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How to wash walls in house


How to Clean Walls With Paint or Wallpaper Like a Pro

Even the most diligent deep cleaners can be clueless when it comes to how to clean walls. Established New York City interior designers and architects who need help sprucing up renovated homes look to high-end cleaning service New York’s Little Elves to meet their lofty expectations and get the space clean from top to bottom.

After 35 years in the business, vice president Sabrina Fierman is an expert on making luxury properties sparkle, and her staff knows that walls should never be an afterthought. We enlisted Fierman to help identify the best ways to get rid of pesky marks and buildup—without damaging wallpaper or a decorative paint job.

“Cleaning the walls can be a delicate process, and what you use is dependent on what the wall treatment can hold up to and resist,” Fierman says. Luckily, you don’t need special supplies or expensive equipment to get the job done—just a few household items you already have and a little bit of time. Read on to learn how to clean walls with the best of 'em! This method is gentle enough for walls with paint or wallpaper.

1. Gather your supplies

Some good news: Wall cleaning does not require any special wall cleaner. Chances are you already have everything you need. Here's what you should have on hand:

Steer clear of anything abrasive or ammonia-based and start with simple products. These basic supplies are mild enough to use on most wall treatments while still getting the job done.

2. Protect your floor from drips

Prepare by laying towels along the base of the walls to protect floors and collect any dust or drips.

3. Dust the walls

Give the walls a dusting—using the dust brush attachment, vacuum your walls and follow by wiping them with a tack cloth. You can also use a foam craft brush to easily swipe away dust from baseboards and molding.

Alternatively, you can wrap a dry mop head with a clean rag and dust from top to bottom without fear of scratches or dents.

4. Mix water and dish soap

Now that the dust is wiped away, it's time to wash walls. Fill one bucket with a gallon of warm water and mix clear liquid hand or dish soap and water in the other. Soak a cloth in the solution, and wring it out well.

5. Test a patch on the wall

While the dish soap and water make for a gentle cleaning solution, you should always test an inconspicuous area, like a section of the wall that's behind a painting or piece of furniture, to make sure it won't damage the material. Wallpaper and matte paint are more delicate than high-gloss paint, so it's good to err on the side of caution and do a little test.

6. Gently wash in circular motions

Once you know your surface is safe to work on, it's time to tackle the whole wall. Starting at the top of the wall and working your way down, go over the surface in light, circular motions. Apply as little moisture as possible to avoid bubbling or watermarks. Also, make sure not to apply too much pressure as you make your circle.

7. Tackle any stubborn stains

If you come across any stubborn stains on painted walls, turn to baking soda and water. Baking soda is a natural stain fighter—mix a half cup of baking soda with a quarter cup of water until it forms a paste. Gently rub that paste into the stained part of the wall and the stain should lift.

How to Clean Walls Without Damaging Your Paint

By

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/22/22

Reviewed by

Katie Berry

Reviewed by Katie Berry

Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.

Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Project Overview

In most homes, the walls make up the largest area of hard surfaces. Even though walls are vertical, they can still become coated with dust, grease splatters, smoke, insect droppings, and spider webs. Areas near doors, light switches, and furniture take the most abuse and gather soil and scuffs from hands, feet, and sharp corners.

Just as you regularly clean floors, walls—whether painted, stone, brick, or wallpapered—also need attention. Dust mites are tiny organisms found in dust particles and can cause asthma attacks, a runny nose, watery eyes, and sneezing. A dusty home and dust mites can trigger allergies or respiratory issues, and so can the accumulation of dust on walls.

With just a few basic products and tools, you can easily maintain walls painted with different paint and finishes.

The 9 Best All-Purpose Cleaners of 2023

Get Those Scuff Marks off Your Walls Once and for All

How Often to Clean Walls

As part of your regularly scheduled chores, painted walls should be dusted and cobwebs removed at least monthly—twice a month is even better. You should clean smudges and dirt around doorknobs and light switches weekly. Large splatters and scribblings with crayons should be cleaned immediately for the best results.

Before You Begin

You can dust every type of paint finish. However, the paint type and the finish determine how best to clean it. Determine your kind of paint and check the lists below for pre-cleaning tips.

Types of Interior Wall Paint

Types of Interior Paint Finishes

Equipment / Tools

Materials

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

How to Clean Latex-Painted Walls

  1. Remove Dust

    Starting at the top of the wall, use a vacuum with an extendable wand, dusting brush, or microfiber duster to remove dust and cobwebs. Always use a sturdy step stool or ladder when reaching high spots.

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

    Add one teaspoon of all-purpose cleaner per quart of warm water in a bucket. Fill a second bucket with clean water.

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  3. Wash the Walls Using a Circular Motion

    Dip a sponge or microfiber cloth in the cleaning solution and wring until no water is dripping. Start at the top of the wall and, working in a small section, move down the wall. Starting at the top prevents drips from falling on areas already cleaned. Rinse out the sponge frequently.

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  4. Rinse the Walls

    Dip a second sponge or cloth in the clean water and wring until nearly dry. Rinse away any soapy residue as you move down the wall.

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

  5. Tackle Heavily Soiled Areas

    Ensure that the electricity is turned off and clean carefully around light switches and outlet plates. Do not allow these areas to become excessively wet.

    If scuffs and smudges do not come off easily, dip your dampened sponge in some baking soda and lightly rub the area. The gentle abrasive action of the baking soda should remove the problem.

    A bit of rubbing alcohol on a sponge works well to remove soil from painted areas around doorknobs and trim work.

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    How to Remove Scuff Marks From Walls and Floors

How to Clean Oil-Based Painted Walls

  1. Dust the Walls

    Begin by dusting the walls. Dusting will prevent loose dirt from being moved around while you clean.

    The Spruce / Danielle Moore

  2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

    Add one teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar per quart of warm water in a bucket. Fill a second bucket with plain water for rinsing.

    The Spruce / Danielle Moore

  3. Wipe and Rinse

    Dip a sponge or microfiber cloth in the cleaning solution, wring out well, and wipe down the walls starting at the top. Follow up with a sponge dipped in plain water and wrung well for a final rinse.

    The Spruce / Danielle Moore

  4. Tackle Tough Stains

    If the walls are filthy, add two tablespoons of laundry borax to the cleaning solution.

    A melamine sponge (Mr. Clean Eraser) works well to remove soil on semi-gloss or glossy oil paint finishes. Using a light touch, the abrasive action will remove almost all scuffs.

    The Spruce / Danielle Moore

Tips to Keep Walls Clean Longer

To stretch the time between wall cleanings, you can do a few things to lessen your workload. Avoid smoke in the house, from tobacco and cooking to burning candles or incense; the soot from combustion coats walls, getting them dirty quicker.

Also, immediately spot clean walls when you notice smudges or hand prints between the big jobs. It will extend the appearance of clean walls longer.

Tips

Teach young children to keep their hands off the walls; they are usually the biggest culprits for dirty handprints on the walls.

Removing Writing From Walls

If you have little kids, your young Picassos might have gotten inspired and marked up your walls. Or—and this can happen to anyone—you are walking out of a room with items in your hand, and your pen drops, ricochets, or happens to glide along a wall. How do you remove crayon, permanent marker, or ink markings from a wall?

Removing Mildew and Water Stains From Walls

Mold and mildew are pesky stains that will return if you do not remediate the problem. Unfortunately, you will likely need to repaint water-stained walls. First, make sure that if there is a leak behind the wall, you handle the cause of the water stain. If the situation has been remedied, you want to clean the stain with a solution of 50% bleach and 50% water to prevent mildew growth. Apply it to the entire area. Use a hair dryer or fan to dry the area. Once dry, repaint the area using mold and mildew-resistant paint.

