Just as you should routinely clean your floors, you should also give your painted, stone, brick, or wallpapered walls some TLC. Dust, oil splatters, smoke, bug droppings, and spider webs can all land on them; spots close to doorways, light switches, and furniture are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, microscopic dust mites are present in dust particles and have the potential to amass and result in health problems.1. You can simply maintain walls coated in various paint and finish kinds with only a few simple supplies and tools.
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The Frequency of Wall Cleaning
Painted walls should be dusted once a month, and it’s recommended to clear cobwebs twice a month, as part of your routine cleaning routine.
Every week, you should clean the grime and smudges around light switches and doorknobs. For optimal results, large crayon splatters and scribbles should be cleaned right away.
Prior to Starting
Every kind of paint finish is dustable. But the best way to clean it depends on the type of paint and the finish. Choose the type of paint you have and go to the lists below for pre-cleaning advice.
Interior Wall Paint Types
Oil-based paint: Usually applied in regions with high moisture content; it is more resilient than latex paint and can tolerate repeated washings.
Water-based or latex paint: The most popular type of interior wall paint is latex or water-based paint; it is less amenable to water-based cleaning agents but more resilient to chipping and cracking than oil-based paint.
Interior Paint Finish Types
Flat or Matte: Almost powdery in appearance, lackluster on the surface; not very resilient to washing; avoid using strong chemicals or applying too much pressure when cleaning
Eggshell or satin: reduces the quantity of moisture while washing; it is more resilient and appropriate for high traffic areas; it reflects light with a subtle sheen. Avoid using abrasive cleaners.
Semi-gloss: a great option for doors, trim, bathrooms, and kitchens since it reflects light with a perceptible sheen; withstands dampness and most severe chemicals with good durability
High gloss: Provides a strong, glossy surface; the most resilient finish; ideal for trim, cabinets, and furniture; readily cleaned with degreaser or detergent.
How to Clean Walls Painted with Latex
Take Out the Dust
To eliminate dust and cobwebs, start at the top of the wall and use an extension wand vacuum together with a dusting brush or microfiber duster.
Combine a Cleaning Agent
In a bucket, mix one teaspoon of all-purpose cleanser with one quart of warm water. Clean water should be added to a second bucket.
Scrub the Walls in a Round Motion
When there is no more water dripping, dip a sponge or microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution and wring it out. Beginning from the top of the wall, work your way down it in little segments. It is best to start at the top to avoid getting drips on previously cleaned regions. Frequently rinse the sponge.
Wash the Walls
After dipping a second sponge or cloth into the fresh water, wring it out until almost dry. Working your way down the wall, rinse away any soap residue.
Address Highly Polluted Areas
Make sure all light switches and outlet plates are switched off, and clean the area surrounding them carefully. Take care not to let these regions become too wet.
If smudges and scuffs are difficult to remove, gently massage the affected area with a sponge that has been soaked with baking soda. The issue ought to be resolved by the baking soda’s mild abrasive action.
How to Clean Oil-Based Painted Walls
Clean the Walls
Dust off the walls first. Dusting will stop you from moving around any loose dirt while you clean.
Combine a Cleaning Agent
Fill a bucket with one quart of warm water, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and half a teaspoon distilled white vinegar. To rinse, fill a second bucket with plain water.
Rinse and wipe
Wipe down the walls beginning at the top after dipping a sponge or microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution and thoroughly wringing it dry. For a last rinse, use a sponge that has been dipped in plain water and thoroughly wrung off.
Take On Difficult Stains
Add two tablespoons of laundry borax to the cleaning solution if the walls are extremely dirty. For dirt removal on glossy or semi-gloss oil paint surfaces, use a melamine sponge (Mr. Clean Eraser). The abrasive action will remove nearly all scuffs with a gentle touch.
How to Maintain Clean Walls for Longer
- Avoid bringing smoke from candles, incense, cooking, and tobacco products into the house to extend the intervals between wall cleanings. Combustion soot quickly coats walls, making them unclean.
- When you see hand prints or smudges, spot wipe the walls. Spot cleaning will prolong the time between full cleanings and make it easier to remove new stains.
- Young children are typically the ones that leave the most dirty handprints on walls, so teach them to avoid touching the paint.
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