With lots of different types of wallpaper like paste the wall now widely available, it’s becoming easier than ever to hang your own wallpaper. But there are still some wallpaper problems that often crop up, the four most common being: bubbles in your wallpaper, lifting or peeling, marks and stains and visible joins.
Luckily though, they’re all quick and easy to fix when you know how.
HOW TO GET BUBBLES OUT OF WALLPAPER
Bubbles are the most common wallpaper problem, and they form when air is trapped underneath your wallpaper. To avoid this, when hanging your wallpaper, smooth down the centre of each drop first, working your way out to the edges. This method pushes any trapped air out from under your paper.
But no matter how careful you are, bubbles can still appear. Frustrating, we know!
To learn how to get rid of bubbles in wallpaper, follow these steps for a quick fix.
Step 1. Use a razor blade or craft/Stanley knife to cut a small slit in the wallpaper along one side of the bubble.
Step 2. Push gently on the bubble to release the trapped air.
Step 3. Insert a small amount of wallpaper glue into the hole. It’s best to use a syringe or glue applicator, which you can pick up at most DIY stores.
Step 4. Smooth the wallpaper down, squeezing out any excess glue and wipe it down with a damp sponge before leaving it to dry.
How to fix wallpaper that is lifting or peeling
Another common wallpaper problem. The seams or corners of your wallpaper can sometimes begin to lift if you squeeze too much adhesive out from under the paper when smoothing it onto the wall. This loss of adhesive can stop the edges from sticking properly.
But fixing wallpaper that is lifting or peeling is really easy; just follow these simple steps.
Step 1. Dip a small brush into your wallpaper adhesive and spread it onto the underside of the lifting seam or corner of wallpaper.
Step 2. Smooth the wallpaper down flat with a smoothing brush or roller.
Step 3. Use a damp sponge to wipe any excess adhesive from the surface of your wallpaper.
How to remove marks and stains from wallpaper
Good quality wallpaper is a durable option for your home, but it can still be susceptible to marks and stains.
Luckily, you can easily remove most marks and stains from your wallpaper.
Here’s how...
Step 1. Use a duster to remove any loose dust and dirt from the surface of your wallpaper.
Step 2. Make a quick cleaning solution of liquid soap and warm water. Dip a soft cloth into this solution, remove as much excess liquid as possible and then gently buff the mark or stain.
Step 3. Once the mark or stain has disappeared, wipe the wall down with a dry cloth.
How to hide visible gaps in wallpaper seams
It can be a common but no less annoying problem to find that once your wallpaper has dried, there are visible joins between each strip. The gaps are usually more visible if you have a dark wallpaper and light coloured wall or vice versa.
Fixing obvious wallpaper seams is really simple if you follow these steps:
Step 1. Buy a tube of water soluble paint which matches the wallpaper's darkest colour. Mix a small amount with water in a small pot.
Step 2. Using a fine tip artist's paintbrush or roller, brush the paint into the visible seam and then wipe away any excess straight away.
Step 3. Repeat this in small sections until all the joins are disguised.
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