You sweep your floors and vacuum your rugs on a regular basis, but when was the last time you cleaned the walls in your home?
Keeping your walls clean is equally as important as keeping other surfaces in your home clean because of how often we lean against them and touch them throughout the day.
In addition to that, over time, painted walls can become covered in stains, markings, shoe scuffs, and dust, which can cause the surface to look drab and dusty.
You should make it a practice to clean freshly painted walls on a regular basis in order to keep the walls looking as good as they did when they were first painted. When scrubbing, however, you need to exercise extra caution around walls that have different kinds of paint and finishes.
Before you add this work to your schedule for cleaning the whole home, we recommend that you read our helpful advice to get an understanding of how to wipe dirt off painted walls without having to remove the paint first.
Before you start, check that you have everything that will be necessary.
- Mops
- Microfiber cloths
- Sponges
Cleaning Tips
1. Dust the dirty walls.
Before beginning to clean painted walls, dust off any excess dirt that may be present. Otherwise, you will merely distribute the grime about.
You can accomplish this by using a lint-free soft cloth to clean the places that you are able to access, and either a soft broom with a rag draped over its bristles or, even better, a dust mop to clean the parts that are out of your reach.
If your walls do not have any stains on them, then simply dusting them can be sufficient.
2. Scrub the wall surfaces with a gentle detergent or soap.
The vast majority of the time, all that is required for this is some warm, soapy water and the very best mop.
Make a cleaning solution in a bucket by combining water and the detergent that you consider to be the gentlest for cleaning. When applying the solution to your walls, use the sponge with the most gentle texture.
Be careful not to oversaturate the sponge. If you do, make sure to thoroughly wring it out before you clean, since any excess water that drips could potentially leave water stains on your walls. Have a break that lasts anything from five to 10 minutes.
If you want to remove the soapy solution approximately five to ten minutes after applying it, you should have a second bowl or pail of clean water available. This straightforward method ought to be adequate for cleaning the majority of painted walls.
You can alternatively accomplish this task by using a sponge mop, which will provide you with greater reach.
The manufacturer suggests first thoroughly wetting the mop, then squeezing out as much extra water as possible while moving your mop in a W formation from left to right. After that dry the walls by attaching a microfiber cloth to a mop with a flat head and continuing to work in the same manner as before.
3. Vinegar may be used to remove stains from painted walls by using this method.
Do you need something that has a little bit more oomph? White vinegar, an old standby in our cleaning arsenal, is up to the challenge of removing any stains that are extremely tenacious or walls that are particularly dirty. When learning how to clean dirt off painted walls, having this knowledge is quite necessary.
Simply mix one cup of white vinegar with one gallon of warm water in a bucket, and then clean the affected area with a gentle sponge to remove any stains.
4. For painted kitchen walls, use a light degreaser.
Walls that have been painted in the kitchen are susceptible to collecting some grease, as is obvious. In addition to the washing methods described above, you may also find that an additional wipe down with a mild degreaser is all that is required.
Simply follow the recommendations on the product to prevent any marks from appearing, and keep in mind that it is best to stay away from strong chemicals. Our advice? If you are unsure, stay with white vinegar.
5. Use baking soda and water to spot clean painted walls.
Do you have any stains that you simply can not seem to get rid of no matter what you do? Baking soda can come to your rescue.
To spot clean your walls, make a solution of water and baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, and then apply the solution to a soft, moist cloth or towel before wiping the surface down. It ought to be adequate to use a half cup of it in a bucket of warm water if you want it to work.
Using this handy small combination, any marks made by crayons or pens ought to be effortlessly removed. Again, before applying it to a part of the wall that is visible, make sure to test it out on a part of the entire wall that is hidden.
6. Use baby wipes to dust it off.
To clean your walls, you can use baby wipes, make-up removers, or any of these other household items. To reduce your impact on the environment, select products that are biodegradable but do remember not to flush them down the toilet.
7. Try Mr Clean magic eraser.
Wall stain is not an exception to the fact that magic erasers are beneficial for a wide variety of cleaning activities around the house.
They may be used on flat paint as well as wallpaper without causing damage, and they are particularly effective in removing pen marks. Simply moisten a corner of the damp sponge, and then voila – the stubborn stain will vanish before your very eyes!
