Probably you spend a lot of time cleaning your home and ensuring that everything looks immaculate. You mop your floor daily, vacuum the carpets, or tidy every visible space of your home. But do you even remember the last time you cleaned the walls? Be it due to the lack of time or not knowing how to clean wall stains, it is as important as cleaning the other areas of your house. Leaving your beautifully painted wall dirty not only affects the aesthetic appeal of your home but stains or dirt accumulated there could pose health risks to your loved ones. 

So, in order to preserve the fresh look of your wall, it is necessary to clean them regularly. But how do you clean those tough stains and scuffs on the walls? Sometimes, you just need a sponge and some hot water; at other times, you may need to look for a stronger solution. Don’t panic! In this blog, we will tell you some easy and effective ways to clean wall stains without removing paint. 

What is the best way to clean a wall?

Scuffs or stains age an otherwise chic paint job. Therefore, we advise you to clean the area as soon as you notice the stains. It will reduce the chances that your wall requires a painting job. Furthermore, walls with different paint types (latex, oil paint, etc.) require different cleaning techniques. Ideally, it is good to start with a gentle paint removal method and then slowly work your way up until the stains fade away.

Let’s discuss how to clean walls with different paint types or finishes.

Ways to clean painted walls

One important thing to keep in mind while washing a painted wall is its finish. It could be a flat finish, satin finish, or a high-gloss finish. How scrubbing the wall will affect its look depends on what the finish of the wall is. 

If the paint on your walls has a flat or satin finish, don’t use any harsh chemicals for cleaning. These paints are less durable when it comes to cleaning or washing them off. So, you should not be too hard to scrub the stains with a sponge.

On the other hand, walls with a glossy or semi gloss finish are more durable than flat painted walls. This means you can use a mild degreaser to remove any scuffs or stains on them. While these paints are durable, they may still scratch. So, make sure to use a soft sponge for cleaning walls with a glossy finish.  

Ways to clean walls with latex or oil-based paint 

If your walls are painted with latex paint, you can use any non-abrasive multi-purpose cleaner for cleaning. Below are the steps to follow- 

• Take some warm water and a non-abrasive cleaner. 
• Dip a clean sponge in water, wring it dry, and rub the wall gently. 
• Take another sponge and clear water to rinse the wall. 

Are the stains or scuffs too stubborn to be cleaned? Take some water, and add baking soda to it. Use this paste to rub the area with tough stains. You can also use a solution of water and white vinegar to remove the stains on the woodwork. 

For walls with oil-based paint, you can use a detergent solution rather than white vinegar or baking soda. Besides, if it is a texture-painted wall, it requires deep cleaning. For this, it is advised to add one ounce of borax to each pint of water for cleaning the wall.  

Wallpaper scuff marks 

Wallpapers are not good at holding up well to washing. Even if you use a melamine sponge for cleaning a wallpaper, it may result in discoloration or holes. However, you can use an art gum eraser to remove the scuff marks on the wallpaper. In addition, you can also use a mixture of detergent and water to remove tough marks. Still, it is good to test it in a small less-visible area to ensure that it won’t destroy the wallpaper.  

Ways to remove stains from a freshly painted flat wall 

It is best to remove the stains or grime from the flat-painted walls as soon as possible. If you ignore cleaning the walls, it will be difficult to remove the stains later. Here are the steps to clean smears, smudges, or scuff marks on flat paint walls – 

• Wipe a clean and moist cloth/sponge against the wall. Sometimes, all you need is water to remove the stains. 
• If water is not enough to remove the stains, scrub the walls using a sponge wrong in a solution of water and white vinegar. 

• If vinegar does not completely remove the stains, use an erase sponge to clean the soiled wall.  
• Another method you can try for cleaning scuffs is using diluted detergent. Take a spoon of detergent, and add it to one gallon of water. Dip a sponge into it and gently scrub the stain away. 
• Is the original paint also faded away? Touch up the stained area to completely hide it. Or, you can repaint the entire wall with more durable paint, for example, eggshell finish paint.  

Some general tips for cleaning painted walls 

• Dust walls daily and wipe down the high-traffic areas regularly to avoid the buildup of dirt or dust. Also, remove the stains or scuff marks as soon as you notice them. 
• Before cleaning the area, it is best to test an inconspicuous area that is less visible. 
• Don’t use too much water; it may leave watermarks over the wall.  
• If you are using a cleaning solution, make sure to rinse the wall properly after the cleaning procedure. 

If none of these tips works, it’s time to bring in a professional cleaning service. We offer the best cleaning services and help you keep your home clean and hygienic. We are trained cleaners who take care of keeping the high-traffic areas of your house clean and help you avoid getting dirty walls. What are your cleaning requirements? Let us know; we are just a call away!