We all take the time to vacuum the carpet, wipe down the counters, and mop hardwood floors. But, how often do you think about cleaning your walls?
Cleaning your walls will not only wash away dirt and bacteria that have accumulated since your last spring cleaning, but also brighten the appearance of your home. But, when you’re cleaning painted walls in your Colorado home, you need to take care not to ruin the paint.
Here, we’ll break down everything that you need to know about safely cleaning your painted walls. From preparing the wall for cleaning to choosing the right detergent, we’ll make sure that the walls in your Denver home are sparkling this spring.
Before You Start Cleaning:
- Find out the type of paint.
The best method for cleaning your walls can differ depending on the type of paint. Specifically, you’ll need to work out the finish of your paint.
Here are the main paint finishes that you’ll find in residential painting, as well as ideal cleaning methods for each.
Flat, Stain, and Eggshell Finishes
Flat, stain, and eggshell finishes are the most susceptible to damage with intensive cleaning. You’ll need to be careful to not scrub too hard with these finishes, and you should only use a gentle cleaning detergent. Otherwise, some of the paint may be lifted from the wall.
Glossy and Semigloss Finishes
Glossy and semigloss finishes aren’t as likely to rub off with cleaning. These finishes are often used in kitchens, so they can withstand degreasing cleaners. However, glossy and semigloss finishes can be easily scratched, so avoid abrasive cleaning tools.
Water-Based Paint Finish
Water-based (or latex) finishes can simply be cleaned with warm water and a gentle detergent. Compared to the paint finishes listed above, water-based paints don’t need special cleaning considerations.
- Dust the walls.
For all types of paints, be sure to dust your walls before cleaning them. If you skip this step, rather than achieving a squeaky clean surface, you’ll end up spreading the dust over the wall. There are multiple ways to dust your walls. You can fasten the brush attachment to your vacuum and vacuum your walls. This method is very effective for removing dirt and dust.
To dust your walls without a vacuum, you can simply use a dust cloth, cheese cloth, or tack cloth.
- Protect your flooring.
Water and soap may drip onto your floors when you’re cleaning your walls. So, protect your floors with towels or rags before cleaning.
The Cleaning Solution:
- Use a mild detergent.
You don’t need harsh chemicals to make your walls clean and grime-free. So, to preserve your paint and keep chemicals out of your living space, use a gentle detergent. You can effectively clean most walls with warm water and a mild, non-toxic detergent.
Apply the cleaning solution to your walls with a large sponge. Wring out excess liquid from the sponge before cleaning the wall to avoid creating puddles of cleaner on your floors.
- For stubborn stains, use white vinegar or baking soda.
If there’s a stubborn stain on your wall that can’t be removed with the gentle cleaning detergent, white vinegar may do the trick. Mix a small amount of white vinegar with plenty of warm water to create a spot cleaning solution for your walls. Or, use a mixture of baking soda and a small amount of water, which is also a great solution for spot-cleaning walls. Apply a small amount of either solution of a rag and apply it to the stain, gently rubbing at the stain until it comes out. Then, rinse with water to remove the solution from the wall.
For both vinegar and baking soda, test out a small amount on a minimally-visible section of your wall first. This will help you avoid conspicuous damage to the paint.
Touch-Ups For Permanent Stains
Some wall stains are just too stubborn to be removed with cleaners. In these cases, you may need to touch up the areas with paint after cleaning your walls.
In a perfect world, you’ll still have the can of paint that you used to initially paint the walls in your Colorado home. If not, you’ll need to purchase more. Look for the same brand, color, and sheen. Use the same painting tool, a brush or a roller, that you used to paint the wall the first time.
When in doubt, residential painters in Denver can expertly touch up your walls for a pristine, long-lasting finish.
