walls, or you are removing glue to put up new wallpaper, here are quick steps to help you remove glue like a pro.

What You'll Need

• Ladder
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Towels
• Liquid dish soap
• Baking soda
• Putty knife
• Cloth
• Painter’s tape
• Rubber gloves

Step 1: Prep the Room
Go to your circuit breaker and turn off the electricity to the room you will be working in. Use painter's tape to cover electrical outlets and baseboards. Move furniture out of the room or cover it with tarps and lay towels or drop cloths on the ground.

Step 2: Make a Cleaning Solution
Take a bucket and fill it with hot water. Then pour in a tablespoon of liquid dish soap and a tablespoon of baking soda. Mix together well.

Step 3: Remove Glue
Put on your rubber gloves, take the sponge and then dip it into your bucket of cleaning solution. Squeeze out excess water and rub the sponge over the glue. We recommend working in small sections so you can remove the glue before it hardens again. Let the solution sit for a few moments, then use the same sponge (with a little bit of elbow grease) to wipe off the glue. If the glue isn’t coming off the wall, use a putty knife or add vinegar to your bucket. The ratio should be one cup of vinegar to every gallon of water in your bucket. As a last resort, use a store-bought chemical wallpaper stripper.

Step 4: Clean the Wall
Now that the glue is off, take a clean, damp cloth and wipe the cleaning solution off the wall. Then take a dry cloth and wipe the wall to remove any excess moisture.

Step 5: Let the Room Air Out
Whether you plan on repainting the walls or putting up new wallpaper, first let the walls dry completely. We recommend waiting about 24 hours before painting or putting up new wallpaper. If you aren’t painting or putting up new wallpaper, you can remove the painter’s tape and drop cloths.

Tip: Discover more wallpaper tips and tricks with:

• Wallpapering 101: Wallpaper Installation
• How to Wallpaper Over Wallpaper
• 10 Modern Wallpaper Ideas to Uplift Your Home