Me using the steamer and scraping away wallpaper below.
Blog

Why You Should Use a Steamer to Remove Wallpaper!

August 23, 2020 / 15 Comments

MY WALLPAPER STEAMER IS MY NEW RENOVATION BFF

The scariest thing when thinking about updating my home is the colossal amount of wallpaper I would have to remove. Well, I did some research and found that a wallpaper steamer might change my life and it did not disappoint.

Here’s the thing, if I can avoid using extra chemicals, I will. I’m not as good about that as I should be but, hey man, at least I’m trying.

In my research, I found that there are SOOOOOOOOOO many chemical sprays. You can use these to break down the adhesive holding the wallpaper up. I’ve heard so many mixed reviews about how well these work.

A lot of these sprays didn’t cost THAT much, but in a house that was born in 1989, I would need more than a couple bottles to remove all the wallpaper.

MY NEW BFF

So I found a chemical-free and economical solution! Here’s the link on Amazon.com if you want to learn more: https://amzn.to/2EtEOAf

The first time I used this steamer, I was amazed! I found that it works best with two people but could easily be done with one.

For the two-person strategy, one of us would start steaming the different sections while the other would use a paint scraper or a multi-tool to pull up the wallpaper! It’s such a transformation to see your space as you peel the paper off!

Another HUGE benefit for using a steamer is less wall damage. Some of the scraping and chemical methods can cause damage, Of course, there is the risk of damage when using the scraper with the steamer but its significantly less because the wallpaper and adhesive come up so so easily.

Me, excitedly holding the steamer and paint scraper

HOW TO USE

So it’s important that you remember that steam means that your room will become very humid and you will have water dripping. Be sure to remove anything from the room that you wouldn’t want to get wet.

Now that the room is prepped, you’ll fill the steamer to the marked line. I’d say that the steamer will last about an hour when filled completely.

filling the steamer bucket with water

Once you plug it in, it will take about 10-15 minutes to get ready, but once it’s ready, it will keep pushing out steam till it’s out of water or unplugged. To make the most of your time, you should work quickly with a partner.

Anytime you set it down, it will still pump out steam. Which means water will likely puddle. BEWARE of the super hot water and steam because it can burn you!

TO START

To start, hold the steaming end (hotplate) against the wallpaper for about 15 seconds before shifting to your next piece. I recommend starting at the top because moisture/water will travel down with gravity and help saturate your wallpaper even more.

Steaming wallpaper with the steamer above and scraping with a paint scraper below

Another tip would be to overlap your steaming pieces. Doesn’t have to be much, but just to make sure you aren’t missing anything. This really only applies to harder wallpapers because sometimes I’ll steam a section and next thing I know, the wallpaper is peeling off beyond the area I had steamed!

If you have wallpaper in your home that you want to remove, stay clear of the chemicals and buy or rent a steamer!

If you enjoyed learning about great DIY and home renovation tools, be sure to check out my post about the Top 5 Beginner DIYer Tools!

Note: Affiliate shopping links are provided for your convenience. By shopping through the links on my site, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

Wallpaper Pinterest Pin Graphic
Wallpaper Pinterest Pin Graphic
FOLLOW ME
Share
Pin

15 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy