Repairing Wallpaper
Wallpaper: The Concealer
Wallpaper can be lovely, homey and charming, and it can hide
the flaws in troubled walls better than paint, any day. But when it begins to
peel away at the corners or get wear dings, it can instantly go from homey to
homely.
Cleaning Your Wallpaper
The first issue to address is your wallpaper’s cleanliness.
Has it been a while since you washed it? If so, then it’s time to give
your paper a spit-shine. To make sure that your wallpaper can handle the washing,
begin on a concealed section near a seam, to make sure washing won’t cause
the paper to peel, fade or dissolve. It's a good idea to use a non-abrasive sponge with a solution of mild soap (like Ivory liquid) and cold water. You need only a tablespoon
or two of soap per bucket of water. If you need to scrub your wallpaper, a little
baking soda on a damp sponge makes a great but gentle abrasive. It’s important
to heed the caveat that you should wash and rinse using cold water; warm or
hot will cause the adhesive to melt and the paper may buckle.
Tip: If you have flocked wallpaper, carefully clean around any raised patterns
and wipe only the flat paper part. You may be able to gently clean the flocked
areas with a dry, soft brush like a baby toothbrush. If you have fabric wallpaper,
you may be able to spot clean sections using a fabric or gentle no-rinse rug
cleaner (such as Folex), but first test an inconspicuous area before treating
the rest.
Sometimes the job might not even be this big and a small repair is the right solution. Check out our page on quick wallpaper fixes for quick and easy tips for wallpaper repair!
