[Startingover]

I'm striping wallpaper.

I took all outlet covers off. Today spraying liberally above the vanity lights I just wondered if it hurts if water runs down into the light fixture, or does it hurt to spray a lot and it runs down into those switch boxes?

 

[joecaption]

Can cause a short. May want to to kill the breaker.

 

[Startingover]

Does a short fix itself when it dries out?

 

[joecaption]

It should. May trip a GFI.

 

[md2lgyk]

Electricity and water don't play well together. And electricity always wins. I'd find another way to strip that wallpaper. There are all kinds of strippers available that won't just run down the wall.

 

[J. V.]

Your drywall does not like water either. I guess plaster is not designed for wet locations either. A light spray from a tank sprayer is what I hope you mean.

 

[Startingover]

a water bottle sprayer. It's the only way leftover bits of wallpaper backing show up. It seems to dry quickly.

Guess I'll use more care in spraying.

 

[Oso954]

Try using a damp sponge or cloth, and wiping rather than spraying.

 

[Red Squirrel]

A little bit of water wont really hurt but I'd look at covering the outlets or turning the breaker off, just in case, especially if it's not GFCI.

Removing wallpaper can be a pita. Just put another sheet of drywall over it and call it a day. :laughing:

 

[Speedy Petey]

Can cause a short.

Water WILL NOT cause a short. Repeat: NOT. :no:

 

[mikegp]

I believe I heard that laundry detergent helps to remove wallpaper. Slather it all over, wait a while, and then scrape.

 

[Startingover]

oso954. I think a sponge would work well. thanks.

red squirrel. Wish I could cover it with drywall but then nothing would fit, like my door frames and cabinets :-(

mikegp. That's an idea. I did try a mixture of Downey fabric softner and the odor was awful. Didn't think to try detergent.

Too bad that now finishing room 2 out of 3 I'm finally getting pretty good at this. (thanks to everyone here)

 

[md2lgyk]

Water WILL NOT cause a short. Repeat: NOT. :no:

Correction: PURE water will not cause a short. But just spray some seawater into an outlet and see what happens. Or even some hard water.

 

[al_smelter]

With a spray bottle, you will have to really be trying to soak the outlet to mess it up. I simply ask the wife stick a some masking tape over the outlet. Never an issue, and she is the wallpaper queen. I never know what my walls are going to look like when I get home from work.

BTW a short will NOT usually correct itself. It usually burns something [or everything around it] up in the process. Best not to go there in the first place if you can help it!

 

[J. V.]

a water bottle sprayer. It's the only way leftover bits of wallpaper backing show up. It seems to dry quickly.
Guess I'll use more care in spraying.

Sorry. I have never removed wallpaper before.

Water WILL NOT cause a short. Repeat: NOT. :no:

Hey Pete. I want you to prove this.
I want you to take two leads of a hot circuit and put both of them into a glass of tap water.
You may not call what happens a short, but I hope you are not holding the water glass when power is applied. :laughing:

 

[Gac66610]

Sorry. I have never removed wallpaper before.



Hey Pete. I want you to prove this.
I want you to take two leads of a hot circuit and put both of them into a glass of tap water.
You may not call what happens a short, but I hope you are not holding the water glass when power is applied. :laughing:

I've seen bare wires in a glass jar of water turn a light bulb on when energized,no short.
Even if it did short, electricity won't travel through glass:no:

 

[Red Squirrel]

Sorry. I have never removed wallpaper before.



Hey Pete. I want you to prove this.
I want you to take two leads of a hot circuit and put both of them into a glass of tap water.
You may not call what happens a short, but I hope you are not holding the water glass when power is applied. :laughing:

Would work fine. Even holding the glass would be ok, just don't have some of the water spill over and touch you. Water has high resistance, so while it will conduct electricity it wont really cause a short.

Yes, those are two electrodes just sitting in the water cup, with the light bulb attached. Impromptu science experiment!

Don't try this at home, I'm a professional, no not really, but still don't try this at home. :laughing:

In my next experiment: "Do GFCIs really work?" with video followed by a short episode of 1000 ways to die. No, I'm not going that far.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Correction: PURE water will not cause a short. But just spray some seawater into an outlet and see what happens. Or even some hard water.

WRONG!!!
Even salt water will NOT cause a short or trip a breaker.

 

[Speedy Petey]

Sorry. I have never removed wallpaper before.



Hey Pete. I want you to prove this.
I want you to take two leads of a hot circuit and put both of them into a glass of tap water.
You may not call what happens a short, but I hope you are not holding the water glass when power is applied. :laughing:

I literally have.
The ONLY thing that happens is some tiny bubbles form around the conductors.

JUST like the post above. :thumbsup:

 

[Speedy Petey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz7A_003mJg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlCEGFm9cBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzSlIuzGcfM

Wow. No shorts. No sparks. No breakers tripping. HOW is this possible? :whistling2: