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While you can remove wallpaper yourself, it is a labor-intensive process that risks damaging your walls. Common DIY methods include using a steamer to loosen the adhesive or spraying the paper with a solution of hot water and vinegar or dish soap before scraping. However, steamers can cause irreparable damage if used incorrectly, and the spray-and-scrape method can harm drywall if it gets too wet or you scrape too aggressively. For these reasons, hiring a professional is often the fastest, easiest, and safest option. A pro has the experience and specialized tools to remove wallpaper efficiently without damaging the underlying surface, which saves time and minimizes the prep work needed for your next wall treatment.

In most cases, it is not recommended to wallpaper over existing wallpaper, as the success depends on the type of paper already on the wall. While you might be able to cover non-coated wallpaper, you should never apply new wallpaper over a vinyl-coated one, which is more common. Doing so can lead to poor adhesion, resulting in bubbles, imperfections, and peeling. It can also trap moisture, potentially causing hazardous mold growth between the layers.

Even if the existing wallpaper is suitable, experts recommend applying only one new layer. Adding multiple layers (more than two total) can cause significant adhesion problems, leading to warping and bubbling. For the best results, the recommended approach is to remove the old wallpaper and all paste residue before hanging the new paper. If you are unsure about your wallpaper type, consider consulting a professional.

Small amounts of wallpaper can be thrown away in your household trash. If you’re removing a whole home’s worth of wallpaper, you may need to contact a waste removal company, rent a dumpster, or schedule a special pick-up with your municipality’s waste removal service. Wallpaper isn’t recyclable, so no matter which method you choose to dispose of it, make sure it doesn’t get mixed in with the recycling.