Wallpaper removal advice needed. I have a bathroom that was wallpapered

[japple]

10 years ago. It is prepasted wallpaper from Home Depot. My SIL said to use ammonia, but I don't think I could stand that even though it is a Jack/Jill bathroom, but very small in size. I have read (on the old DU site) to score the paper and then use fabric softener to loosen the adhesive. I've also seen advice that said to score the wallpaper and then use vinegar. Does anyone have 1st hand experience? I promise to never use wallpaper again, so help me dog.

[GeorgeGist]

1. It may be stippable ...

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-wallpaper1.htm

[Scuba]

2. Here's the easiest way ...

[Renew Deal]

3. I did this job a few years ago.

Wallpaper in the bathroom. I hated doing it. I used Dif Gel Wallpaper remover. It was torture, but it worked and it's better than using vinegar.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Zinsser-32-oz-DIF-Gel-Wallpaper-Stripper-Spray-2466/202911113

[Adsos Letter]

4. We always did this:

Duct tape some plastic along the base board to catch any liquid mess (be careful, as the plastic can get slippery as it collects the gunk)

Score the paper. They make a Paper Tiger specifically for this, or you can lightly drag the toothed edge of a handsaw across the surface.

Purchase some of the wallpaper remover available at local paint store, or big box store.

We used to apply it with a Hudson sprayer, but a large (4&quot paint brush will work.

Hopefully, the paper hanger had the walls sealed with an oil base primer before installing the paper. If so, take a 4 or 6" taping blade and scrape the dampened paper off the wall.

Again, if the surface underneath the paper was sealed beforehand, be sure to take a damp sponge and thoroughly rinse with clear water to remove any residual wall paper paste as the water in latex paints will re-wet residual glue/paste, and can cause adhesion problems or alligatoring.

If you want to take the extra step: when the wall is thoroughly dry, reprime it with something like Gardz, which will ensure a tight surface. You don't have to be as careful to get all the paste off if you take this step.

Is the paper face smooth or surfaced (flocked, etc.)? I ask because if the paper is tight to the wall you can prime it with a quick-dry oil base primer and then texture or paint over that substrate. I would avoid latex primers because of the chance of the water penetrating the paper, re-wetting the glue, and causing bubbling, decreased adhesion, etc. If the original surface wasn't primed before papering then this might be your best option.

[Lugnut]

8. This is the method I used in my bathroom.

I will never wallpaper anything again.

[lamp_shade]

5. I had 100% success with this...

The outer paper layer usually comes off with just a good water soak. The problem is that the gooey pasty stuff is still on the wall and trying to get it off is nearly impossible. Make a solution of tsp (trisodium phosphate) and water and apply or spray on the wall. Wait a few minutes. You'll be amazed at how easily that gooey stuff strips right off clean as a whistle.

[A Little Weird]

6. Garment steamer

I used steam to loosen the wallpaper and then it just pulled off. Well, about 90% of it pulled off and I went behind with a plastic scraper to get the rest. But I don't have much experience - just a border and one wall in one room.

[Renew Deal]

7. This is the other method I've heard about

But thankfully haven't needed.

[Warpy]

9. Get the scorer from a hardware store

and soak the paper down with water and fabric softener. That combination does the best of anything I've ever tried. Depending on whether it's paper or vinyl, it should come off quite easily once the water has soaked through.

Vinegar and ammonia don't work.

ETA: My experience was with old wallpaper in Boston and with a wallpapered trailer here in NM. I don't know which was worse since trailer wallpaper is heat set.

[Thor_MN]

10. I've used both a steamer and the DIF gel.

I prefer the steamer. The Dif Gel is messy and doesn't always work.

Oh, and pray for all you are worth that they sealed the drywall before hanging the paper.