How to Dispose of Wallpaper Paste

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Reviewed by Claudia & Angelo Zimmermann

Last Updated: June 11, 2025

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Throwing Away with Household Garbage

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Rinsing down the Drain

You did it—you successfully completed the daunting task of removing wallpaper from a room. Now, it’s time for cleanup. You may find yourself questioning what to do with the used paste you just put a lot of elbow grease into removing. Don’t worry, wallpaper paste is not toxic nor does it require drastic measures for proper discard. However, it is still important to be mindful when disposing of household adhesives—whether it’s in the form of dried scraps or a diluted liquid solution. From throwing away in the trash to washing it down the drain, we outlined the steps for each disposal process so you may carefully consider the best option for you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Throwing Away with Household Garbage

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1
Collect all used wallpaper paste in one container. Before you begin removing adhesive from the wall, designate a container for all glue residue. Be mindful of the container you choose as it may be thrown away at the end of the process—don’t choose your favorite bucket!
- Most wallpaper paste is water-soluble. If you remove the glue from the wall with water, you will collect the liquid waste mixture in the designated disposal container.
- If you scraped the glue off the wall in solid strips, you may simply throw the scraps away. If the pieces are wet, combine in a container and proceed to the next step.
2
Wait 24-48 hours for the paste to dry and harden.^{[1]
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Research source} Exact timing depends on the amount of paste in your container. Wait at least one full day for the glue mixture to dry completely. This step is important because you do not want liquid paste to leak and stick to the inside of the garbage bin.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Do not cover or seal the container. This will prevent the paste from hardening.
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3
Throw away container with solid paste in the garbage bin. Once it is completely solid, the dried material can be treated like normal waste and disposed of with the rest of the household trash.
- If you are getting rid of large amounts of used wallpaper paste, you may have the option to bring it to a local waste or recycling yard.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Rinsing down the Drain

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1
Add water to dilute dried wallpaper paste. Most wallpaper pastes are water-soluble, meaning they dissolve in water.^{[3]
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Research source} Combine water with used glue until it is a thin, watery liquid.
- In the rare instance that you are disposing of a solvent paste, this method will not apply.
2
Rinse liquid paste down household drains. The diluted solution will flow down the drain like any other liquid. Make sure to dilute it fully to avoid any build up or clogs.
- Flushing the liquid paste down the toilet is also a popular option.
- Make sure to clean up any paste that may splash or splatter during this step—you don’t want it to harden to your sink or toilet!
Just like anything else you rinse down the drain, the diluted paste will move on to a water treatment plant where it will be taken care of from there. Your work here is done!