In This Post
–Prep Steps for Wall-Cleaning Session
–DIY Ways to Clean Painted Walls
–Cleaning Walls With Different Paint Finishes
–Cleaning Walls With Oil-Based Paints
–Recipe for DIY All-Purpose Wall Cleaner
–Keep Your Walls Clean and Free From Dust
No matter how much attention you pay to your home interior and decorate it with fancy furnishings, having untidy walls in the background will take away all its charm. For many people, cleaning painted walls turns out to be an extremely daunting and time-consuming task because they don’t want the paint on their walls to get scrapped or damaged during the cleaning process. So, if the walls in your home have also become dirty and you are looking for ways to clean them without damaging the paint, then you have come to the right place. In this blog, we are going to reveal you some of the best DIY ways to clean painted walls without spoiling their look.
Let’s get started!
Prep Steps for Wall-Cleaning Session at Home
Before you get started with the wall-cleaning session here are a few steps you need to take to get your home ready for it.
- Move all the furniture away from the walls
- Take a look around if you have any uncovered food items, remove them
- Remove all the delicate and expensive wall hangings if there are any
- Cover up all the electrical outlets and switchboards so that they won’t get wet or damaged during the cleaning process
- Take a duster and start dusting the walls to remove all types of dust particles.
- Clear off the dust on your ceiling fan, if not removed it can get your cleaned walls dirty with the movement of the fan.
Best DIY Ways to Clean Painted Walls
Give your house a bright new look by undertaking a thorough wall-cleaning session with the help of the tips discussed below
Cleaning Walls With Different Paint Finishes
When washing painted walls, you should check its finish first. The amount of scrubbing and cleaning varies depending on the surface of the wall, which is either glossy or flat and how will the cleaning process affect its look.
Dull Paint Finishes
One of the best ways to clean walls, especially with dull surfaces, without damaging the paint is avoiding the usage of harsh chemicals. Since dull paint finishes are less durable and can get easily damaged during the cleaning process if not handled with care. when it comes to cleaning. Avoid using harsh chemicals and degreasers when cleaning walls coated with dull finishes and don’t scrub too hard when washing with a sponge.
Glossy Finishes
These types of finishes for walls are made up of some of the most durable finishing materials and are mostly used in high-traffic areas such as the corridor that leads to the living room or bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. High durability means it won’t damage the paint if you are using a mild degreaser on the glossy walls in your living space. However, walls that are coated with glossy materials can still scratch, so make sure you always use a soft sponge while cleaning them.
Pro Tip: Only go with the trusted names when it comes to choosing the paint finish for your home. To help you out in this regard, we bring you the list of the best paint brands in Pakistan.
Cleaning Walls With Oil Based Paints
If your walls are covered with oil-based paint avoid using the all-purpose cleaner for cleaning them. The chemicals in such cleaners may damage the oil-based paint. In fact, you can make use of different types of detergent solutions having a lower concentration of chemicals as it makes them suitable for cleaning purposes especially surfaces with oil-paint finishes. Simple home-made cleaning agents like the one based on cleaner or white vinegar mixture. Wring the sponge or rag until it is slightly damp before getting started with the cleaning activity and repeat the process if required.
Pro Tip: One of the most effective wall cleaning tips for the texture-painted walls in your living space is to get them treated with a little amount of borax powder (around 1 ounce) mixed with each pint of water, which you will use to clean the wall.
Cleaning Walls With Latex Paint
One of the best DIY wall cleaning hacks coated with latex paint is by using cleaning agents like a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner, which is easily available in the market, and warm water. To do so, you need to take a clean sponge and dip it under warm water for a few minutes, then wring it dry. Start with a gentle rub on the wall and make sure your cleaning activity is focused on the areas that get touched the most such as around the edges of the walls, and electrical outlets. Use a second sponge to rinse and clear water. This is how to clean walls without removing the paint. Avoid wetting areas around outlets, light switches, telephone jacks, and other electrical connections as it may lead to incidents like electrocution. When scrubbing such spots, it is necessary for you to turn off the electricity from the main switch of your home.
Precautionary Tip: You can also have a look at our blog in which we have discussed ways to protect yourself from electrocution at home.
Stubborn spots like fingerprints, newspaper smudges, or scuffs, can be easily treated if you rub them with a paste of baking soda and water applied with the help of a sponge or non-abrasive pad. You can also make a cleaning agent simply using the two basic ingredients including white vinegar and water to remove the dirt, stain or grime on the painted woodwork or the woodwork can also be wiped with rubbing alcohol, which you can apply with a rag soaked in it.
Recipe for DIY All-Purpose Wall Cleaner
If you are looking for the recipe for DIY all-purpose wall cleaner then you’re in luck because now we are about to discuss an easy method to make a wall cleaning agent at home. Take a look.
- Your cleaner will be based on three very basic ingredients including liquid dish detergent, water and vinegar.
- Add and stir 1 teaspoon of the liquid dish detergent into almost a litre of warm water.
- Now, add 1/4 teaspoon of the synthetic white vinegar.
- Apply the solution on the stain and let it sit there for about 10 minutes before blotting. Congratulations, you have just learned about one of the best DIY wall cleaning hacks.
Note: This all-purpose detergent won’t harm the oil-based painted walls in your living space. You can adjust the quantity of the ingredients in the recipe as required for the size of the affected area on your wall that needs to be cleaned. A homemade all-purpose cleaner is the best cleaning agent you can use to clean walls without removing the paint.
Ways to Keep Your Walls Clean and Free From Dust
Vacuum your walls with a soft brush. Yes, you read that right. It’s one of the best ways to keep them clean and free from dust. It’s not always necessary to take the pictures and other wall hangings down every time you are dusting your wall since covered areas don’t easily catch dust so you can easily work your way around them but handle such areas with extreme care as you would never want your expensive wall hangings to fall and break into pieces.
Pro Tip: Dusting your walls regularly may only take you around 10 or 15 minutes but it can save you from a lot of rubbing and scrubbing activities, which you have to carry out in case dirt and grime get settled on your walls.
These were some of the most effective ways to clean painted walls. If you know about more useful wall cleaning tips, do share them with us at blog@zameen.com. We love it when our readers interact with us.
On a side note, you might also be interested in taking a look at our blogs in which we have given you some inspiring home decor and improvement ideas including ways to decorate your TV lounge, DIY home improvement projects, apartment maintenance checklist, home inspection checklist, DIY ways to polish wood, creative ways to use glass in your home decor, dining room decor ideas, and home decorating hacks for renters.
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