Walls are the most ignored part of the house when it comes to cleaning routines. It’s always about the floors and the furniture. But, come to think of it, dirt and grime can easily build up on walls without us noticing. And dull and dirty walls can affect the easily affect the look and feel of the whole room. Also, considering that you frequently lean on it and touch it, your walls should also receive just as much cleaning love as the other parts of the house.
Giving your walls a good deep clean once a year would keep stains from building and would keep your walls looking fresh. However, as simple as it might seem, cleaning your walls would take a little bit more consideration. Scrubbing too hard might wipe some paint away and leave unpleasant streaks. Harsh cleaners and using too much water can also produce the same streaky results. And if you’re not diligent enough to change the water you’re wiping your walls with frequently, you might end up decorating your walls with unsightly streaks of grime and dust. So, here are some tips and tricks to clean your walls without leaving spots and streaks.
Consider The Paint Type or Your Wall Covering
The first thing you should consider before you go ahead and start wiping down your walls is what kind of paint and finish was used. Not all kinds of paint respond the same way to cleaning. Some can easily be scrubbed off while some can hold up better. For instance, walls with satin, flat, or eggshell finishes are more susceptible to streaks because too much scrubbing can easily wipe the paint away. On the other hand, you won’t have to worry about higher-gloss finishes because they can withstand a great amount of scrubbing without showing streaks.
It goes the same way with oil-based paint and latex paint. Oil-based paint are less susceptible to streaks than latex paint. But, there are types of latex paint that hold up just as well and are designed to be washable. On the other hand, some walls might be covered with wallpaper. This is more delicate and normal cleaning methods can fade the color of the wallpaper or even damage the wallpaper itself. So, take note of these and adjust your cleaning methods accordingly.
Create a Gentle Wall-Cleaning Solution
When choosing your wall-cleaning solution, always remember to go from gentle to stronger to avoid damaging your wall paint. If you’re doing a simple clean without additional stain removal jobs, you can simply wipe down your wall with plain water. But, if the built-up grime and dirt is a little tougher to remove, you have three DIY wall cleaning solution options. You can mix a little bit of dish detergent with water for a gentle solution. You can also mix vinegar with water. If those two aren’t enough, you can use a mixture of a half cup of vinegar, a cup of ammonia, a quarter cup of baking soda, and a gallon of water.
Before you start wiping your entire wall with these solutions, test them out first on the corners to see how it’ll react with the paint. This’ll ensure you won’t do any accidental damage to your walls. If there are stubborn stains that your cleaning solution can’t remove, try making a paste using baking soda and water. Again, test it out on a small corner of your wall to see how it’ll react to the paint. If nothing happens after it dries off, proceed to the stain. Gently work the paste on the stain with a sponge using circular motions. Then, wipe it off with a clean, damp sponge. Afterward, dry it off completely to avoid leaving watermarks on your wall.
Wash Your Walls The Right Way
Before you start washing your walls, clear away dust and loose dirt using a duster or a vacuum. Then, spread out some newspapers or towels on the floor to catch drips. When your walls are prepped and ready, take a soft sponge without any dyes and start wiping down your walls. Make sure to properly wring it out before wiping. Work your way from top to bottom using gentle circular motions to achieve a smooth clean finish. And remember to regularly rinse your sponge and replace your cleaning solution so you don’t just end up moving dirt and grime to other parts of the wall. After the cleaning solution, rinse your walls the same way with water then dry it off. Now, you can enjoy clean, squeaky, fresh walls.