We went to look at paint today and I took a bunch of those little sample papers home. I think we're going to go with the low VOC paint rather than milk paint. Someone told me that the milk paint isn't good in bathrooms or anywhere with a lot of moisture, fwiw.

Who can tell me about taking down wallpaper. Do we have to rent a steamer or are their other ways of getting wallpaper down? Someone mentioned using fabric softener, does that really work?

Someone mentioned using fabric softener, does that really work?

As an anecdata point, I have used it successfully on one occasion.

Oh, okay! I would go nuts not knowing and I totally admire you for your patience. And you should go ahead and dream about what you want! The entire time I was renting my place, I was composing my "what I'd do if I bought the place" list!

I am going nuts!!!! But one thing that helped was the crazy of past few weeks would have been double hell if I had to do inspections and paperwork and move stuff.

Who can tell me about taking down wallpaper.

This is my approach, for what it's worth:

1) If it's paper rather than vinyl and not showing any signs of peeling, you can paint or paper over it

2)Some wallpaper will just peel off, particularly if it's something like vinyl and the drywall was primed. (A friend had a parrot who managed to do this to the wallpaper of an apartment bathroom. I don't know if you can rent a paper-peeling parrot.)

3) Use a liquid or gel wallpaper solvent. If it doesn't soak into the paper, you have to get a gadget with little teeth to score the surface.

4) If nothing works, rent a steamer.

If the paper on the drywall comes off, some idiot didn't prime the wall and you're screwed. I've been known to put a skim coat of drywall mud over it anyway. This is not ideal, and I've never been able to do a really smooth coat.

I've only had to go through step 3 so far, so I don't know about steamers.

Thanks, Ginger. I'll keep all that in mind.

1) If it's paper rather than vinyl and not showing any signs of peeling, you can paint or paper over it

It's half down in spots already, so it is definitely going to have to be taken down. We're painting, not re-papering. I'm also hoping this means it won't be hard to get the rest of it down.

In that case, it may just peel off.

In that case, it may just peel off.

I am hoping so. We just did some googling and TCG just discovered the wonder of diy videos available online.

Peeling wallpaper is oddly mesmerizing.

I am introducing StW to the greatest college sports rivalry ever. Also, he's been offered a job here and is pretty sure going to take it.

DIY online videos are awesome.

Man, I just ate Vietnamese from up the street for the third time in 2 days. It is cheap, it is fresh, it is tasty, and it is easy. YUM.