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How to remove stubborn wallpaper paste?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I’m having trouble removing wallpaper paste. I’ve removed the wallpaper with no problem but now am having difficulty getting the paste off. I’ve used a solution of hot water combined with liquid wallpaper remover and gone over the area several times with a sponge with no luck. Anyone know a solution that works?

Featured Answer

cat_ky

5 years ago

If you are going to paint, once you think the wall is good enough, put a good primer on the wall, or walls first. Guardz is a good one to make sure you dont have problems, from any left over wallpaper paste that you cant see, or was missed.

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Comments (8)

paintguy22
5 years ago
Try a green scrubbing pad, the kind you use to clean dishes, to loosen the paste. Then remove it with the sponge.
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I think you are misunderstanding the purpose of Gardz. It is not meant to 'fill' anything. In fact, it is a very loose bodied product...almost has the consistency of water. What the Gardz does is keep the paste from screwing up your latex topcoats. If you painted over paste, the paste will eventually cause the paint to crackle away. The Gardz will keep that paste locked down so it cannot affect your topcoats. In your case, the best solution is sanding followed by skimcoat where necessary. Steaming will do nothing because the paste is already painted over I would use an orbital sander and yes it will be dusty and messy but it's fast. You could hand sand but this method will take forever. You could also do no sanding and the skimcoat over the rough surface but I think buzzing it down with an orbital is your best route.
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Bruce in Northern Virginia
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If the wall is smooth, I had very good results with a scraper/holder and razor blades. You need a holder that is long enough to give you a good grip and provide the right angle on the blade. Hold the scraper nearly parallel to the wall and just scrape across. Its a slow process because the paste comes off as powder, but it does work. Then clean up further with a scrubbing pad, and prime the wall.

A wall paper steamer is relatively cheap, and works much better than just spray on remover, but it is very messy. In most cases you can hold the steamer over a section of wall for a few seconds, and then just wipe all the paste off the wall. However, it will also run down the wall, and you have to be ready to catch drips and get all the paste off the wall as you go along. Work in vertical sections from top to bottom, and cover the floor below with a drop cloth.

Bruce
mainenell
5 years ago
I use vinegar and water for wallpaper/paste removal.
PRO
Lori A. Sawaya
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Safe and Simple. Follow the directions. A little goes a long way.

Work in a small area at a time. Apply S&S generously, cover the wet wall area with Saran Wrap, let it sit for 10 ish minutes. Just don't let it dry. Use Dobie Scrubbers to remove the adhesive. You have to rinse often so have a bucket of water nearby. Helps if you have more than one scrubber and someone to help rinsing. You'll know quickly if S&S is gonna work or not. It's only $10 ish for the bottle so it's worth a shot.
sbp59
5 years ago
Actually just did this and it wasn’t fun. I found liquid fabric softener did pretty well helping with the paste scraping and smelled better than vinegar. It can be labor intensive
palimpsest
5 years ago
If the walls are flat plaster or painted drywall use a plastic spackle knife that's fairly broad and scraped the softened paste off.
ci_lantro
5 years ago
Here's what I would try

Spray the walls with the wallpaper remover solution--mix in hot water--and immediately cover it with plastic--cut open grocery bags or one of those thin plastic drop cloths. The plastic should stick to the wall and keep the solution wet longer so the enzymes in the remover have a longer time to work. Follow up with a scrubby and sponge as PaintGuy suggested or a scraper, scrubby, sponge combo.

Use a compressed air garden sprayer if you have one; easier on the hands than a spray bottle.

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