How to Get Hairspray Buildup Off Walls

Hairspray can stick to surfaces other than your hair.

Hairspray may give your hair the perfect look, but it can ruin your bathroom walls. Hairspray residue builds up on the surface of walls and causes unsightly stains or spots to form. Wiping down the walls regularly helps prevent a buildup from occurring, but it may not remove all the hairspray residue. When you notice hairspray on the wall, you can remove it with common cleaning items in your home, such as rubbing alcohol and dish soap.

Things You'll Need

• 70-percent isopropyl alcohol
• Spray bottle
• Liquid dish soap
• Microfiber cloths

Instructions

1. Combine 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.

2. Add two or three drops of liquid dish soap to the diluted rubbing alcohol. Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients. Set the sprayer to a fine mist.

3. Spray the mixture onto a small and inconspicuous area of the wall. Wipe the wall with a damp microfiber cloth to determine if the solution will discolor or remove the paint. Do not use the solution if you notice paint on the cloth.

4. Mist the solution over the hairspray stain on the wall. Wipe the surface with a dry cloth, then rinse the wall with a damp cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Repaint the wall if you cannot successfully remove the hairspray buildup.

• Avoid using the cleaning solution on walls with flat paint, because it may leave streaks or take the paint off the walls.

References

• Good Housekeeping; How to Remove Hairspray Residue from Wood; Heloise