How to Remove Hairspray From Doors and Walls

Eliminate hairspray safely from your walls with isopropyl alcohol.

Hairspray contains a long list of chemicals meant to keep your hair in place, but it can also end up stuck on your bathroom walls and door. Over time the buildup creates a textured film that seems impossible to eliminate. Common household products can remove residue from wallpaper or semi-gloss paint, or from a wooden door. Isopropyl alcohol -- also known as rubbing alcohol -- eliminates the buildup without damaging the surface when used in small amounts.

Things You'll Need

• 3 microfiber cloths
• Bowl
• Liquid dish soap
• 2 soft cotton cloths
• Isopropyl alcohol

Instructions

1. Wipe down the affected surfaces with a microfiber cloth to remove loose dust and dirt.

2. Pour 1 cup of warm water in a bowl and mix in 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Soak a soft cotton cloth in the solution, then wring out the excess moisture.

3. Rub the soapy cloth against the stain to remove dirt and dust that adhered to the hairspray residue. Wipe the wet spot on the wall or door's surface with a dry cotton cloth.

4. Pour 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol onto a clean microfiber cloth to dampen it, and rub the hairspray stain in a clockwise motion.

5. Add 1 more teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol to the cleaning cloth and rub the damp cloth counter clockwise against the wall and door.

6. Wipe the damp surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth to remove the cleaning solution and the hairspray residue.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix 1 cup of warm water, 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a spray bottle for an on-hand residue remover.

References

• "Good Housekeeping": How to Remove Hairspray Residue from Wood; Heloise;
• "Real Simple": Ask Real Simple -- How Do I Clean Hairspray Residue from Bathroom Walls?