How can I remove individual strips of wallpaper?

Our kids have just decided they preferred our Laura Ashley wallpaper with added extra crayon effects and we haven’t been able to remove the marks (tried all the usual tips but the wallpaper simply isn’t wipeable so the surface is now ruined.

Fortunately we have enough left-over paper to replace the two strips that were re-coloured – but is there a way of removing two strips in the middle of a wall without ruining the paper either side?

Lightly go down the seam with a stanley/craft knife and peel slowly.

Our Laura Ashley wallpaper

😆

+1 to both replies.

Stanly knife down the centre of each of the 2 sheets and steam from the middel out.

Wait a few years MF, then replace stuff. Trust me.

Wait a few years MF, then replace stuff. Trust me.

If I didn’t have some left-overs I would do.

Bl00dy kids 🙂

deadlydarcy – Member
Our Laura Ashley wallpaper

It goes well with this…

Wallpaper expands when you apply the paste and how much depends on how long you allow the paste to soak into the paper. So you may need to experiment with soak times to get the replacement paper to fit the gaps.

Might be a bit late as you say the surface is ruined but did you try an eraser? The other thing worth a go is a solvent such as nail varnish remover (acetone). If its a wax crayon this might help, be careful though as it may remove ink as well.

Otherwise, to remove just be really careful and start in the middle staying away from the edges. May need to find a way of directing the steam more accurately?

Would it work to just paper over that one strip or is the paper too thick so will look wrong? Might work with thin paper.

Teef has it, the chances of you filling the same gap is very slim.
Normally you need to strip back to the nearest corner ime.
If it was me i would splice a piece in to replace the damaged bit, not easy though if you dont know what you’re doing.
Dont go anywhere near it with steam

Try some ipa on it, magic stuff!

edit. just noticed this so ipa is no good.

(tried all the usual tips but the wallpaper simply isn’t wipeable so the surface is now ruined.

Just draw on their bedroom walls and even the score 😈

Assuming the paper was put on properly in the first place with butted joints then you won’t need a knife. You can’t get a good straight line anyway and will show when you put your new piece on and you’ll end up cutting through the lining paper as well.
Don’t forget, when you pull the paper away from the wall it will probably leave the backing part behind which needs to come off as well to keep it level with the rest, which means you’ll need to carefully wet it with a sponge.
As long as you soak it as per instructions then the new paper will end up the same width as the old although not perfect so as seanodav says it may be better to go back to the nearest corner.
You could give the splicing a go first but it depends on the pattern, texture and age of the paper as to how well hidden it’ll be. Done carefully you can’t see the patch.

M-f, 😆

Haven’t had an excuse to put that one up for ages. Nice one! 😛

Might be a bit late as you say the surface is ruined but did you try an eraser? The other thing worth a go is a solvent such as nail varnish remover (acetone). If its a wax crayon this might help, be careful though as it may remove ink as well.

Didn’t try an eraser but did try nail varnish remover – it removed the silver finish to the flowery print.

I will have to measure the leftover – I might have enough to go to the closest corner.

Or just leave it.

DD 🙂

If you strip both lengths carefully but leave as much as you can on the second length without having any crayon on, run sharp knife down at that point where you want to strip to.
hang 1st length from good edge towards bad then the second length should overlap the bad edge, at this point when smoothed out, run a very sharp craft knife vertical and as plumb as poss using spirit level as guide through both new and old paper.
carefully peel back new paper and strip old to the cut you have just made.
once this is stripped you can stick new paper down so that cut edge becomes the new joint.
Hope this makes sense!