While an estimated 85 percent of all do-it-yourself wallpapering is done by women, the percentage is considerably lower when it comes to wallpaper removal.
Taking off the old paper and preparing the wall surface for the new covering is the messiest part of the entire job. Martha Washington reputedly hung the wallpaper in the first White House, but no records exist about how the walls were prepared or if George had a hand in it.The traditional method of removing wallpaper was to soak it with warm water and scrape it off. Small sections were wet down with a cloth or sponge and scraped while still damp. A later method of removing papers was to apply a chemical solvent that loosened the underlying paste. Another way was to use strippable paper that later could be pulled off with an upward-away motion.
Steaming remains one of the most-used methods. Though messy, it's the most efficient method, if done properly. Non-porous paper needs to be scored so the steam penetrates more easily. The steam machine also makes an easier job of removing more than one layer of paper.
On the market now is a wallpaper stripper that is sprayed on. After 20 minutes, the paper can be peeled off, though if it's non-porous a second application may be needed. To determine whether or not the paper is porous, work a test patch by spraying a section of the paper with water. The water will bead on non-porous paper.
Another method is to use a variable-temperature heat gun. After moistening a small section of the wallpaper with water, hold the gun 3 or 4 inches from the wall, starting at a seam. As the adhesive begins to soften, loosen the paper gently with an accessory scraper and peel it off. Take care not to overheat the paper or wall, and don't use with flammable wallpaper removers.