I've spent the last two days trying to peel off this hideous floral wallpaper from the previous owners, and honestly, I'm about ready to just move houses at this point. I've tried steaming, scraping, soaking it with vinegar solution...you name it. But every time I think I've got a good chunk going, it tears into tiny little strips and leaves behind gluey residue. Is this some kind of cruel joke wallpaper manufacturers play on us or am I just really unlucky here?
Ugh, wallpaper removal is honestly the worst DIY job out there. I feel your pain—been there myself with some stubborn 80s geometric nightmare. One thing that helped me was mixing warm water with a bit of eco-friendly dish soap and applying it generously, then letting it sit longer than you'd think necessary. Still messy, but it loosened the glue better than vinegar did. Makes you wonder though, why was wallpaper ever a thing in the first place...?
Totally get the frustration—my house had layers of floral wallpaper from the 70s, and beneath that, some weird pastel stripes from who knows when. Honestly though, wallpaper was pretty practical back in the day. It covered uneven plaster walls easily and added insulation. Plus, it was a quick way to freshen up a room without repainting constantly. Still, whoever invented wallpaper glue clearly never had to remove it themselves... Hang in there, it'll feel amazing once it's finally gone.
I had a similar experience when we bought our first house—layers upon layers of wallpaper, and beneath it all, some questionable color choices. I initially thought removing it myself would save money, but after days spent scraping and steaming, I wondered if hiring someone might've been more cost-effective in the long run. Have you tried using a fabric softener solution? It worked surprisingly well for me, though the smell lingered longer than I'd hoped... Still, the satisfaction once you see clean walls again makes it worth the hassle.
