How to Remove Wallpaper using a Steamer

Place a protective floor covering such as a dust sheet or tarpaulin on the floor below the walls that are to be worked on.

Prepare the wallpaper for steaming by using an instrument such as a wallpaper scorer or similar to make several small holes in the wallpaper. The steam will pass through the small holes to soften the old paste and make it easy to remove.

Wear protective gloves and eyewear, and follow the steamer manufacturer’s instructions for correct use. Allow the steamer to heat up for about 10 minutes, then starting at the bottom of the wall, hold the plate directly against the paper and wait for 60 seconds or until the paper around the plate shows signs of damp. Take extra care when stripping wallpaper from a plasterboard wall. The plasterboard surface is paper and very fragile so use the scraper gently to avoid digging into the wall.

Move the steamer up the wall to start softening the next patch while using a wide scraper in your other hand to strip the freshly dampened paper from the wall. Sometimes the paper will come off all in one go, but often the steamer will have to be used again for a further 60 seconds to leave a clean wall underneath. Work upwards one length of wallpaper at a time. When you have stripped the first length return to the bottom and continue on the next length.

Unplug the steamer for one minute before opening the fill cap to top up the water tank.