The Oh-So Rewarding Feeling Of Fresh, Clean Walls
A simple 6-step wall washing guide.
The funny thing about walls is that they’re somehow discreet. They’re obvious when you’re hanging bookshelves or repainting them or straightening out that crooked piece of art.
Walls make up most of your house, hugging rooms, holding up your TV, and designating your route from the bathroom to the kitchen. But they somehow slip under the radar when you’re cleaning.
How Often Should You Clean Your Walls?
Since you might not have thought to clean your walls, they’re probably dirtier than ever. Especially if you’re prone to dust allergies, cleaning the walls several times each year, or when the seasons change is a good habit to get into. It’s also not a bad idea to wash the walls occasionally if you tend to leave open windows and doors, letting allergens and dirt blow in all willy nilly.
How To Clean Your Walls
See our simple 6-step wall washing process to have clean walls in no time. Having fresh walls will be oh-so rewarding.
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Dust. Before you clean your walls, you’ll want to dust them. The easiest way to do this is by using a vacuum with a soft bristle attachment. Otherwise, you can use the Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Super Extender — it’ll help you trap any rogue dust or spider webs in those reach corners of your walls and ceiling so you’ll be all prepped for washing.
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Check to see what kind of paint is on your walls. The shinier the paint finish (glossy or eggshell), the most scrubbing the walls can handle without some of the paint rubbing off. If your paint is flat, you should stick to a mild cleaning solution and be extra cautious to not scrub too hard or you’ll take the paint right off the walls.
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Gather tools. The first thing you’ll need is a soft sponge or cloth. A soft sponge is perfect because it’ll be gentle on the walls, especially if your walls have a flat or matte paint finish.
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Clean away. If the walls aren’t too dirty, you may be able to simply use water and a soft sponge or cloth. Another option is to use water with a couple of drops of dish soap. This is especially helpful if your walls have grease stains on them. And if that isn’t getting the job done, create a solution of 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup vinegar, ¼ cup baking soda, and one gallon of warm water. Put the solution into a spray bottle, and spray onto the wall (a light layer - no need to soak it). Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it off with a soft sponge. If you’re using anything other than plain water, you’ll want to “rinse” your walls once you’re done cleaning them by giving them a quick once-over with a water-dampened sponge. No matter what you decide to use to clean your walls, make sure your sponge or cloth is just dampened, not soaked, or you’ll risk damaging your paint.
- Work from top to bottom. This way, you won’t drip dirty water onto the freshly cleaned parts of your wall.
- Concentrate on tough stains. For tough stains like crayon or scuff marks, use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Ideally, you’ll catch the stain when it’s fresh, making it easier to get rid of. Simply get the eraser wet and give it a squeeze to get rid of the excess water. Glide it firmly along the mark. After a few firm swipes, the mark should disappear and leave your wall looking refreshed and revived.
Now that you know how to clean your walls, set reminders to do it.
If you’re a parent of young children, a smoker, or a pet owner you’re likely more aware of dirty walls (crayons, fingerprints, smoke stains, dander, etc.). But still, they’re not furniture or floors or windows. Walls are the less obvious thing to clean — but that doesn’t mean they don’t need cleaning! In fact, quite the contrary.
Well, now you know. Walls need cleaning, too. Now that the walls are clean, you may notice your house smells fresher and appears brighter. And that’s not just an illusion. Walls can subtly trap all sorts of funky odors from smoke, cooking food, and pet dander. What’s next you ask? Try our wall cleaning tips on your ceiling!