Wallpaper? Really? (How to remove it!)

I love following numerous blogs and love seeing decorating trends come and go.  Some I like, some just aren't my personal cup of tea.  Like distressed furniture: I'm sure there is something in my past that makes me like this, but I want a piece of furniture that looks new, even if it's old.  I won't take something that is new and make it look old.  I love seeing all the techniques to distressing furniture and appreciate how it looks in someone else's house. 

The other thing I can't get over is the new trend in wallpaper!  In our first house, I put up my share of wallpaper in many rooms.  I loved it.  Our second house had wallpaper in so many rooms....and I hated it.  Greens vines and red berries in the kitchen couldn't go fast enough: it was like Christmas Day 24/7/365 (oh to have taken more pictures!).   Don't like your paint color? Easy enough to change. Wallpaper....way more permanent.  You better know what you like before you commit!
I'm no decorator, I'll admit that, but there will be no more wallpaper in my house.  Stencils? That fascinates me, and I'm just waiting to see the perfect spot to try that new improved trend. 

For now, I'll concentrate on how to get rid of wallpaper.  Even if you love the trend and want to try it, you still may need to removed some old wallpaper in the meantime.

Amanda from ourhumbleabowed is working in just this project today, so she got me in the mood to finally write this post.  So here goes, my wallpaper removal experience, for what it's worth.

1) Prepare for mess.    Wallpaper comes off sometimes in bits and pieces, and the bottom layer is sticky with adhesive.  Cover up or remove any items you want to spare the mess.

2) Peel a corner.  Start in a little corner or a seam and test the waters: see how easily it comes off.  Even if you remove the top layer and not the adhesive backing underneath, that's OK.  Just make sure you aren't removing wall with your paper. 

3) Easiest Tool: A spray water bottle has always been the best tool for removal for me.  I tried gels but they were really messy, and the fumes bothersome.  I tried a scoring tool: be careful, and tread lightly: they will leave little marks that you will have to fill in later.

4) Peel and Scrape:  If you can get the top layer off easily, great!  What's left is the adhesive layer which is both paper and glue.  Spray with water and wait, then scrap gently (remember you want to leave the wall underneath smooth!). 

5) Wash! Wash again!  Take heed and learn from my mistakes.  Wash the walls with water and detergent until you get all the glue completely off.  Test by scraping with a paint scraper, and make sure it is completely clean.  If you try to paint and glue is left, the paint will not stick and you will have a mess....trust me on this one. 

And I think that's it!  That is what has worked for me on countless paper-removal projects.  They are time consuming, but it's sort of fun in a way too! 

And if you try some of the "new papers", I'd love to see them!  I'll probably admire them from afar, but want to spare the hours of scraping when I'm done with the design. 

So...have you ever removed wallpaper?  What has worked?