8. Do not use water on matte walls; instead, use your vacuum cleaner.
If your delicate matte paint is starting to seem dirty, the best vacuum cleaner will come in handy in this situation. The sort of paint that is non-washable and matte will require you to clean it with your vacuum cleaner.
On the other hand, paint that is glossy and more durable may be readily cleaned with a solution of soap and water. When cleaning wallpaper, it is important to use a brush attachment with a soft bristle to achieve the best possible results and to avoid the paper from tearing.
9. Exterior painting or interior painting with latex? An all in one cleaning spray should be used.
The good news is that you do not require a cleaner that is designed specifically for walls if the latex paint that is currently on your walls is still in good condition. To get it all cleaned up, all you need is a spray cleaner that works for a variety of surfaces as well as some cleaning cloths.
10. Let it dry up as you go.
One thing you definitely do not want to do is let water sit on your wall for an extended period of time. If you are going to use a mop, you should obtain a second one to use as a dry back-up, and you should dry the wall in parts as you go along. In the same way, if you are going to be cleaning using clothes, you should use a damp one to wipe down the wall and a dry one to dry it off.
11. Use Castile soap or sugar soap.
Do you want to learn how to clean painted walls using only natural methods?.
Castile soap, which is another name for sugar soap, is an innovator in the field of domestic cleaning, especially cleaning walls. Its all-natural foundation, which was traditionally created from olive oil but is now also produced from coconut, sunflower, as well as other vegetable oils, is quite effective in cleaning without being overly abrasive.
Not only that, but its application does not leave any marks or scars on a broad range of different surfaces when it is applied.
Sugar soap that has been diluted with water is okay to use on wall finishes that are semi-glossy. On the other hand, we do not advise applying it on paint that has a completely matte finish.
The Step-By-Step Guide To Making An All-Purpose Cleaner For Wall Marks
There are some stains on walls that are difficult to remove. It is likely that the issue may need more than a few drops of water to solve; it is possible that this will not be enough.
Walls that have been painted with oil can be cleaned using this multi-purpose detergent. Make the necessary adjustments to the formula depending on the dimensions of your wall or grease stain.
Materials:
- Liquid dish detergent
- Distilled white vinegar
Step 1: Mix solution
Mix one teaspoon of liquid dish soap into one quart of hot water, and set it aside. Next, include a quarter of a teaspoon of white vinegar into the mixture.
Step 2: Put the fix into effect
After applying the solution to the stain, wait for ten minutes before blotting it up. Utilize a white rag or microfiber cloth that is lint-free to eliminate the possibility of color bleeding from your towel and onto your walls.
How To Clean Walls Made Of Wood
When it comes to cleaning and maintaining, textured walls, such as those made of wood, require a different technique.
You may make your own non-abrasive wall cleaner by combining one cup of water, one-fourth of a cup of white vinegar, one-half of a cup of mineral oil, and approximately 15 drops of lemon oil in the mixture.
As a consequence, you will be able to thoroughly clean and condition the wood on your walls. After carefully combining the materials, apply the cleaner to the wood by rubbing it in with a clean cloth in the direction of the grain.
When dealing with stains that are difficult to remove, increasing the amount of pressure you apply and moving in a circular manner will help remove more of the stain from the grain.
There is no need to rinse the wood. Instead, simply allow it to dry naturally. The wood will be left with a warm gloss and a nice lemon scent after being cleaned with the product specified above. Utilize a cloth that has been soaked with lemon oil for spot cleaning and general cleaning maintenance on a regular basis.
How To Clean Brick And Concrete Walls
Want to achieve a clean wall? Dish soap and salt are all you need to make the walls in your house cleaner, and it is not only effective but also completely risk-free.
While the salt works as an abrasive to scrub away grime and stains, the dish soap cuts through oil and debris to make cleaning dishes easier. Mixing one cup of dish soap with one cup of salt in a mixing bowl will result in the production of a paste that is gritty and thick.
Protect neighboring floors and furnishings from the cleaning solution and debris that you will be using by covering them with a tarp or a sheet of plastic. You may remove any trash and dust that may have formed on the wall by using the brush attachment that comes with your vacuum.
