Yesterday and the day before I worked on “the problematic wall.”
I used a mop and repeatedly soaked it in vinegar, Dawn detergent and hot water, then washed and scrubbed the leftover wallpaper goo.
This “goo” is beyond intractable.
This experience has put a very bad taste in my mouth for wallpaper. Any kind of wallpaper. I rue the day I put it up.
I get hot and sweaty and that is aggravating the eczema I’m dealing with. It is uncomfortable and hot and aggravating. Ugh!
I have to get on the stepladder to take nails down closer to the ceiling and then I fill the holes. I work a bit at a time, then rest my ankle.
I have now made the living room a work zone.
I covered the couch and moved it toward the middle of the room. I moved some of the bigger stuff to the bedroom. Now everything is pushed together so I have a place to work on the wall.
I put a layer of DryDex spackling on per day and let it dry.
I know somewhere I have a bigger putty knife, but I can’t for the life of me find it. So I’m having to work with a small putty knife which means more applications.
I don’t know if I will have to scrub the wall some more before I can apply the Zinsser primer or the paint. I’m hoping that I don’t. But I’m not holding my breath.
I get a bit excited when I wash the wall down and scrub it and it doesn’t seem as sticky. Then it dries and it’s sticky again. I really don’t know what would take this stuff off.
Imagine trying to sand with the dust falling and sticking to the goo. Pieces of the drywall comes off and falls into the wall goo and I have to dig it out. Ugh!
The pupsters and I will be living back in the bedroom until I can get this situation under control. Will keep you updated.
The last time I removed wallpaper, I used Dif by Zinsser. It did a great job. Don't know if it would work for your type of wallpaper. It is a messy, time consuming process, though.
I think if you will just paint right over the sticky , it will dry fine . Maybe try a corner ? Wishing you the best !
When we moved into our house there was wallpaper in every room except the den which was paneled. The wallpaper was pre-pasted and in every room came off easily just with a pull, except for one of the bathrooms. That was a tough task, getting it off in that room, just like you are having. We watered down the wallpaper and then used a hairdryer to heat it and finally got it off but left some nicks in the underlying Sheetrock that the wall-paperer had to fill before she put up new paper for us. I was lucky in my choices of new paper. They were almost non-patterned and are still relevant today. I hope you can get that sticky paste off your wall soon.
As I was reading your post, Brenda, I kept thinking of a product I use regularly to take stickiness off from various things. It's called "Goo Gone". You can buy it in a spray bottle and it's just really good for taking labels off from bottles or price stickers from things. I can't think right now what all I've used it for. I'm not familiar with the product the other reader mentioned so I don't know how it compares to Goo Gone. It's worth a try with either or both, I think.
Could you really put up new drywall as the other reader suggested? How would that work with the door and window moldings, though? It would be great if it worked and not too expensive.
I wish you a speedy finish with this horrendous project. And whose idea was it……anyway! (Just teasing!)
Ugh, what a mess. I've never liked wallpaper and this is just one reason why. So sorry you're having to deal with this.
Oh my, what a mess. So sorry you have to deal with this. It would totally do me in. I hope you can the right cleaning solution so you can paint and get things back to normal.
I hate wallpaper! Twenty two years ago when we bought our home, almost every room was papered! I vowed never again!
WHAT A NIGHTMARE YOU HAVE HAD WITH THIS WALLPAPER.
AT LEAST YOU HAVE YOUR LOVELY BEDROOM TO RETREAT TO, YOU AND THE PUPSTERS CAN RELAX IN, AWAY FROM THE CHAOS IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.
SNUGGLES TO THE PUPSTERS
Yes, I do! And that's where I'm typing this.
I AM SO SORRY THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN ORDEAL FOR YOU.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL, DON'T OVERDO.
TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND STAY HYDRATED.
SNUGGLES TO THE PUPSTERS
Have you tried using a hair dryer or heat gun on the glue to help soften it so it can be scraped off?
Try using fabric softener diluted with water.
This sounds like such a pain. I am sorry that you are having such a trying time. The good news is that your bedroom is nice and cosy and a great respite from the "storm" that is going on in the rest of the house. Take care of yourself going up and down the ladder.
You're right. It is a comfy bedroom. When I think of Puerto Ricans after this horrid storm, I realize this is nothing.
