The wallpaper border removal method depends on what the border was applied to, such as painted wall or not, whether it was applied over the wallpaper, and what was used to hang the wallpaper border. If it is on wallpaper, it can be peeled off easily. However, if you’re on a painted wall, moistening the bottom layer with warm water and letting it soak for a while makes the job much easier.

You can use any commercial chemical wallpaper remover if the edge is a genuine wallpaper edge and is reasonably new. The remover will reactivate the adhesive and allow you to scrape the paper off with a scraper tool. However, the chemical will generally not penetrate if the edge of the wallpaper has a vinyl outer covering. Use a piercing tool to break up the surface so moisture can get to the adhesive.

Peel off the edge of the wallpaper with a soft metal or plastic scraper, and not with tools such as strong metal scrapers or filler knives, which can lead to unwanted scratches on the wall. If the material on the edge of the wallpaper is fibrous, such as paper, you can use a garden sprayer to soak it in the chemical remover and then remove the remaining residue. Use a wallpaper steamer to reactivate the paste. You can then easily scrape off the paper.

You can also use the steam removal method for the edges of the wallpaper. First, steam the wall surface. Start from the bottom to the top, one section at a time. If the edge of the wallpaper uses an extremely strong adhesive, you may need to steam each strip two or three times before removing it. Use a wide knife to scrape a strip of wallpaper from the wall, working from the bottom up. And while the adhesive is still hot, scrape off each strip of paper. Using warm water and a sponge, remove any remaining adhesive residue.