We routinely clean our floors and furniture, but rarely do we ever think about cleaning our walls. Considering how we're constantly leaning on or touching them, it's important that we make sure they're just as spotless as any other surface in the house. This is especially true if you have kids or pets, as surfaces are likely to get dirtier much faster!
Regular wall cleaning should be incorporated into your overall house-cleaning schedule, as clean painted walls aren't just more hygienic, they also leave your house looking sparkling clean! Not to mention, if your walls are painted, they'll require some preventive maintenance, as different paint types will require different types of care. Here's our easy how-to on keeping your walls clean:
Wipe Down Your Walls
Before cleaning, first determine what kind of paint is on your wall. Flat, stain, or eggshell finish paints aren't very durable and are prone to rubbing off if you scrub too hard or use a harsh cleaner. Semi-gloss and enamel finishes are stronger and is easier to wash.
Regardless, you'll need to give it a good dusting before proceeding with any washing. Use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner and run it gently over the surface to get rid of dust and dirt. If you want to go the extra mile, wipe down the walls with a cloth-covered broom or an electrostatic dusting wipe. If the paint finish used is semi or high-gloss, be wary of fingerprints! Wipe them away as soon as they appear.
You can vacuum and wipe down the walls routinely without following up with a wash as a form of preventive maintenance. This'll help painted walls and keeping a freshly painted look and the surface free of dirt marks. Not to mention—it'll save you time spent scrubbing.
Scrub It Down
Now for the hard part: scrubbing it down. You'll want to start from the top of the wall and then work your way down. This is the most efficient way to do it, as the water will drip from the top to the bottom, easing up the workload by washing away some of the dirt on the bottom half of the wall. Lay towels on the floor along the baseboards to prevent the floor from getting slippery from the moisture. Work in sections, and dry a section immediately with an old towel before proceeding to the next section.
You'll also want to have at least two buckets: one to hold a cleaning solution, wall cleaner, or soapy water and one to hold just water. You might also want to have a spare bucket for wringing out the dirty water from your cloths and sponges. Always remember to use a damp cloth or sponge, not a wet one! This is to prevent damaging the paint with moisture.
How to Clean Wall Stains
To remove stains and smudges, start cleaning with water first. It'll be the gentlest on your wall and is less likely to cause any damage to the paint. If the spots don't budge, you'll need a mild liquid cleaner. You can use a mixture of warm water and dishwashing soap for this. If that doesn't work, you can upgrade to a tougher cleaner: mix a cup of ammonia, half a cup of white vinegar, and a fourth cup of baking soda mixed into a gallon of clean water. Wipe this on the wall with a sponge and then dry the wall thoroughly. Don't let the wall air-dry, as this might cause streaking!
If there are still some stubborn stains left behind, you can try using a paste made from baking soda and water and rub it gently on the stain with a sponge or an old toothbrush. Rinse with warm water and a soft cloth.
Keeping a Clean Home
Especially if your walls are painted, knowing how to clean painted walls is vital for keeping your house looking fresh and brand-new. However, not all of us have the time to dedicate to the lengthy process of cleaning painted walls. If you want to keep the stress out of housekeeping, call us at HomeFresh! Our team of professional cleaners will keep your home looking sparkling. Call us now!
