The previous owners of our house really loved wallpaper. The kitchen had it. Both bathrooms had it. The hallway had a border print of ducks wearing bonnets. I wish I was making that up.

I priced out renting a wallpaper steamer — about forty dollars a day — and then found out you do not actually need one. Here is what worked, tested on duck bonnets and floral bathrooms alike.

Score it first

Wallpaper is designed to repel moisture. That is literally its job. To get any liquid through to the adhesive layer, you need to break the surface. Buy a wallpaper scoring tool — it is a little handheld wheel with teeth, about eight dollars at any hardware store. Roll it over the entire wall in circular motions. It pokes thousands of tiny holes through the paper without damaging the drywall underneath.

I tried using a utility knife to score by hand. It took forever and I cut too deep in several places. The scoring tool is worth every cent.

Hot water and fabric softener

Fill a spray bottle with the hottest tap water you have and add about a quarter cup of liquid fabric softener. The heat loosens the adhesive and the fabric softener helps the water penetrate. Spray a section — about three feet by three feet — until it is visibly wet. Wait 15 minutes. The wallpaper will start to bubble away from the wall.

Vinegar also works (one part vinegar to three parts water) but the smell is strong and lingers for a day. Fabric softener leaves the room smelling like laundry, which is a better side effect.

Scrape with a plastic putty knife

Use a plastic putty knife, not metal. Metal will gouge the drywall. Start at a seam or a spot that is already lifting and work the blade underneath. Most of the paper should come off in sheets. If you hit a stubborn patch, spray it again and wait another ten minutes.

After the paper is off, the wall will still have adhesive residue. Spray again with the same hot water mix, wait five minutes, and scrape the glue off with the plastic knife. Then wash the wall with warm water and a sponge to get the last film off. Let it dry completely before painting — usually overnight.

The duck bonnets are gone. The wall underneath is smooth and painted a color I actually chose. It took a weekend but cost less than fifteen dollars total.