Photo credit:
baboon, flickr
Our old house didn’t have any wallpaper in it. Thank goodness in the 90 years the house existed, no one had been fool enough to apply wallpaper to plaster walls. Such was not the case with Chateau Travolta, our 1977 fixer-upper. The former owners, they loved their wallpaper. And I needed to get it off, safely and STAT.
Not only did the former owners love wallpaper, they loved borders. Borders graced all three bathrooms. Two bathrooms have since been freed of their sticky necklaces and one remains trimmed in sailboats. Although we hired a team to remove the full-scale country roses, I scraped off the borders myself, learning a lot about wallpaper removal in the process.
Wallpaper and Asbestos
Wallpaper applied before 1980 may actually contain asbestos, which, among other nasty things, can cause mesothelioma (a disease in which your tissues become inflamed and disrupts your internal organs).
Be environmental, but also be safe:
- If you can afford it, hire a professional who will take proper precautions to remove your wallpaper.
- If you can’t, invest in a respirator, which will protect you from particles in the air.
- Make sure the area in which you are stripping wallpaper has proper ventilation. Open a window (and a door).
- Immediately bag the stripped wallpaper and wallpaper backing instead of tracking it all over your house on your way to dispose of it.
Removal Strategies
About three months after moving in to Chateau Travolta, I couldn’t stand the lavender master bathroom for one more minute and decided to remove the borders, which were stuck on to the drywall solidly. Initially I bought a harsh chemical remover, but when I got it home and started reading the label, I saw a warning stating that the state of California said this product could cause cancer. I literally can’t believe this product is still on the shelves. If you want to check the chemicals in your wallpaper stripper (or any other household chemical) for hazards, check out the CDC’s Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.
I opted to use hot water in a 99-cent spray bottle and a paint scraper instead. I found that using the wallpaper scoring tool created more work, because then the border wouldn’t come off in strips. I sprayed off the area I wanted to strip and followed it up with hot water on a towel until the area was thoroughly saturated. Wallpaper has two elements – the shiny part with the pretties and a paper backing. If you can get the shiny part off, the paper will peel right off with hot water.
The paint scraper was really my best friend in this process. I recommend keeping two or three around, as the glue and paper start to coat the edge of the tool after a while, making it difficult to insert under the edges of a new strip. As the scrapers start to get gunked up, you can toss them in a sink of hot water to soak until you’re ready for the next one.
Some people recommend mixing vinegar in with water used to remove the wallpaper. I found I didn’t need the vinegar and hate the way it smells, but vinegar is an environmentally safe and effective cleaning agent. Here's a site dedicated to cleaning with vinegar.
If you have a more recently applied border and you can’t catch an edge with your scraper, you may have to use a steamer. Steamers can be rented at most equipment rental (such as Sun Belt Rentals, which is nearly nationwide) or big-box hardware stores by the hour or by the day. Using a steamer is faster than a water bottle, because you don’t have to keep reheating your water. And did I mention? It's nontoxic.
For the Wallpaper Lover
Not all wallpaper is evil – some new designs look nothing like the repetitive patterns of yesteryear and are shockingly stylish.
Wallpaper design and construction has come a long way from the asbestos-loving past, as well. Wallpaper made from recycled materials is available from companies such as LSI Wallcovering and the very hip Earthwhile. If you want to be really eco-friendly, here’s a recipe for making nontoxic wallpaper paste out of cloves, water, flour and alum.
If you apply new wallpaper yourself, you’ll probably end up with leftover wallpaper paste. Most wallpaper paste is water-soluble and can be disposed of safely, but if you prefer to really reuse and recycle and aren’t into mixing up your own batch in the kitchen, sell what you have left over on Craig’s List or Ebay. It’s a good idea to buy any supplies you can in this fashion, as well, so what’s floating around already in America doesn’t get thrown away.
After your walls are looking spiffy, recycle the leftover scraps or donate them to a church or daycare for kids to use for craft projects. If you're crafty yourself, check out these cute gifts to make with leftover wallpaper scraps.
How to join the Canvolution
Comments (40)Add a Comment
Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed.
Low Cost Home made of Particle Board made by using cow Dung are water proof, Fire resistant, cool in summer, sound proof, Anti radiant, plain and laminated are biodegradable, Folding and re usable with 15-20 year minimum life. With iron structure and well reinforced we have developed 25' X 10' house with 25' X 6' Courtyard. It includes one Bed room 10'X10, Lobby 8'X10' Kitchen 6X6' Toilet 6X4' with in RS. 50-60,000/- if order is in bulk. Environment friendly, cost effective Low Cost housing is GOVARDHAN Concept
Thanks for this information. Hadn't it been you I would never learn about it. I wonder, how many people had this disease because of a wallpaper. It is terrible when in some time you know that the things you often used are dangerous. I've recently read the book Interesting Facts and learned about crystal (you can find it at the files search engine http://rapid4me.com ). It is also dangerous and my Granny is fond of it and has it everywhere.
Beautiful and lovely girls, let you have a pair of beautiful UGG Bailey Button Metalic Fancy boots to protect your feet in cold winter. kentuckykyonline.com is a online worley ugg boots retail.We have last design ugg boots with authentic quality and discount price for you. UGG Mayfaire boot is really a good choice of winter boots. At the same time, Adidas Shoes are a good style of sneakers.
