I've recently moved into a house where all the ceilings were papered in anaglypta-type wallpaper. It comes off easily but leaves a glue/paste (not sure exactly what has been used to stick it on) residue on the plaster in the same pattern as the old paper.
We want to paint the ceilings directly onto the plaster.
In one room we painted straight over the glue residue and it is flaking all over so it needs re-decorating. In another room we laboriously stripped the glue off using hot soapy water and a scouring pad plus paper scraper. It was a very messy job.
I'm now ready to attempt the next ceiling and am considering just skim plastering over the glue. A friend advised me to get a steam paper stripper to remove the glue but I have doubts that this will work since the wetting og the old paste is easy, it is the scraping off of it that is the problem as it sticks in globules to anything that touches it including metal scraper and scouring pad.
This problem must be a common one, has anyone any advice on how to prepare a ceiling for direct emulsion painting when old paste residue is left on it?
Thank you.

Thank you,
I'm not an expert plasterer and have only ever done walls, but I'm thinking that it would be easier to skim over this rather than go through scraping off using soapy water and a hand scraper.
When you say that you have done this using a steamer, didn't the glue just clog up on the end of the scraper and spread across the ceiling rather than drop off. This is what happened when I did it before?
I'm grateful for any further advice

Thank you,
I might give this a try. I'll have a look for a thin scraper.

It's going to be a right horrible job and messy, but it has to be done. You can't plaster over the old paste because the plaster will not be adhering to the ceiling properly and could also cause a reaction.

Bucket of very hot water, big brush and wet about a metre at at time.
Let the old paste and size soften up and scrape with a 3" stripping knife. You'll have to keep wiping the knife and the slop that comes off will make a mess. When you have it all off wash the ceiling with clean water and wipe it dry.

Obviously haven't seen it but think it would benefit from lining paper before painting, not forgetting to size the ceiling first.

Maybe a broom would help?