Use a brush with soft bristles if you want to get into the nooks and crannies, but steer away from using a wire brush since it might harm the finish or the mortar. When cleaning in confined areas, you may find it helpful to work with a brush that has soft bristles.
Make sure that the wall is fully soaked by using a spray bottle loaded with water. Because brick and other textured walls absorb liquids, this is something that has to be done.
This action will prevent the wall from absorbing your cleaning solution, allowing it to more effectively break down filth and debris while it does its job.
Work your way down the wall in parts that are approximately three squares each, beginning at the top. Using a piece of clean cloth, spread the paste onto one of the sections.
Scrub the region carefully with a brush that has nylon bristles that are particularly dense. It should be enough time for the paste to clean the dirty wall if it is left for ten minutes. Utilizing a damp, lint-free cloth, wipe away any excess paste from the region.
After the residual paste has had time to dry, you can remove it from the surface by using a vacuum with a brush attachment.
Walls that have not been washed in some time can be particularly difficult to clean, making wall washing one of the more challenging tasks associated with cleaning. However, if you give these safe and efficient wall cleaning strategies a try, you will be able to give your walls a clean and pristine appearance once more.
The Appropriate Methods For Eliminating Mold From Walls
Even if mold has already grown on the walls of your bathroom or other parts of you house, you can still clean them to remove it and stop it from returning. When cleaning mold, it is always a best practice to wear protective gear, such as a mask or respirator, despite the fact that the vast majority of species are not particularly harmful.
Mold is a kind of pathogen that thrives in conditions where there is a lot of moisture. Therefore, you should make an effort to keep your walls dry in order to avoid it from establishing a foothold or coming back.
Black mold, often referred to as stachybotrys chartarum or stachybotrys atra, may be hazardous when it grows in sufficient quantities. Always get in touch with a mold remediation expert if you are unsure what kind of mold you are dealing with or if the damage caused by the mold is substantial.
Mold may be removed from your home with the use of a number of basic household cleaners, such as bleach, white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or fungicidal treatments. If the mold in your home is not dangerous, you can eliminate it on your own by following these steps:
Step 1: Apply a solution of one part bleach to three parts water and spray it on the mold.
Step 2: Ten to fifteen minutes at room temperature is recommended for the solution.
Step 3: Scrub the mold away with a cleaning tool.
Step 4: To effectively treat the problem, mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar and spray the region.
Step 5: Delay any further action until the wall has dried completely.
If you want to effectively eradicate mold, you need to soak the area in a cleaning solution for many hours. Other advice for cleaning say that you should avoid getting the walls too moist.
It is still in your best interest to properly eradicate any and all evidence of mold, even if the wall ends up being damaged and a section needs to be replaced.
How To Keep Walls From Getting Dirty
Keep your walls clear of dust and smudges so they continue to give the impression that they have just been painted. When you perform preventative maintenance, you will spend less time scrubbing walls in the future.
Use a vacuum with a gentle brush attachment to clean painted walls to assist in keeping the walls clean. Then, dust them off using an electrostatic dusting wipe, a cloth-covered broom or mop (for optimal results, spritz the fabric or broom with a dusting agent), or wipe them down with a dusting agent.
Remove fingerprints and any other marks, such as the residue left by stickers, as soon as possible after they appear. When cleaning painted walls, use only the minimum amount of water necessary to avoid drips from occurring.
Final Words
In removing paint off walls, it is important that you are aware that none of the aforementioned solutions offer any sort of assurance that they will work, and as a result, you should only try them out fully at your own discretion and risk.
Be careful when it comes to the use of detergent, because if you use too much of it, it will leave behind the kind of residue that will result in your walls attracting additional dirt and grime.
If you use too little of it, however, it will leave behind the kind of residue that will result in your walls remaining clean. If you use too little detergent, however, it will not leave behind any residue.
Instead of using detergent, you might be surprised to find that mild baby wipes are just as efficient in removing a variety of stains found in the home.
Last but not least, use extreme caution if the painted surface you wish to clean is damaged, as the addition of even the slightest amount of moisture could hasten the process of its deterioration.