A decorating expert has shared a simple trick that could help remove wallpaper in minutes using a single affordable item that may already be in your fridge.
Orange Juice as a Wallpaper Stripper
Mike Cupit, founder of The Decorators Forum, posted a video on Instagram showing that adding orange juice to warm water and washing-up liquid makes wallpaper removal remarkably straightforward. The orange juice costs about £1.60 per carton.
He recommended adding roughly half a cup of fresh orange juice to the bowl. The mixture can be applied directly to the wallpaper without peeling off the outer vinyl layer first.
How It Works
Mike applied the mixture with a cloth and said the technique can begin to take effect in as little as 30 seconds. He explained: "What happens is, the acidity in the orange juice bleeds through the paper and just dissolves the paste."
After letting the mixture sit for at least 30 seconds, he used a scraper to lift a corner and carefully peeled the sheet away, leaving no residue. He said: "This is taking both layers of paper off. I've done this three times now on three separate walls, and every time the paper's just come straight off with no problems whatsoever. So the chances of it being a fluke are next to none."
Reaction from Viewers
Commenters expressed gratitude, with many saying they had been dreading their DIY projects. One person said: "Sooo glad I've seen this before I start to strip a s*** load of walls in my new home." Another added: "That's far too easy to be true."
Traditional Wallpaper Stripping Method
The most straightforward method is to saturate the paper with warm water and washing-up liquid using a spray bottle or pump sprayer. This reactivates the old paste and allows peeling in large sections. Steps include prepping the room by turning off power and protecting floors, peeling the top layer if possible, mixing a solution of fabric softener and hot water or dish soap and warm water, soaking the walls for 15–20 minutes, scraping with a putty knife, and wiping down residue with a sponge and vinegar or washing-up liquid.
