How to Clean Painted Wall
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You’ve mopped the floors, vacuumed the rugs, and washed the windows, but your home still feels a little dirty. Take a look at your walls—if they’re dusty, dingy, or stained, it might be time for a cleaning! Washing your walls won’t take long, and you can usually do it with products you already have on-hand. Be sure you’re using the right cleaners and tools to protect your paint and keep your walls in tiptop shape.
[Edit]Steps
[Edit]How do I prepare my walls for cleaning?
Dust the walls with a cloth or dry mop. Make sure you go over the entire wall, including the corners and any little crevices. For super tall walls, put a kitchen towel on the end of a broom and use it to get up into high areas.[1]
Alternatively, you can use a vacuum with a long hose attachment.
[Edit]Can you clean walls without removing the paint?
Yes, if you avoid ammonia products to protect the paint. Most finishes don’t handle harsh products very well, and you could even strip the paint by accident! As you pick out cleaning products, stay away from anything ammonia-based to keep your walls looking great.[2]
Yes, if you stay away from abrasive sponges. Steel wool and harsh sponges can really damage the paint on your walls. Always use a soft wash cloth or sponge to wash your walls so your paint stays intact and your walls look beautiful.[3]
[Edit]What’s the best thing to wash walls with?
Mild dish detergent and warm water is a safe bet for any wall. Mix a few drops of dish detergent in a of water, then stir the mixture together. Soak a sponge in the solution to get it ready before you jump into cleaning.[4]
Use a degreaser on glossy or semigloss finishes. These finishes are usually used in high traffic areas like the kitchen or the bathroom. Since the finishes are slightly more durable, it’s okay to use a sprayable degreaser to tackle tough stains and spots. Glossy and semigloss finishes can still get scratched, so you should always use a soft rag or sponge to keep them looking smooth.[5]
[Edit]What natural products can you use to clean walls?
Mix white vinegar and water. Fill a bucket with of warm water, then add of vinegar. Mix the two together and use it to cut down on odors and work through tough stains on your walls.[6]
[Edit]Can I test my cleaning product before using it?
Yes, you can test it with a test patch. Pick a small, inconspicuous area of your wall, like one near the floorboards. Swipe your cleaning product onto the area in a small square, then let it sit for a few minutes. If the paint looks okay, then you’re good to go![7]
If the paint starts to chip, crack, or peel, your cleaner is probably too harsh.
[Edit]How do you protect your floors while washing the walls?
Put down a tarp or a drop cloth. Press it up against the wall that you’re going to wash to protect the floor from drips. If you don’t have a tarp or a drop cloth, use a few old towels instead.[8]
You won’t be using enough water for it to run down the walls, but drips and splashes are always a possibility.
[Edit]What’s the best technique for washing walls?
Work from top to bottom to work efficiently. Rub your soft, barely-wet sponge over the wall, starting in the upper left-hand corner. Move your sponge in a circular motion, going from the top of the wall to the bottom. When you’re done with that section, move slightly to the right. Make your way across the wall in this pattern, wringing out your sponge and dipping it into your bucket as needed.[9]
Make a second pass over your walls. Since your cleaner is fairly mild, one pass might not do it. After a few minutes, use your sponge and cleaning solution to go over your walls again, working from top to bottom. Pay special attention to any areas that get touched a lot, like the spaces around door knobs, light switches, and electrical outlets.[10]
Rinse the wall with a sponge dipped in clean water. Dip a second, clean sponge into a clean bucket of water and wring it out. Go over your walls one more time to remove any cleaner and leave them soap-free. Try not to get the areas around light switches and electrical outlets wet—if you can’t avoid it, turn off the circuit breaker first to avoid an electrical shock.[11]
Let the walls air dry. Open some windows and prop open a few doors to get the air circulating. Turn on a fan and give your walls plenty of time to air dry. Try not to dry your walls with towels, since this can leave streaks and marks.[12]
[Edit]What products can you use for tough stains?
Make a paste out of baking soda and water. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup (64 g) of baking soda in of water. Apply a thin layer of the paste over any stubborn spots, then let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Wipe the paste off with a clean sponge to get rid of the stain.[13]
Use a Magic Eraser for extra tough stains. If you have crayon marks or fingerprints on your wall, pick up a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser from the cleaning aisle in your local grocery store. Use it to scrub the stains in a gentle, circular motion, and wipe the area down with a clean sponge when you’re done.[14]
[Edit]How do I deal with mold?
Remove discoloration with a bleach and water mixture. In a spray bottle, mix 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Open up a window or a door to keep the air circulating, then spray the mixture all over the moldy area. Let it sit on the mold for about 5 minutes.[15]
Use a scrub brush to get rid of stains. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands and grab a scrub brush. In small, circular motions, scrub the mold off the walls until it’s completely gone. If the mold is being stubborn, use more bleach solution to soften it up.[16]
Kill the mold with white vinegar. The bleach will kill the mold on the outside of the wall, but not on the inside. To kill the mold entirely, pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it all over the wall. Let the vinegar dry for a few hours so it has time to kill all of the mold spores.[17]
[Edit]Tips
If you’re worried about a product, test it on a small area of your wall before wiping it all over.
[Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/
You’ve mopped the floors, vacuumed the rugs, and washed the windows, but your home still feels a little dirty. Take a look at your walls—if they’re dusty, dingy, or stained, it might be time for a cleaning! Washing your walls won’t take long, and you can usually do it with products you already have on-hand. Be sure you’re using the right cleaners and tools to protect your paint and keep your walls in tiptop shape.
[Edit]Steps
[Edit]How do I prepare my walls for cleaning?
Dust the walls with a cloth or dry mop. Make sure you go over the entire wall, including the corners and any little crevices. For super tall walls, put a kitchen towel on the end of a broom and use it to get up into high areas.[1]
Alternatively, you can use a vacuum with a long hose attachment.
[Edit]Can you clean walls without removing the paint?
Yes, if you avoid ammonia products to protect the paint. Most finishes don’t handle harsh products very well, and you could even strip the paint by accident! As you pick out cleaning products, stay away from anything ammonia-based to keep your walls looking great.[2]
Yes, if you stay away from abrasive sponges. Steel wool and harsh sponges can really damage the paint on your walls. Always use a soft wash cloth or sponge to wash your walls so your paint stays intact and your walls look beautiful.[3]
[Edit]What’s the best thing to wash walls with?
Mild dish detergent and warm water is a safe bet for any wall. Mix a few drops of dish detergent in a of water, then stir the mixture together. Soak a sponge in the solution to get it ready before you jump into cleaning.[4]
Use a degreaser on glossy or semigloss finishes. These finishes are usually used in high traffic areas like the kitchen or the bathroom. Since the finishes are slightly more durable, it’s okay to use a sprayable degreaser to tackle tough stains and spots. Glossy and semigloss finishes can still get scratched, so you should always use a soft rag or sponge to keep them looking smooth.[5]
[Edit]What natural products can you use to clean walls?
Mix white vinegar and water. Fill a bucket with of warm water, then add of vinegar. Mix the two together and use it to cut down on odors and work through tough stains on your walls.[6]
[Edit]Can I test my cleaning product before using it?
Yes, you can test it with a test patch. Pick a small, inconspicuous area of your wall, like one near the floorboards. Swipe your cleaning product onto the area in a small square, then let it sit for a few minutes. If the paint looks okay, then you’re good to go![7]
If the paint starts to chip, crack, or peel, your cleaner is probably too harsh.
[Edit]How do you protect your floors while washing the walls?
Put down a tarp or a drop cloth. Press it up against the wall that you’re going to wash to protect the floor from drips. If you don’t have a tarp or a drop cloth, use a few old towels instead.[8]
You won’t be using enough water for it to run down the walls, but drips and splashes are always a possibility.
[Edit]What’s the best technique for washing walls?
Work from top to bottom to work efficiently. Rub your soft, barely-wet sponge over the wall, starting in the upper left-hand corner. Move your sponge in a circular motion, going from the top of the wall to the bottom. When you’re done with that section, move slightly to the right. Make your way across the wall in this pattern, wringing out your sponge and dipping it into your bucket as needed.[9]
Make a second pass over your walls. Since your cleaner is fairly mild, one pass might not do it. After a few minutes, use your sponge and cleaning solution to go over your walls again, working from top to bottom. Pay special attention to any areas that get touched a lot, like the spaces around door knobs, light switches, and electrical outlets.[10]
Rinse the wall with a sponge dipped in clean water. Dip a second, clean sponge into a clean bucket of water and wring it out. Go over your walls one more time to remove any cleaner and leave them soap-free. Try not to get the areas around light switches and electrical outlets wet—if you can’t avoid it, turn off the circuit breaker first to avoid an electrical shock.[11]
Let the walls air dry. Open some windows and prop open a few doors to get the air circulating. Turn on a fan and give your walls plenty of time to air dry. Try not to dry your walls with towels, since this can leave streaks and marks.[12]
[Edit]What products can you use for tough stains?
Make a paste out of baking soda and water. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup (64 g) of baking soda in of water. Apply a thin layer of the paste over any stubborn spots, then let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Wipe the paste off with a clean sponge to get rid of the stain.[13]
Use a Magic Eraser for extra tough stains. If you have crayon marks or fingerprints on your wall, pick up a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser from the cleaning aisle in your local grocery store. Use it to scrub the stains in a gentle, circular motion, and wipe the area down with a clean sponge when you’re done.[14]
[Edit]How do I deal with mold?
Remove discoloration with a bleach and water mixture. In a spray bottle, mix 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Open up a window or a door to keep the air circulating, then spray the mixture all over the moldy area. Let it sit on the mold for about 5 minutes.[15]
Use a scrub brush to get rid of stains. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your hands and grab a scrub brush. In small, circular motions, scrub the mold off the walls until it’s completely gone. If the mold is being stubborn, use more bleach solution to soften it up.[16]
Kill the mold with white vinegar. The bleach will kill the mold on the outside of the wall, but not on the inside. To kill the mold entirely, pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it all over the wall. Let the vinegar dry for a few hours so it has time to kill all of the mold spores.[17]
[Edit]Tips
If you’re worried about a product, test it on a small area of your wall before wiping it all over.
[Edit]References
[Edit]Quick Summary
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-walls
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ [v161069_b01]. 22 September 2019.
↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/21591015/how-to-clean-painted-walls
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/
↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mold-on-the-walls/