Plaster

[col72]

Stripped the wallpaper off with a steamer the plaster now has a smell there most of been 5 layers of paper that must of been on 20 odd years judging by the pattern can't explain the smell anyone any ideas

[boxtops]

is it the smell of old damp glue? They used to use fish glue I believe!

[col72]

To be honest don't no what it smells like the walls are dry now off the steamer when there was hot off steamer was worse

[askyourgran]

As boxy said ^^, steaming the paper off has re-awakened the gluey smell it will probably fade away if you let some fresh air into the room and let the walls dry out before re-papering.

[col72]

We have just been and had another look there is like yellow paint on the walls

[SlackAlice]

Sound like distemper

http://www.diy-extra.co.uk/paint-distemper.html

[The Builder]

Fish glue; size; distemper; lime............. all kinds of stuff has woken up.

This has been around for years, but it still works well...........

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p51349?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=googleshopping&utm_campaign=googleshopping&mkwid=uuoU7sTm&pcrid=26798941703&;gclid=CN_z172HqroCFfSWtAodF0EAJQ