The Kitchen Staple That Makes Scraping Wallpaper Glue So Convenient

If you've ever worked with wallpaper before, you'll know why so many homeowners would rather do almost anything besides work with it. Some people are so opposed to wallpaper that they refuse to put it up in their home. While it might look nice, it can be a huge hassle to remove wallpaper glue from your walls, and Google yields hundreds of different methods for clearing it. Some of these methods might work, but there's an everyday item in your kitchen that will convince even the oldest wallpaper to release its grip.

You can get rid of wallpaper using nothing more than a scraper and judicial application of Dawn Powerwash, as demonstrated by ServantDad on YouTube. Since this method does use a not-insignificant amount of spray, you might want to invest in a refill kit, like this one from Amazon for $20. The YouTuber mentions that they refilled the bottle themselves using normal Dawn soap and some water. You might need to moisten the wall with water or a steamer if it's too dry.

The main reason old wallpaper is a hassle to remove is that the adhesive dries out and holds too tightly to the wall, and older properties might have multiple layers of wallpaper and paint stacked atop one another. The Dawn Powerwash trick works because Dawn is able to penetrate through the layers of adhesive and loosen its grip on the wall, due largely in part to its high concentration of surfactants — molecules that reduce the power of surface tension.

Spray Dawn over all of the wallpaper you want to remove. Apply liberally, and don't be afraid to get the wallpaper wet. After you've applied the soap, give it about five minutes to sink into the wallpaper. You can protect your floors by laying down plastic grocery bags below where you're working to catch any soap that doesn't land where you want it to. Plus, once you begin removing the wallpaper, it makes for easy cleanup when you can just pick up the bags off the ground and throw them away. Once you've given the Dawn time to work its magic, reach for your scraper.

Try to begin scraping from a seam, where two pieces of wallpaper meet. If possible, start at a corner and scrape upwards. You're trying to break the wallpaper's hold and have it come off in larger sections rather than a lot of small strips. Not only does this make removal much easier, but it also simplifies cleanup. If the wallpaper breaks free, set your scraper aside and try to pull the paper from the wall. If it doesn't, scrape it off with small, steady movements. The shorter movements minimize the risk of damage to the drywall underneath, a common mistake people make when removing wallpaper. 

If you're able to peel the paper back, do so at a 45-degree angle and adjust your hands throughout the process so you have a firm grasp of the wallpaper. Make sure to wear gloves during this process, as the adhesive used to mount the wallpaper could irritate your skin. If you come across a section that just won't come free, reapply Dawn before continuing. Work smarter, not harder — removing wallpaper is hard enough work.