What is the best way to remove wallpaper from an old brick fireplace?

Su
by Su
  9 answers
  • Dennis Paugh Dennis Paugh on Dec 21, 2017

    Try a wire brush , but wet the wallpaper down with wall paper remover or just water

  • Paula Paula on Dec 21, 2017

    i'd start out the standard flat wall method, peel it off, then spray with warm water but instead of using a flat scraper I would use a rough scrub brush.

  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 22, 2017

    I agree with both above, nothing like wire brush and wetting the paper. Good luck, it should be great.

  • Dianne Cox Dianne Cox on Dec 23, 2017

    buy a scorer at home depot and score the whole wall. mix a soapy mixture of soap, fabric softener, and hot water thickest put on the whole wall. use a steamer or even an iron on steam ( you will have to keep the reservoir filled with water.) let the moisture set on the wall for a bit

  • Using a putty knife or scraper to carefully remove the wallpaper once the adhesive has been loosened with a wallpaper steamer is one technique. Another method is to use a vinegar and hot water mixture or wallpaper removal solution to loosen the wallpaper's adhesive, and then use a scrub brush or sponge to remove it.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 04, 2024

    Wet it down and then remove it with a wire brush, you may want a drop cloth.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 15, 2025

    Wet Steam it off!

  • Betsy Betsy on Jul 16, 2025

    Hi Su: You can peel away whatever you can, for the bits that you can't pull off, poke holes in the paper so that the following mix can penetrate. Then, make a mix of 3 parts warm water and 1 part fabric softener (the cheap stuff from the Dollar Tree works just fine), in a spray bottle, spray the paper evenly and let it absorb for maybe 15 or 20 minutes or longer, until you can just pull it off. The paper that's still stuck, use a soft bristle brush to remove that. Then wash the area with warm water.