Domakihub How to Remove Wallpaper Without Wrecking the Wall
A clean, low-mess method for old wallpaper, whether it's a flat, a rental, or a hotel room.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
Old wallpaper dates a room fast, and peeling it off badly can leave you with torn drywall and hours of patching. The HGTV video above shows the process in action, and this guide breaks it into clear, ordered steps you can follow. It's written for homes, holiday rentals, and hotels across Greece, where summer turnaround often means stripping a tired room and repainting before the next guests arrive.
Know what you're stripping first
Not all wallpaper comes off the same way. Modern strippable and peel-and-stick papers often pull away dry in long sheets, while older vinyl, woodchip, or paste-the-wall papers usually need water or a steamer to dissolve the glue underneath. Lift a bottom corner with a putty knife to test which type you have before committing to a method.
Also check what's behind the paper. Properly primed plaster or drywall handles moisture well, but unprimed walls and old plaster in many older Greek buildings can soften or gouge if you soak them too long. Work in small sections so the wall is never saturated for more than a few minutes.
Gather a simple kit
You don't need specialist gear. A garden sprayer or sponge, a plastic putty knife or wide scraper, a scoring tool, warm water, and a few old towels cover most jobs. A little washing-up liquid or fabric softener in the water helps break down the paste, and a steamer speeds things up on stubborn vinyl.
Protect the room before you start. Lay drop cloths along the skirting, tape plastic over sockets and switches, and turn off power to that wall. Wet paste and scraps will end up on the floor, so an easy-clean surface saves you the worst of the mess.
Step-by-step: strip wallpaper cleanly
- 1
Prep the room and test a corner
Clear furniture, lay drop cloths, and tape off sockets and switches. Turn off power to the wall you're working on. Then slide a putty knife under a bottom corner and pull gently. If the paper peels away dry, you may be able to skip the soaking; if only the top layer lifts or it tears, plan to score and wet it.
- 2
Score the surface
Run a scoring tool in light circular passes over the paper, especially on water-resistant vinyl. The goal is to make tiny perforations so water can reach the paste underneath. Press lightly so you scratch the paper, not the wall behind it. Skip or go very gentle on soft, unprimed plaster.
- 3
Soak with warm water
Mix warm water with a splash of washing-up liquid or fabric softener and apply it generously with a sprayer or sponge. Work one manageable section at a time and let it sit for a few minutes so the paste dissolves. Re-wet anything that dries out before you reach it. For tough rooms, a steamer held against the paper does the same job faster.
- 4
Scrape it off
Once the section feels soggy and the paper bubbles or loosens, slide your scraper underneath at a low angle and lift it away. Keep the blade nearly flat so you don't dig into the wall. Re-soak and scrape stubborn patches rather than forcing them. Drop the wet scraps straight onto the drop cloth as you go.
- 5
Wash off the leftover glue and let it dry
Even after the paper is gone, a film of old paste usually remains, and painting over it causes peeling later. Wash the whole wall with clean warm water (a little sugar soap helps) and wipe until it no longer feels slimy or tacky. Let the wall dry fully, fill any nicks, sand smooth, then prime before painting or hanging new paper.
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FAQ
- Can I just paint over old wallpaper instead of removing it?
- You can, but it rarely lasts. Moisture from paint can loosen the paper, and seams and bubbles show through the finish. For a durable result, especially in rentals and hotels that see heavy use, it's better to strip the paper, clean off the paste, and prime the bare wall first.
- How do I get the leftover glue off the wall?
- Wash the wall with warm water and a little sugar soap or washing-up liquid, scrubbing gently with a sponge until the surface no longer feels tacky. Rinse with clean water and let it dry completely. Removing this paste film is essential before priming, or your new paint or paper won't bond properly.
- Will removing wallpaper damage the wall underneath?
- It can if you rush. Soaking the wall too long or scraping at a steep angle gouges plaster and drywall. Work in small sections, keep the scraper nearly flat, and re-wet stubborn areas instead of forcing them. Minor nicks are normal and easily filled and sanded before you repaint.