How to Remove Wallpaper Adhesive to Paint Walls
- 1). Mix up the TSP and warm water in a bucket per manufacturer's directions. TSP is toxic. Put on rubber gloves and safety glasses. Scrub the wall with a sponge to remove the adhesive with this solution.
- 2). Fill a spray bottle with water and one tablespoon of baking soda. Shake up the solution and spray it on the wall and scrub with a sponge.
- 3). Fill the spray bottle with water and 4 tablespoons of fabric softener. Spray this solution on the wall and scrub.
- 4). Sand the wall where there is stubborn wallpaper adhesive that refuses to come off. Put on a filter mask and use 100 grit sandpaper and sand manually or with an electric palm sander.
- 5). Float 1 to 3 layers of drywall compound over the adhesive if all else fails. This is known as skim coating. Apply the drywall compound with a 6-inch wide putty knife. Hold the putty knife at a very low angle to the wall as you pull the compound over the wall to create a very thin coat. Let each coat dry thoroughly. Sand the wall smooth before painting on the primer coat.
