Wall Cleaning: 5 Steps to Follow When Cleaning Painted Walls

Cleaning your home’s walls seems like a task that is not worth prioritizing, and we can’t blame you if you’ve avoided cleaning your walls for so long. However, much like any surface in your home, you need to regularly clean your walls, especially those in busy areas prone to scuffs, stains, and dirty marks, as well as when you’re planning to do a house painting project. Painting company in West Hartford, CT, recommends you clean your painted walls at least once a year to prevent them from looking run down.

Follow these West Hartford House Painting Experts steps to clean your painted walls properly and effectively!

STEP #1. Prepare to Clean

Before you let any cleaning products touch your walls, you must prepare everything. Start by preparing your home. 

Dust the walls to eliminate surface dirt using a dusting cloth or a rag around a clean mop. You can speed up the process using a vacuum cleaner with a dust brush attachment. Use a foam craft brush to clean all the hard-to-reach corners, baseboards, and molding. Then, arrange some drop cloths against the walls to ensure no amount of water will touch the floor. Doing so will help you create less mess once you’re done cleaning. 

STEP #2. Choose Your Cleaning Solution

The best way to identify what cleaner you’ll need is to determine the type of wall you’re planning to clean. 

For matte, flat, or stain finish walls, you’ll need a delicate and mild cleaning solution. 

For glossy and semi-glossy finishes, you’ll need something stronger, like degreasing agents mixed with dish soap. You can also make your own cleaning solution using a mixture of the following:

• 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap
• ¼ teaspoon of white vinegar 
• 1 quart of water

For oil-based paints, you’ll need something slightly stronger. Use the mixture above, but substitute vinegar with a small amount of ammonia. You may also put an ounce of Borax for every pint of water.

Test a small, discrete area first if you have any lingering concerns about how well the paint on your walls will withstand these cleaners.

STEP #3. Start Washing, But Gently

Much like brushing your teeth, you must wash your walls gently with your choice of choice. Painting company in West Hartford, CT, recommend you get two buckets and two sponges. Use the first pair for the cleaning solution and the other for rinsing water. Be sure to use the smoother side of the sponge and squeeze it gently to remove excess water.

Start cleaning from top to bottom, slowly working your way downward by cleaning small sections first. Scrub gently to avoid applying too much pressure, and do it in circular motions. Be careful around light switches and door frames; don’t let water drip on any electrical outlets or switches.

STEP #4. Spot Clean the Areas With Prominent Stains

There are some areas on your walls where gentle scrubbing just wouldn’t cut it. Use a specialized mixture of baking soda and water for areas with accumulated stains, streaks, and marks that your cleaning solution can’t remove. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then wipe it away. Baking soda can be abrasive, so be careful not to scrub too hard.

For extra hard-to-clean surfaces, you can use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Remember: always try out gentler methods before settling on using stronger solutions. Additionally, always wipe away cleaned areas using a damp sponge afterward.

STEP #5. Dry the Walls

Now that you’ve successfully cleaned your walls, it’s time to dry them. Use a towel to ensure no area is left wet. If you initially removed items on the wall during preparation, ensure the walls are thoroughly dried before placing them back. Speed up the process by opening your windows and letting the air dry your walls.

West Hartford House Painting Experts

Address: 1136 Boulevard Unit 1, West Hartford CT 06119

Phone Number: 1-860-431-2559