I have got plaster board walls painted with emulsion paint, When I last decorated I thought It would be a good Idea to use a sticky backed border on the middle of the wall horizontally around the room.
Now I have got to decorate again, which means these borders have got to be removed.
The problem Is I want to remove the borders without taking off the plaster on the walls.
any Ideas anyone..?

I'm not really sure what to tell you to use or if there is anything that will actually work. Some years back, many people used 'contact paper' or borders made of the same sticky backed material. It was impossible to get rid of the stickiness once you removed the paper. A contact at the mfg. knew of nothing that would work either.

I know a white vinegar soak will remove the gummed labels on pans, etc. that is too hard to remove.

I've heard of some using a hairdryer to loosen it for removal but something else would have to be used to remove gum.

Also, here is a list of glue solvents that you might think about:

Linseed oil ---not on walls...
Acetone
Lighter fluid
Waterless had cleaner such as mechanics use.

Thanks Di for your thoughts,
I was even thinking of using a steamer but that would present a whole lot of other problems.

I will probaly end up having to tear off and get relastered

thanks again

Do this in small sections at a time:

Saturate the border with water.
Use a hot iron on a high heat setting. Keep ironing until border gets hot and starts to bubble.
Scrape the border off slowly while its still warm.


It is time consuming but it works!