How to Clean a Semi-Gloss Wall

Dust, dirt and scuffs commonly appear on your semi-gloss walls, but generally are not permanent marks thanks to the special coating of the paint. Semi-gloss painted walls are easy to clean as the glossy coating protects the wall from being discolored due to exposure to water, but must be dusted prior to washing to completely remove dirt and other marks. Through proper dusting and washing, your semi-gloss wall's color can last for years without fading or chipping.

Things You'll Need

• Duster
• 2 buckets
• Laundry detergent
• Rubber gloves
• 2 cellulose sponges
• Soft cleaning cloth

Instructions

1. Wipe down the walls with a duster to eliminate loose dust from the wall's surface.

2. Fill both buckets with 1 gallon of warm water and pour 2 tablespoons of laundry detergent into one of the buckets.

3. Cover your hands with rubber gloves, and dip the cellulose sponge into the bucket with the laundry detergent to saturate the sponge.

4. Squeeze out excess moisture, and rub the sponge against the wall starting at the bottom of the wall. Move the sponge up against the wall as you clean until you reach the top of the wall.

5. Soak the second sponge in the bucket that is filled only with warm water, and squeeze out excess moisture. Rinse the walls with the sponge from the bottom of the wall to the top.

6. Move to the next section of the wall, and wash the wall from bottom to top with the detergent-soaked sponge. Rinse with the water-dampened sponge from bottom to top, and continue washing the walls in sections.

7. Wipe the walls dry with a dry cleaning cloth in a circular motion to absorb remaining water on the walls.

References

• Mrs. Clean: How to Clean Painted Walls
• Michigan State University Extension: Washing Painted Walls, Woodwork; Anne Field; June 2008