But how you proceed still depends on the kind of wallcovering you're dealing with. Early wallpaper was nothing more than printed, uncoated paper. They also come prepasted to save time during installation. Though most modern pastes still are starch-based like earlier versions prepared on site, many are enhanced with synthetic additives. Luckily, today's nontoxic strippers work on nearly all types of paste.
Uncoated wallpaper soaks up strippers readily.
Or it can be soaked off the wall, paste and all, using hot water applied with a large sponge. This method, though messy, is simple and effective. Thick vinyl wallcoverings are tear-resistant so you can usually pull them off in sheets. But because the backing and paste stay on the wall, you'll have to get rid of them with hot water or a stripper. Professionally installed wallpaper frequently is tougher to remove than homeowner-hung paper.