Great info , we've just removed all our asbestos wallpaper as there were worrying cancer scares about it! We did try vibrators initially, but ended up having to hire a professional. Alway better to use someone who knows what they're doing! Really great blog by the way, lots of useful information.
My English clients like wallpapers. Example, with beautiful wallpapers in the dinning room and in the living room with nice matching furniture's can instead increase the value of the house. So wallpapers, don't need to be negative in selling view
getting pregnant quickly
Assuming you are starting with a painted wall is easier to repaint one wall of what is to delete / redo wallpaper later. So, if the type of person who likes change is every couple of years, or intend to sell in the near future, continue to paint. Usually also easier to paint than it is wallpaper. You really need two people when the strips hang wallpaper correctly, and if wrong, you have to start over in that section.
Interesting information, and even frightening. In my life I have made several repairs, tear wallpaper and could not have imagined how it could be harmful. Actually I am interested in a healthy way of life, often you can find interesting videos on such topics on youtube. To save the videos from there, I use programs that are easy to find here - http://unlimited-warez-factory.com/
i want to fungi wallpaper please help me thanks
tanning beds
Great info , we've just removed all our asbestos wallpaper as there were worrying cancer scares about it!
Chinese Lessons
what about using fabric wallpapers on walls.
component video switch
Nice ideas for designing, thanks for your job.
registry cleaner reviews
nice article and also very interesting discussion.mobile kitchen rental
today i am going to make my bedroom green with greenish wallpapers.mobile kitchen rental
Very Nice post. I feel your right the paint scraper was definitely your friend at that situation. Its always good to keep in handy. Plumbing Courses in Manchester
Thanks for sharing. I have wallpaper in the kitchen and reading this really helps me out.
Aj - trying to get pregnant quickly
I did not know that wallpaper can be a cause of some dangerous disease. I used to have wallpaper in my bedroom and bathroom. My wife just loves them. thanks for this article. I will make sure that i hire a professional person to remove it safely with all those asbestos.
I think wallpaper is the best idea to decorate our house. Post provides very nice information about wallpaper. thanks
Spur Gear, designer swimwear
Thank you very much for putting this site. I've been trying to create a small personal blog recently with photos and stories from my trips. I found some articles about it at the following site about pariuri sportive. My brother also helped a lot with wordpress and stuff. But the most inspiration came from your web-site. Hopefully I will be through with installing it soon and will be able to share some great experience with you! With the best regards.
This was very helpful, thanks a lot! Confidential Conversions
Thanks for nice post. Wallpaper is the single most effective way to change a room's decoration. Info Pool
Hi! nice article, good job! thanks for sharing with us. how to save a relationship | saving a relationship | save the marriage | win back ex | get him back | getting ex back | want ex back | get her back | to get him back
It's pretty shocking when you actually compare these products - what makes it shocking is that most people are only familiar with BedHead, coincidentally the 'problem' shampoo. It goes to show you what large marketing budgets can do to help earn money - even at the expense of the environment.
Pandora Charms
SEO Company
SEO Expert
Hello! great article, thanks for sharing with us. conveyor rollers | conveyor belts | wire mesh | woven wire cloth | conveyor roller suppliers
Great idea..I have been visiting various blogs for my essay writing research. I have found your blog to be quite useful.Keep updating your blog with valuable information... Regards
pariuri sportive poker online
if the type of person who likes change is every couple of years, or intend to sell in the near future, continue to paint. Usually also easier to paint than it is wallpaper.
Make Money in Minutes
I like English wallpapers in different designs. Specially the Dining room and the Living room with a nice wallpaper looks really good. I hope to find some good, green and cheap wallpapers for myself.
warner bras | reduce cholesterol
We all have to pay taxes to maintain the structures of this great nation that allow each of us to thrive and prosper.
Poker Pal
Is there a site we can go onto regarding problems with asbestos and saftey precautions, we have just bought an old home and just concerned as we're knocking a few walls down and don't want to expose anyone to asbestos
sorry think I've found one now
reproduction furniture
Removing wallpaper would have to be the most boring tedious job in any renovation process. I have spent countless hours in an earlier home removing wallpaper from every room in the house. Oh, and boy did they use glue, I nearly gave up and had contemplated re-plastering as I think for memory it took a total of three months of which we ended up sanding one room to hastening the job. I do not envy any one undertaking this task. Good luck is all I can say as I shudder at the thought!
Good article. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing bra websites that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.
thanks for the post, i was loking for that info on bras
Become pregnant
thanks for the information
http://becomepregnantips.com
thank you for the grat info
Natural labor induction
We all have to pay taxes to maintain the structures of this great nation
Aumentar Masa muscular
This is very good idea what you given. I had also decorated my room with costume wallpaper. now this is looking very nice. keep up your good work and continue posting .
Good decision on the issue with the wallpaper. Asbestos is a terrible thing. Martins from mah jong education for women.
Thanks for the valuable information you have porvided.
personalized coffee mugs
Stress Balls
promotional tape measures
promotional products
nice article and also very interesting discussion
Como recuperar a tu ex
s there a site we can go onto regarding problems with asbestos and saftey precautions, we have just bought an old home and just concerned as we're knocking a few walls down and don't want to expose anyone to asbestos
Como recuperar a tu ex