as someone who is allergic to fabric softner, hot water and white vinegar will also do the trick! I use abouit 1/3 Vinegar to 2/3 water.
If your walls are a mess underneath, and you cant just paint, they also make a paintable wallpaper. I had a linen weave pattern in my old house. It covered a multitude of sins. You can put up to 10 coats of paint on the paper, so it lasts a few years.
I special ordered mine through a wallpaper place years ago, but I think Home Depot carries it.
gb