I wonder if some of that Goo Gone stuff would work? I used to hang wallpaper for a living, but they did not have removable paper back then. I'm thinking the removable type has an adhesive similar to what comes on a sticker only stronger, so maybe the Goo Gone would work.
Have you tried De-Solv-it? It's an organic citrus solution and I've used it to remove adhesive glue and it works like a charm. It leaves an oily residue that I clean up with water and Dawn dish soap. I wish I had known about it when I was scrubbing off wallpaper glue!
I went and bought some after I read your comment.
Just try painting over the sticky and it should be fine. Try just a corner first and see how it does.
I wonder if mineral spirits would work?
There is a product called "goo gone" that you use to get sticky stuff from labels off of stuff. Maybe that would work? I have no idea…but it's just a thought.
I AM TRULY SORRY THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS ORDEAL. YOUR FREE WALLPAPER HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE AND VERY LABORIOUS.
I KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS GIVEN WALLPAPER A BAD REP, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN WE MOVED INTO OUT APT. AND TACKLED THE JOB OF GETTING RID OF PAPER THAT HAD BEEN UP FOR OVER 25 YRS., IT WENT WELL. WE BOUGHT A KIT, USED A TOOL CALLED A "TIGER" THAT SCORED THE PAPER, SPRAYED THE PAPER GENEROUSLY, WAITING THE SUGGESTED TIME AND USED THE BLADED SCRAPER, IT CAME RIGHT OFF. JUST HAD TO PATCH A FEW NAIL HOLES AND THEN PAINTED.
BASED ON YOUR HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE I THINK, THAT "REMOVABLE WALLPAPER" IS THE PROBLEM, NOT ALL WALLPAPER.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL, TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS.
SNUGGLES TO THE PUPSTERS
Brenda…I just read online, that acetone might remove the glue…You can buy acetone at Lowe's…Home Depot, or at a hardware store…
Brenda…i am assuming the glue left behind from the wallpaper, is not water soluble?…If it isn't…it will be very difficult to remove it with a water, cleaning remover…IF you can tolerate a chemical smell…you could try mineral spirits…I think they make a low odor mineral spirits or try turpentine and maybe even try "Goop." Goop is a great product…It's called a waterless hand cleaner and is a very thick paste-like substance…You could smear it on the wall…let it sit for about 15-30 minutes and wash it off…hoping that the glue comes off with the washing!…Have you "googled" how to remove the glue from the wall?
What a mess! I hope you can get this done and paint. Now I know I won't do wallpaper ever!! Be careful and stay safe!
I've actually worked with actual regular wallpaper that was easier!
This sounds like a nightmare.
It is.
Oh, Brenda what a mess. You have certainly cured me of the notion of ever putting any wallpaper up. Hope you get it fixed soon. xo Laura
I'm convinced! No wallpaper…ever! I'm of the opinion that it is one decor trend that becomes outdated quicker than others anyway. So sorry you're having to go through this! PS. I LOVE your decorating style.
Always be very careful in a rental. Anything you do like wallpaper or painting you will be charged an enormous fee if you ever move.
I think I would see what it would cost to simply put up a piece of dry-wall over it. if you were doing a whole room it might be expensive. but surely one dry-wall wouldn't be! then it would be DONE and you could paint it. your son n law might even know if/or could do it! anyway. that's what I would try. look at the money you've already spent! and the work yet to do!
and… I feel the SAME way about wall paper as you do!
I hate this for you. not good in any way. good luck.
I'm trying one other thing I got from Ace.
Wallpaper woes…hope you figure out a way to eradicate the goo. Have you Googled Solutions? As a wallpaper aficionado, I have been in your shoes. I have ever heard that dynamite will fix the problem. ?
Dollar Tree sells Goo Be Gone. Maybe that could help?
My mind keeps thinking this is a wallpaper you received for review. Am I correct? I know you are stressing over the removal and I hope you get it fixed up this week. We moved into a house one time that had wallpaper in almost every room, that we had to remove. It was such a chore. When we were looking for our next house, if it had wallpaper, it was quickly checked off the list of potentials. LOL
Yes it is. I should have read how to do it first, as their website tells you you just don't pull it off like I did.
So sorry you are having to deal with this mess. I told my husband about it and he said our wallpaper will stay put!
Should have gone to the website the wallpaper came from and read first.