You frequently mop your floors and vacuum your rugs, but when was the last time you cleaned the walls? Considering how much we lean against and touch them on a daily basis, cleaning painted walls is just as important as cleaning other household surfaces. Plus, over time, painted walls can accumulate stains, marks, shoe scuffs, and dust that give the surface a dull, dirty appearance.
To preserve that freshly painted look, plan to wipe down your walls regularly. However, walls with different paint types and finishes require special care when scrubbing. Before you add this chore to your whole-house cleaning schedule, read our tips to learn how to clean walls without removing paint.
How to Clean Painted Walls
The first thing you should consider when washing painted walls is the finish. Whether the finish is glossy or flat will determine how scrubbing will affect the look of the wall.
Types of Paint Finishes
- Flat or Matte: This paint finish does not reflect light and has a dull, chalky finish. Flat paint does not hold up well to scrubbing, so take extra care when cleaning walls with a matte finish.
- Satin: Satin paint, sometimes called eggshell, is shinier and more durable than flat paint.
- Semigloss: This paint finish is stronger and has more sheen than satin finishes. Semigloss paint won’t easily wear down from cleaning.
- High-gloss: This is the most reflective paint finish and is tough against stains. It can endure scrubbing when cleaning walls.
Avoid using an excessive amount of water when cleaning painted walls to prevent drips.
How to Remove Stains from Painted Walls
To clean wall stains, you’ll want to act promptly. The sooner you can wash the stain, the better chance you have of removing it. Luckily, you likely have the best product to clean walls already in your pantry.
- Mix Baking Soda and WaterMix a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water until a paste forms.
- Apply Mixture to StainGently work the formula into the wall stain. Wipe away any residue with a clean, damp cloth. The gentle abrasive works especially well on grease wall stains.
- Dry WallsWipe walls with a dry microfiber cloth.
How to Keep Walls Clean
Maintain a freshly painted look on your walls by keeping them free of dust and spots. Practicing preventive maintenance means less time spent scrubbing walls later.
To help keep walls clean, vacuum painted walls with a soft brush attachment. Then wipe them down with a cloth-covered broom or mop (spray with a dusting agent for best results), or use an electrostatic dusting wipe. Wipe away fingerprints and other marks like sticker residue soon after they appear. Avoid using an excessive amount of water when cleaning painted walls to prevent drips.
