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How to Remove Wallpaper Glue and Residue

August 30, 2017

After tearing down the wallpaper in a room, you might feel like the job is finished. Unfortunately, there may still be wallpaper glue and other residue left on your wall, making it sticky and ugly.

Getting this glue off is a pain, to say the least. But fear not! We’re here to show you the easiest way to get your walls back to their residue-free state.

Necessary Tools

Removing wallpaper glue is a laborious process, but there’s a good chance most of the materials you need to get the job done are already in your home.

You’ll need to a few gallons of hot water mixed together with a few drops of dish soap and one cup of vinegar for every liquid gallon. 

Other than those items, you’ll need sponges, rags, a putty knife, painter’s tape, gloves, and trash bags.

If you have carpet in the room make sure you get some plastic wrap to place over it. Cover hardwood floors as well, as vinegar can damage the finish. 

Getting The Wallpaper Glue Off

First, move any furniture that’s around the affected area. Place plastic wrap on any carpet that could get wet and use painter’s tape to protect electrical outlets. If possible, cut off the power supply to the room.  

Next, use your sponge to soak up some of the water, dish soap, and vinegar solution. After wringing out excess water, rub the sponge onto the glue. Depending on the stubbornness of the wallpaper glue this could take a while. 

Use your fingernail to test the glue periodically for softness. Once some of it dislodges, it’s nearly time to wipe it off. Keep using the sponge for another minute or so to be on the safe side.

Take a cloth and wipe the glue in a circular motion to remove the residue. If there’s still glue left on the wall that didn’t soften enough to rub off, try to scrape it off with the putty knife.

Finishing The Job 

Complete the steps above for all affected areas. Make sure to get all of the glue off. Painting a wall with even a tiny bit of glue will result in an uneven surface and could result in a bigger mess.

Move your furniture back to its original place and remove the plastic from your floor. If you turned the power off in the room, switch it back on. 

Let Us Make Your Dream Home a Reality

If you have to follow these steps, there’s a chance you hired someone to remove wallpaper and they left your walls a mess. If you hired an unlicensed contractor , good luck getting them to come back out and clean up their mess!

At Fitzpatrick Painting, we believe that a halfway finished job is reflective of character. It’s our mission to exceed every customer’s expectations.

We offer more than painting services. We also specialize in renovations and industrial services. We are here to meet all your remodeling needs.

We can take your vision and turn it into reality. Don’t delay your renovation plans any longer. Get in touch with us today.

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