Removing wallpaper: what's the easiest way to take old (in poor condition) wallpaper off a wall?

Most wallpaper is applied with a water based glue. Any source of steam will remove the paper. Even saturating the surface with water for a few hours will often do it. Also, you can rent wallpaper steamers. I would suggest starting with the easiest and cheapest depending on the size of the area - soaking the paper with a wet cloth for a single, small wall. If you have ten rooms, rent a professional steamer. The rental store will tell you how best to use it. The small steamers sold today to sterilize bathrooms should do a decent job for a medium size area.
- brab