Chemical Free Wall Paper Removal

Step 1. Remove switch plates and lighting fixtures.  

Pull off the outer layer of paper in large sheets.

   


   
 When it was time to remove the paper in a small bathroom, I dreaded the idea of spending time in the constrained space with a chemical stripper applied on the walls, so I researched alternative, non-toxic options. Although using vinegar rather than a stripping solution, takes some elbow grease, avoiding exposure to chemical fumes for hours while peeling paper, seemed a reasonable trade-off.   

Step 2. Spray the next layer with a warm water and vinegar mix 
(ratio 4:1), and immediately scraped it off with a razor scraper. 

Step 3.  Respray sections that do not scrape easily, and continued scraping.

Step 4.  Remove the last remnants of glue with a rag dipped 
in a bucket of warm water to reveal the original smooth surface.

Step 5.  Touch-up scratched areas with taping compound if necessary, 
and re-paper, or avoid future paper removal, and paint.  
Replace switches and fixtures.