I bet you were expecting something other than wallpaper removal tips with a title like that weren't you! Well today's topic is wallpaper stripping. This is a topic that everyone cringes at having to do. Hopefully one of these tips will be found helpful for you as you...strip away those wallpaper blues.

When we bought our house, it came with several rooms covered in antiquidated wallpaper that definately needed to be left in the past with the years they came from. Being a mother and pet owner, I wanted to concentrate on ECO friendly ways to remove the wallpaper if at all possible. Of course there are many other methods that involve stronger chemical methods which I will also note. It goes without saying that any method used to remove wallpaper...is a messy one, so be prepared to have a big mess to clean up.

• Soapy hot water in a spray bottle - It works great for removing wallpaper. You can spray it on the surface of the wallpaper and within minutes, take a putty knife to slide the paper off effortlessly. If the paper seperates and leaves the adhesive residue, just go over again with the mixture and repeat steps.
• Fabric softener and water - In a 50/50 mix it also works similarly with the same steps and the same resulting effects. Some specifically suggest Downey liquid softener works better than others.
• Vinegar and water - In a 50/50 mix is yet another pet/child friendly wallpaper removal technique. As with the above mentioned mixes, the same steps for removal, mind you as we all know though, vinegar is a little smelly.
• Steamer - You can rent a professional wallpaper steamer from most large home improvement stores. A steamer will produce a constant hot steam when held against the wallpaper causing it to bubble away from the wall. 
• Enzyme Strippers - Enzyme strippers are exactly that, agents formulated to specifically break down the adhesive agents in the wallpaper by use of enzymes. You still will have to apply it, scrape it and probably repeat at least once more.

This is definitely not a project for the weak. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of elbow grease and time.

A note to remember, with wallpaper removal, don't be surprised if you have to patch your drywall in spots. The older the paper, the bigger the project. Also make sure with any of these removal techniques, to not soak your wall, it could soak your drywall if it wasn't primed or painted before the wallpaper was put up.

With that being said, if you are thinking about putting wallpaper up in your home, remember it will be easier to remove in the future if you prime and paint your drywall before applying the wallpaper.

For those that feel absolutely overwhelmed by the thought of this daunting project, just remember one thing...you can always paint over wallpaper!

I hope these little tips gave you some ideas for how to tackle...stripping it off! Happy stripping!