We’re planning what needs to be done before baby number two arrives. When we were preparing for Clara at our first house, we had nine months to finish a few remaining projects (mainly the full bathroom and the nursery), but most of the big jobs were already completed — the kitchen renovation was done, the hardwood floors had been refinished, and we’d opened up and closed off walls in strategic places. This house, though, is much less finished, so our pre-baby goals are focused on creating a clean, blank slate rather than completing every detail.
My mission is simple: remove the old wallpaper, replace dated carpeting, and paint over the blue trim before the baby arrives. Over the next six months I’ll chip away at seven areas:
- Remove the blue trim and wallpaper in the dining room
- Finish Project No More
Graph Paperin the kitchen - Strip the blue wallpaper in the sink/tub area of the bathroom
- Rip up the old carpet runner on the stairs (our new runners finally arrived)
- Paint the blue trim in the office
- Remove the old carpeting on the steps from the garage into the kitchen
We also have other items on the radar, like adding built-ins to the bedroom, improving the office, updating a guest room, and, of course, creating the nursery. But getting rid of the blue trim, peeling wallpaper, and worn stair runners feels like the most important, immediate progress. With one project already finished, we’ve made a good start.
This time I tackled the kitchen’s graph-paper wallpaper. Over the years I’ve tested different wallpaper removal methods — boiling water, a steamer (which has been the fastest so far), and warm tap water with soap. For this job I used warm tap water and Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap: a few squirts in a spray bottle of hot tap water, sprayed on, soaked for about three minutes, and then peeled. The soap helps cut through adhesive better than plain water, and it was gentle enough given my sensitive nose during pregnancy.
Large sheets of wallpaper came off cleanly, which is why I avoided using a scoring tool. Scoring can be useful when paper is stubborn, but when big sections peel away intact, scoring just creates many small pieces to remove. If your wallpaper won’t come off easily, score as a secondary step — otherwise try peeling first. Factors like the type of adhesive, the prep under the wallpaper, age, and the number of layers will determine which method works best.
I worked around the room methodically: spray, wait about three minutes, then peel. Some areas released in big sections, while others left the paper backing stuck to the wall. I tried a spackle knife briefly but stopped when it started denting the drywall — I preferred to be patient and protect the wall surface rather than speed through and create repairs.
When the backing wouldn’t budge, I switched to a highly effective secondary method: a bowl of very hot tap water mixed with a few pumps of Dr. Bronner’s soap. Dip a paper towel or rag into the mixture and press it over the stubborn backing. This soaked the adhesive much more thoroughly than spraying and allowed even large strips of backing to peel off in single pieces. That trick saved a lot of time and effort.
All told, the kitchen wallpaper removal took about eight hours of work spread over a few sessions. The space still needs cosmetic updates — the faux brick linoleum and the ceiling light make it feel dark — but the blank, wallpaper-free walls are a huge psychological win and a great foundation for painting.
Next steps: wipe the walls with a vinegar-and-water solution to remove lingering adhesive, then prime and paint. In the meantime, here’s the updated project list with the kitchen wallpaper job crossed off:
- Remove blue trim and wallpaper in the dining room
Finish Project No More Graph Paper in the kitchen- Strip the bold blue wallpaper in the bathroom
- Rip up the old carpet runner on the stairs (new runners have arrived)
- Paint the blue trim in the office
For anyone tackling wallpaper removal: the steamer still feels like the quickest method, but hot tap water plus soap and even boiling water can be effective free alternatives. If you’re on a deadline — especially if a new baby is on the way — prioritize the jobs that give you the most usable space and start with the simpler removal techniques. I’m already eyeing the bathroom wallpaper and the stair runner next. The nursery can’t wait.
P.S. Clara’s back to having full conversations with us, and she’s keeping us laughing as usual.