How to Clean Painted Walls
Fingerprints, paw prints, smudges, crayons, stains, mud, spaghetti—the list of what ends up on walls could go on forever. Unfortunately, what goes on doesn’t always come off.
Painting over walls stains is the most complete solution, but not everyone has the time, money, or motivation to repaint their wall every time it gets a little dirty.
Washing painted walls, however, can be effective to varying degrees, depending on the type of paint your wall is coated with.
Washing a Painted Wall
Washing a painted wall isn’t usually a big deal. A dishcloth or sponge and some warm soapy water usually do the trick. Some stains and marks are more difficult than others and require some ambitious scrubbing.
Not all paints are created equal, and some aren’t able to stand up to the abrasive washing that is needed to remove a wall stain.
Tips for Washing Walls
Use these tips when washing your painted walls:
- Test your cleaning method in a small and inconspicuous spot on your wall before launching a full-scale attack. If your method damages the paint or is ineffective, a small area by the corner of a wall won’t stand out much.
- Scrub as gently as possible so you don’t remove the sheen of the wall paint. Periodically dry the area and look at it from an angle to make sure the finish is still intact.
- Gloss and semi-gloss finishes are more washable than flat or matte finishes. A glossy finish is very resilient and is usually easily washed up with a sponge and some warm soapy water.
- Higher quality paint cleans up better than bargain brands. It’s just a fact: the better the paint, the more resilient, durable, and washable it is. If you have children or pets, investing in the high-quality paint will almost surely save you money down the line. The glossy finish acts as a buffer between the stain and the paint and helps resist serious staining. The gloss also protects the paint from being rubbed off or washed out when scrubbing on while cleaning.
- Flat and matte finishes won’t withstand scrubbing. These delicate finishes don’t have the protective durability of semi-gloss and gloss finished paint. Scrubbing will wash them out or remove them entirely from a spot on the wall. Clean these paints very gently and avoid any kind of vigorous scrubbing or rubbing.
Additional Tips
- Use mineral spirits or lighter fluid in small amounts to remove crayon from walls.
- Fingerprints are easily removed with baby wipes.
- Dry the area you have cleaned immediately to avoid water stains and marks from dripping water or cleaning solution.
Zenith’s professional paint team is here to answer any questions at 800-381-4601.
