Best Way To Remove Wallpaper Border From Plaster Wall

The Best Way to Remove Wallpaper Border From Plaster Wall

Wallpaper borders can add a decorative touch to a room, but they can also be difficult to remove. If you're planning to remove a wallpaper border from a plaster wall, there are a few things you'll need to do to make the process easier. Here are the steps on how to do it:

Materials You'll Need:

Wallpaper scoring tool or utility knife
Wallpaper steamer
Putty knife
Bucket of warm water
Sponge
Denatured alcohol
Rags

Instructions:

Score the wallpaper border. Use a wallpaper scoring tool or utility knife to score the wallpaper border along the top and bottom edges. This will help the steam penetrate the wallpaper and make it easier to remove.
Steam the wallpaper border. Fill a wallpaper steamer with water and heat it up. Hold the steamer against the wallpaper border for a few minutes until the wallpaper is saturated with steam. The steam will help loosen the adhesive and make the wallpaper easier to remove.
Remove the wallpaper border. Once the wallpaper is saturated with steam, use a putty knife to carefully peel it away from the wall. Start at one corner and work your way around the border. Be careful not to tear the wallpaper or damage the plaster wall.
Clean the wall. Once the wallpaper border is removed, use a sponge dipped in warm water to clean the wall. This will remove any remaining adhesive or wallpaper residue.
Apply denatured alcohol. If there is still some adhesive residue on the wall, apply denatured alcohol to a rag and wipe it over the area. The denatured alcohol will help dissolve the adhesive and make it easier to remove.
Rinse the wall. Once the adhesive residue is removed, rinse the wall with clean water and let it dry completely.

Removing a wallpaper border from a plaster wall can be a time-consuming process, but it's not difficult. By following these steps, you can remove the wallpaper border without damaging the wall.

Additional Tips:

If the wallpaper border is very old or has been painted over, it may be more difficult to remove. You may need to use a stronger adhesive remover or score the wallpaper more deeply.
Be careful not to use too much steam, as this can damage the plaster wall. If the wall starts to bubble, stop steaming and let it cool down before continuing.
If you are removing a wallpaper border that is near an electrical outlet or switch, be sure to turn off the power before you start working.