Think Again Before Using Peel-And-Stick Wallpaper In Your Dorm, Since She Got Charged $900 Following The Decor Fail

Emily Chan |

Aug 31, 2023

Rymden - stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only

Calling all college students! We know school is back in session, and you’re probably in the midst of decorating your dorm rooms.

Dressing up your dorm is how you can create the perfect home away from home and make living on campus bearable.

The linoleum flooring and cinder block walls are also major eyesores, which is all the more reason to transform your space.

Many students like to use peel-and-stick wallpaper to shake things up. It’s an excellent way to showcase your personality and brighten up the room.

But you might want to think twice before applying it to your walls.

TikToker Joanna Kellogg (@joanna_kellogg) is issuing a warning to all college students not to use peel-and-stick wallpaper after discovering that it wasn’t so easy to remove.

In her video, she showed off an entire wall littered with pieces of leftover white wallpaper. The original gray wall of the dorm can be seen underneath the mess.

“I’m actually going to have a panic attack. I’m moving out of my dorm right now, and this is my wallpaper. I legitimately can’t get it off the wall,” said Joanna.

She ended up heading to Home Depot to purchase some Goo Gone. However, she still was not able to remove all the adhesive from the wall.

Rymden – stock.adobe.com- illustrative purposes only

Many TikTok users offered suggestions for how to clean off the stubborn adhesive. If you ever find yourself in the same type of situation, these tips might come in handy.

“Try coke, I am serious. Coke breaks down some adhesive so well,” recommended one user.

“Use a hair dryer to reheat the glue and then scrape it off,” advised another.

“Use a wallpaper steamer. It will peel right off,” commented a third.

In an update, Joanna revealed that her school had charged her over $900 for the damage from the peel-and-stick wallpaper.

A word of advice–read your university’s handbook to figure out what kind of decor is or isn’t allowed in your dorm. That way, you can make sure to avoid any damage fees. If you do end up causing some slight damage to your dorm, here are some ways to fix it up.

Furniture polish can obliterate any trace of small scratches on desks or beds. A bit of putty and paint can fill in small holes in the wall, and a mixture of mayonnaise and toothpaste can cover up water rings.

You can also find other hacks on TikTok!