If you have a little mildew growth but no water stain, you can try cleaning it off with a vinegar solution (1 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 quart of water) or blot on an enzyme-based laundry cleaner and clean it off with a moistened towel.

When to Call a Professional

If you have vast sections of walls that have been blackened by mold, then it's time to call a mold remediation service to handle the mold situation. They will likely remove the entire portion of the wall, clean out the mold in the wall's interior, and replace the wall panel. The costs vary drastically on the size of the job and how difficult the mold situation is. It can cost between $15 and $30 per square foot, plus all the charges for evaluation, new materials, and more.

If routine wall cleaning is not something you like to do or plan on ever doing, then it's time to call in a house cleaning service to do it periodically for you. You want to keep the air quality in your home as clean as you can to prevent triggering allergies or any respiratory conditions from occurring. You can expect to pay at least $40 to $65 per person per hour to clean your house; if you only want your walls cleaned, they should be able to tackle it in an hour, depending on the size of your home.

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Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Dust and dust mites. American Lung Association.

  2. Dust Allergies. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

nuances of caring for different coatings - INMYROOM

Guide

What not to do when washing walls decorated with wallpaper, what painted surfaces do not tolerate and how to care for tiles and plaster - tell us in detail

Let's be honest: far from each of us recognizes the need for thorough wall cleaning. However, their washing - a mandatory item in a long list of general cleaning. Yes, of course it's not the easiest process, but it is necessary. Let's try to make the task easier: step by step instructions for washing walls with different coatings - in this post. nine0003

Note: general recommendations

space: remove all paintings and photographs from the walls, move the furniture to the center of the room - so as not to trip over it during the cleaning process. Not to hurt your hands on the "orphaned" nails and picture hooks, hang on them pieces of colored fabric - so you do not lose sight of them.

2. Protect the floor from moisture. Don't forget to put cloth rags or sheets of paper on the floor to protect the surface from moisture running off the walls while cleaning. The fabric must absorb moisture. nine0003

3. Dust the baseboards and walls - this is the most important step. The easiest and fastest way to do this is to wrap a towel or rag around the mop brush and wipe the walls with this design from the bottom up. You can also walk along the walls with a vacuum cleaner with an aquafilter. Remember that walls with wallpaper must be vacuumed on the weakest setting so as not to damage them.

Walls with wallpaper: tips

1. Far from all wallpapers can be washed. If you are not sure what type of wallpaper you have, do a test: try washing a very small area (preferably a secluded place - say, behind furniture), let it dry thoroughly, and then inspect for any damage - whether the color, pattern, will there be any leaks. nine0003

2. With a lint-free cloth or soft sponge dampened with warm water and liquid detergent, wipe the walls from top to bottom with quick, light strokes. Avoid using colored soaps or sponges - they can accidentally stain the wallpaper. It is also important not to overdo it with detergent - the solution should not have thick foam. In general, it is precisely such a mixture of simple components - water plus detergent - that is the most versatile for washing walls with almost any coating (more on exceptions below). nine0003

3. Clean water and drying. Walk along the walls with the same rag or sponge, but dipped in clean water. The main thing at this point is to regularly change the water so as not to carry dirt along the walls. It may be more convenient to pour two buckets at once - with soapy water and clean water. Then, to remove excess moisture, wipe the wallpaper with a cotton towel.

4. You can remove different types of stains from wallpaper in various ways. For example, to combat oily stains, apply talcum powder to them, leave for a few minutes, and then clean with a brush. Fingerprints can be removed with an ordinary eraser, and traces of alcohol markers can be removed with vinegar or citric acid. nine0003

Painted walls: nuances

1. Type of paint. The rules here are exactly the same as and in the case of wallpaper: dust collection, soap solution, clean water. However, there a few nuances. For example, special attention should be paid to walls covered with latex paint: instead of a soapy solution, it is better to wipe them with an alkaline solution detergent and a small amount of ammonia. And here is the enamel paint does not tolerate soap at all. Get rid of greasy stains on painted walls White spirit will help you. nine0003

2. Heavy soiling. For particularly stubborn dirt, use the following detergent composition: half a glass of vinegar, a glass of ammonia and a quarter cup of baking soda - all combined with about 4 liters of water. Don't forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands!

