Wallies are stickers and paste-ups for decorating rooms, furniture and objects. They come in a variety of patterns and colors from small flowers to borders and murals. Larger murals include stained-glass windows, nature scenes, maps, planets, animals and topiary. The original Wallies come pre-pasted with a water-soluble glue. They are meant to be removable--but not reusable. Newer vinyl Wallies are self-adhesive and can be re-used simply by peeling them off and repositioning them.
Things You'll Need:
- Bucket Or Bowl
- Sponge
- Water
- Paper Towel Or Hand Towel
Unsticking Wallies
Identify the Wallie. All-vinyl Wallies are self-adhesive. The vinyl Wallies are removable and re-positionable. Just pick up an edge on a vinyl Wallie and peel it off.
The original paper Wallies are backed with a water-soluble glue and also have a vinyl coating for durability. The paper Wallies are meant to be used only once. Paper Wallies come with temporary adhesive dots so you can position them aesthetically before wetting them and putting them down "permanently."
Wet the Wallie. Use a sponge and tap water to thoroughly wet the surface of a paper Wallie. Keep drips off the wall with a paper towel or hand towel. For small Wallies, it takes just a minute or two to soak through the paper.
Keep the Wallie wet. For larger Wallies, keep the whole Wallie wet while the glue dissolves. This means you have to apply water to the entire surface, keeping the Wallie from drying out. If you remove a big Wallie with some of the glue still dry, it will tear and get messy. Don't worry--it's not meant to be reused.
Strip the Wallie. Since they are not meant to be reusable, you can peel the Wallie off even if it tears. If you hit a dry spot, just re-wet it again and peel. Use a plastic putty knife if necessary. Dispose of the Wallie in the trash.
Clean the wall. Use a mild detergent and water to clean off any remaining glue. Rinse the area with clean water. If you are going to paint the wall, it might be a good idea to final wash with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Use a bowl and sponge to final rinse the wall and dry any drips with a paper towel or hand towel.
Tip
If you sprayed a finish over the Wallie, like polyurethane, you have to strip the finish first. Check with the manufacturer to see what type of stripper you need. Some finishes come off with solvents--others have to be chemically stripped.
Wallies applied to porous surfaces like wood or brick might leave water marks. Be careful where you place your Wallies--they are meant to be placed on non-porous surfaces like glass or painted walls.
