Absolutely-soft grip putty knives are one of my favorite tools for removing wallpaper! I've stripped wallpaper from three rooms now, and a small soft grip knife made the job way easier (and less painful) than a metal-handled one. Let me tell you how to use it, and why it works so well.
First, size matters here-go for a 2-inch soft grip putty knife. It's small enough to get under the edges of the wallpaper without scratching the drywall, but big enough to peel off large strips. I tried a 4-inch one once, and it was too big-kept pushing the wallpaper instead of lifting it. The 2-inch is perfect.
Here's the process I use: Start by scoring the wallpaper with a wallpaper scorer (this lets water soak in). Then spray the wallpaper with warm water and let it sit for 5-10 minutes-this softens the glue. Then take the 2-inch soft grip knife, slide the tip under the edge of the wallpaper, and gently lift. The soft grip handle lets you apply steady pressure without cramping your hand-I stripped my kitchen backsplash wallpaper in 45 minutes, and my hand didn't get sore once. With a metal-handled knife, I would've had to take breaks every 10 minutes.
One big tip: Keep the blade at a 45-degree angle. If you press it straight into the wall, you'll scratch the drywall. I learned that the hard way-pressed too hard once, and made a tiny scratch. Had to patch it later, which was a hassle. A 45-degree angle lets you lift the wallpaper without digging into the wall.
Another thing: If the wallpaper has a vinyl top layer, you'll need to peel that off first. The soft grip knife works here too-slide it under the vinyl layer and lift. Then spray the paper backing with water, and scrape that off with the knife. I did this with my bathroom wallpaper (vinyl top layer), and the knife made peeling the vinyl a breeze.
Just don't use a stiff-blade putty knife! Some putty knives have super stiff blades (like the ones for drywall), and those can scratch the wall easier. Look for a slightly flexible blade-they're gentler on drywall but still strong enough to lift wallpaper. My 2-inch Stanley soft grip knife has a flexible blade, and it's never scratched a wall.
