Wallpaper is making a big come back, but often our homes are left with wallpaper that is too personalized to be a benefit when selling - Removing wallpaper and adding a fresh coat of paint will be a real advantage to getting your house sold faster.
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Wallpaper is making a big come back, but often our homes are left with wallpaper that is too personalized to be a benefit when selling. Removing wallpaper and adding a fresh coat of paint will be a real advantage to getting your house sold faster.
Do you dread to even start stripping off the wallpaper in a room in your house? Not to fear, most new wallpaper is strippable, meaning it will easily peel off leaving only the glue behind. Test a small area before you start to see how difficult the job will be.
Here's how to remove wallpaper that is strippable:
Step 1: If necessary, use hot water on a sponge to soften the paste under the wallpaper.
Step 2: Use a 6" paint spatula to scrape the paper off, removing as much as possible.
Step 3: Rinse off the walls using 1 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1 gallon (3.8 L or 16 cups) of water.
If your test proves that the paper is the old-fashioned non-strippable kind, follow these steps:
Step 1: Combine 3 gallons (11.4 L or 48 cups) of very hot water, 1 bottle of wallpaper remover (enzyme based), 1/4 cup of liquid fabric softener, and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Step 2: Using a paint roller, roll the solution over the wallpaper starting at the bottom and working up. Do this one area at a time. Once all walls have been completed, repeat process again twice. If the wallpaper is vinyl or water resistant, you will need to poke holes in it, using a wallpaper scorer, to allow the mixture to reach the glue. Wait 15 minutes.
Step 3: Using a 6" paint spatula, scrape the paper off the walls starting where you began the application of the solution. Work from the bottom on each strip of wallpaper.
Step 4: Roll the walls with the solution and use a sponge and very hot water to remove any remaining glue or paper.
Step 5: Rinse off the walls using 1 cup of white vinegar mixed with 1 gallon (3.8 L or 16 cups) of water.
These steps will help rid you of the wallpaper, allow for a quick sale and have you working on the decor of your new home faster.
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Permission to reuse or redistribute these materials is hereby granted provided they are reproduced or redistributed in their entirety with full attribution. (c) 2008 Colette Robicheau
Colette Robicheau, President of Organize Anything, is a consultant, coach, and public speaker offering corporate, residential, and personal organizing services. For more information contact Colette Robicheau, Organizing Consultant and Coach visit her website http://www.organizeanything.com/ or email info@organizeanything.com.
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