How to Remove Wallpaper: 4 Methods for Different Wall Types
Quick summary: Wallpaper removal comes down to breaking the seal between paper and wall, usually with heat or moisture, then scraping gently. Steaming works fastest on most jobs, soaking with a scoring tool suits painted plaster, a fabric softener and water mix is the budget-friendly DIY option, and chemical strippers handle stubborn vinyl or fabric-backed paper. Expect $40–$150 in gear for an average room, or more if you hire a steamer.
Old wallpaper is one of those renovation jobs everyone underestimates. It looks simple — peel it off, right? — until you're an hour in with a soggy corner and a scraper gouge in the plaster.
The good news is that wallpaper removal is genuinely a DIYable job. You just need the right method for your wall type and paper type, and a bit of patience.
Why Removing Wallpaper the Right Way Matters
Plaster and plasterboard walls in Australian homes, especially anything built before the 1990s, can be surprisingly soft under old paint and paper layers. Rip too hard and you'll take a layer of plaster skin with it.
Getting the method right also saves time. The wrong approach can turn a one-afternoon job into a weekend nightmare of scraping tiny confetti-sized scraps off the wall.
Common Wall Damage Risks
The main risks when removing wallpaper are:
- Gouging — using a metal scraper too aggressively and digging into plasterboard paper facing
- Water damage — oversoaking plasterboard so the gypsum core softens or bubbles
- Paint lifting — pulling painted-over paper and taking the paint film with it in sheets
- Glue residue — leaving adhesive behind that shows through new paint or paper
Working slowly and testing a small patch first will save you most of these headaches.
Tools and Materials You'll Need
Before you start, gather:
- A wallpaper scoring tool (sometimes called a tiger tooth tool)
- A wide plastic putty knife or flexible scraper (avoid sharp metal edges on plasterboard)
- A garden pump sprayer or spray bottle
- Warm water
- Drop sheets or old towels for the floor
- A stepladder
- Rubber gloves
- Optional: wallpaper steamer, fabric softener, chemical wallpaper stripper
A basic scraper and scoring tool combo from Wallpaper scoring tool and scraper set will cost around $20–$30 and covers most jobs. If you're doing a whole house, a steamer hire or purchase pays for itself quickly.
Method 1: Steaming Wallpaper Off
Steaming is the go-to method for most Aussie homes because it works on a wide range of papers without soaking the wall in liquid.
How it works: A wallpaper steamer heats water into steam, which you hold against the wall for 10–15 seconds at a time. The steam loosens the adhesive, and the paper peels away with a scraper.
You can buy a home steamer like the Earlex Steam Generator Wallpaper Stripper for around $110–$140, or hire one from Bunnings or a local tool hire shop for roughly $35–$45 a day.
Can you steam off vinyl wallpaper yourself at home?
Yes, but you need to score or perforate the vinyl top layer first. Vinyl wallpaper has a waterproof surface, so steam (or any liquid) can't penetrate until you break that layer with a scoring tool. Once scored, steam works through to the paste layer underneath just fine.
Work in small sections, top to bottom, moving the steamer plate across the wall before scraping. Don't rush — patience here means fewer plaster repairs later.
Method 2: Scoring and Soaking
This is the cheapest method and works well on plasterboard walls with older, non-vinyl paper.
- Run a scoring tool over the wallpaper in overlapping circular motions to perforate it without cutting into the plaster.
- Mix warm water in a spray bottle or pump sprayer.
- Spray generously and let it soak for 10–15 minutes.
- Scrape gently with a wide putty knife, working from the bottom edge upward.
- Re-spray any stubborn patches and wait a bit longer.
This is the slowest of the four methods but the gentlest on old plaster, since you control exactly how much moisture goes on.
Method 3: Fabric Softener Solution
This is the trick that surprises people — but it genuinely works, especially on older non-vinyl wallpaper.
How do you remove wallpaper using fabric softener and water?
