Strip wallpaper with a steamer

Steam off old wallpaper safely, working section by section and adjusting your technique to suit the wall underneath.

WS-01Clear and protect the roomMove furniture away from the walls and take down curtains, pictures and any wall art. Lay dust sheets along the skirting and floor to catch hot water and wet paper as it comes off. If you have carpet, tuck the dust sheet edge under the skirting line so water can't run underneath.

2 each · Dust sheets

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1 roll · Masking tape

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WS-02Turn off power to sockets and switches on that wallSteam and dripping water near live sockets and switches is dangerous. Go to your consumer unit and switch off the circuit that covers the sockets and lights in the room — if you're not sure which one, turn off the whole board while you work. Cover every socket and switch faceplate with masking tape so water can't get into the mechanism even with the power off.

1 roll · Masking tape

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WS-03Work out what's behind the wallpaperTap the wall: a dull, solid knock usually means brick, block or lath and plaster; a hollow drum sound means plasterboard on studs or dot-and-dab. A slight give under firm hand pressure suggests dot-and-dab or studwork rather than solid masonry. If the house was built or last replastered before about 1980 and the wall or ceiling has lath and plaster or a textured coating, be cautious — older coatings and boards can contain asbestos, and steaming disturbs the surface. If you're not sure, don't scrape or sand it back further than needed to strip the paper, and get it checked before any bigger works.

WS-04Fill and heat the steamer, then test itFill the steamer's water tank to the level marked on the unit — don't overfill it. Let it heat up for 5–10 minutes until steam comes through the plate steadily. Test the steam plate on a small, hidden patch of wallpaper first, such as behind a door or inside a cupboard, to see how the paper and wall react before you commit to the whole room.

1 each · Wallpaper steamer

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WS-05Score vinyl or heavily painted paper firstSteam can't get through vinyl-coated or heavily painted wallpaper on its own. Run a scoring tool or perforator over the surface in overlapping circles before you steam, just enough to break the top layer without gouging the wall underneath.

1 each · Wallpaper scoring tool

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WS-06Steam and strip, adjusting for the wall typeHold the steam plate against a section of paper for 10–20 seconds, then peel from the bottom with a stripping knife while the paper is still warm and soft. On solid brick or block plaster, you can hold the plate on longer and use firmer scraping — the wall underneath is robust. On plasterboard, whether on timber or metal studs, keep the steam plate moving and don't linger on any one spot, as too much heat and moisture can soften the paper facing and joint tape. On dot-and-dab plasterboard, work quickly in small sections and avoid heavy, prolonged steaming in one place — soaking the board for too long can weaken the adhesive dabs holding it to the wall behind. On lath and plaster, use short bursts of steam and light scraping only; excess water run into the wall can soften the plaster key on the laths and cause it to crumble or sag, so if the plaster feels soft or spongy, stop and reassess rather than pushing on.

1 each · Stripping knife

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WS-07Wash off paste residueOnce the paper is off, wipe the wall down with a clean, damp sponge to remove leftover paste. Rinse the sponge often in a bucket of clean water so you're not smearing paste back onto the wall.

1 each · Sponge

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1 each · Bucket

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WS-08Let the walls dry fullyLeave the walls to dry for at least 24–48 hours before painting, papering or filling. Open windows and doors to help air move through the room. Rushing this can trap moisture behind new paint or paper and cause it to bubble or peel later.

WS-09Clean up and restore powerEmpty and wipe out the steamer's water tank so it doesn't sit with stale water. Bag up wet paper and dust sheets, and wipe down the floor and skirting. Once everything is dry and the socket and switch faceplates are dry to the touch, remove the masking tape and switch the circuit back on at the consumer unit.

2 each · Rubbish bags

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