Plaster: Caution

Dust from plaster surfaces should be removed regularly, but washed only with strong pollution. It is impossible to rub such walls in any case. Sprinkle them weak soapy water and blot gently with a terry cloth. nine0003

Tiles: care instructions

When cleaning tiled walls avoid using powder products - they can leave scratches on a surface. If you are against household chemicals and prefer natural remedies, bet on the good old soap solution. Another option is a spray bottle filled with regular vinegar.

Washing and cleaning the walls in the apartment

The walls also need to be cleaned. And they also have to be cleaned and cleaned. How should walls be washed? How to wash wallpaper or tiles? We will talk about this now. nine0003

Before starting any cleaning, you need to prepare. When cleaning the walls, you should cover the furniture with foil and take care of the availability of everything you need, such as buckets, brushes, detergents. So let's get started.

How to wash painted walls?

It is not for nothing that paint is considered more convenient for cleaning, because it is resistant to friction and moisture. Here are some tips on how to clean painted walls: You can install a soft brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner and remove dust, surface dirt. And then the mop comes into play. Wrap it with a cloth and soak it in detergent or water, moving from top to bottom, you can draw the tip from top to bottom. Local stains are removed with a diluted cleaning agent; nine0076

  • if the paint contains latex, then you will have to tinker a bit. It is washed with a cleaner or soapy water, and then washed off with clean water. When washing with soapy water, do not be afraid to use a washcloth, and when washing walls with clean water, use a rag to avoid streaks.
  • if the paint is oil , then it can be treated with a mild soapy emulsion with a quarter of a teaspoon of vinegar. The product is applied, left for five minutes, washed off, wiped dry.

    • How to wash wallpaper?

    Washing wallpaper is not difficult if you follow some rules. For the most part, wallpaper canvases can easily withstand wiping with a damp cloth. If the wallpaper is washable, then they are not very afraid of moisture. But, cardinal cleaning with brushes - the nuances are indicated by the manufacturer on the product packaging. A universal method is cleaning with a rag dipped in dissolved household chemicals. The composition is regularly updated, otherwise the dirt will be transported, leaving gray stains. Fingerprints are removed with a stationery eraser, a pen, a felt-tip pen with lemon juice. nine0003

    How to clean tiles?

    Tile - does not tolerate powder. They prefer a product for ceramic tiles, as a substitute - spraying table vinegar, diluted in half with water;

    How to clean plaster or wood?

    Plaster - does not like condensation. Dust particles are brushed off with a broom, vacuumed. When wiping with a moistened rag, it is recommended to immediately soak the drops with microfiber;

    Several wall cleaning hacks from the pros:

    1. do not use colored washcloths as their dye may remain on your wallpaper and walls;
    2. a new chemical agent is checked in an inconspicuous place. If the color, texture has not changed, proceed to the elimination of pollution;
    3. in the absence of markings on the wallpaper, soak a small area, wait a couple of hours. If the wallpaper is in order, it has not fallen apart and the pattern is intact, and the wallpaper itself has not lagged behind the wall, then you can start cleaning. True, do not wet the wallpaper strongly;
    4. keep the cloth clean and do not let dirty water mix with cleaning agent; nine0076
    5. avoid drafts, as wetted coatings will not withstand temperature changes, cold air, and will go microcracks;
    6. do not dry with a hair dryer, heaters - natural drying is required.

    It is difficult to take into account all the subtleties, it is difficult to choose household chemicals for the type of finish.

    Learn more