Mix one part fabric softener (any cheap supermarket brand works fine) with two parts warm water in a spray bottle. Score the wallpaper first, then spray the mixture on generously and let it sit for 15–20 minutes.
The fabric softener breaks down the starch-based wallpaper paste more effectively than plain water, and it leaves surfaces easier to wipe clean afterwards. Scrape as usual with a flexible putty knife.
It's a great low-cost option — a bottle of fabric softener from Woolworths or Coles costs a few dollars and will strip an entire room.
Method 4: Chemical Wallpaper Strippers
For vinyl, fabric-backed, or multiple layers of old paper, a dedicated chemical stripper often outperforms water alone.
Products like DIF Wallpaper Stripper Concentrate (around $20–$25 at Bunnings) are mixed with water and applied with a sponge or sprayer. They contain surfactants that break down adhesive faster than water or fabric softener.
Always ventilate the room, wear gloves, and follow the dilution instructions on the bottle. Chemical strippers are more aggressive, so test a small hidden patch first if you're worried about paint or plaster underneath.
Removing Different Wallpaper Types
Not all wallpaper behaves the same, and matching your method to the paper type will save you a lot of frustration.
| Wallpaper Type | Best Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard paper/vinyl-coated | Steaming or soaking | Score first if surface feels plasticky |
| Solid vinyl | Steaming after scoring, or chemical stripper | Waterproof layer must be perforated |
| Fabric-backed | Chemical stripper | Peel top layer by hand first, strip backing paper separately |
| Painted-over paper | Chemical stripper + scoring | May need two applications |
Vinyl Wallpaper
Vinyl is the trickiest because of its waterproof top coating. Score it thoroughly with a tiger tooth tool, then steam or apply stripper. Don't skip the scoring — it's the step most people rush, and it's the reason vinyl removal jobs stall.
Fabric-Backed Wallpaper
Fabric-backed paper often has a top decorative layer that peels away dry, leaving a backing layer glued to the wall. Peel the top layer off by hand at a corner, then treat the remaining backing paper with a chemical stripper or soapy water, scraping gently.
Painted-Over Wallpaper
If someone's painted directly over wallpaper (very common in older rental properties), plain water won't penetrate. Score the surface first to break the paint film, then apply a chemical stripper and let it dwell longer than usual — often 20–30 minutes.
Prepping Walls After Wallpaper Removal
Once the paper's off, wash the walls down with warm water and a sponge to remove leftover paste residue. Dried glue left on the wall will show through new paint as a patchy sheen.
Let the walls dry fully for 24–48 hours. Check for gouges or torn plaster paper and fill with a lightweight filler like Selleys Spakfilla Rapid Filler , sanding back once cured.
Prime bare plasterboard with a sealer undercoat before painting — this stops the new paint from soaking in unevenly where old paste residue remains.
Do I need to remove old wallpaper before painting over it?
In most cases, yes. Painting directly over wallpaper can trap moisture, cause bubbling, and telegraph seams through the new paint film. The exception is if the paper is extremely well-adhered, non-textured, and you're using a proper wallpaper primer designed for painting over paper — but full removal always gives a better, longer-lasting finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to remove wallpaper without damaging plaster walls? Scoring lightly, using moderate moisture (steam or a soak), and scraping with a flexible plastic putty knife rather than a metal one is the safest combination for plaster.
How long does it take to remove old wallpaper from a room? A single feature wall typically takes 1–2 hours. A full average bedroom (four walls) usually takes 4–6 hours, and multiple layers or painted-over paper can push that to a full day.
Is wallpaper stripper safe on plasterboard? Yes, when used as directed. Avoid oversoaking, work in sections, and don't let liquid pool at the skirting board.
The Bottom Line
There's no single best wallpaper removal method — it depends entirely on your wall and paper type. Start with a small test patch using steam or fabric softener and water, since these are the gentlest and cheapest options.
If the paper resists after 15–20 minutes of soaking, step up to scoring plus a chemical stripper. Whichever method you choose, patience beats force every time — a slower peel now means far less plaster filling later.
