How to Clean Painted Wall Surfaces

Clean painted walls with a mild dish soap.

Painted walls look dull over time from dust and dirt that buildup on the surface. Dusting the walls regularly helps keep dust to a minimum, but with children and pets, walls may need washed every two to three months to maintain a fresh appearance. Paint comes in a variety of finishes, such as gloss, satin and flat. Gloss is normally the simplest to clean because of its slick surface. Flat paint is the hardest to remove dirt from, but not impossible. By using certain products, you can clean all the painted rooms in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cloths
• Buckets
• Mild dish soap
• Sponge
• Towels

Instructions

1. Remove dust and dirt by wiping a clean cloth over the painted walls. Start from the top, and work your way down. Sweep the dirt from around the baseboard of the wall with a broom or sweeper attachment.

2. Fill one bucket with warm water and 2 tsp. mild liquid dish soap. Fill the second bucket with cool water. Lay old rags or towels along the bottom of the walls to catch any water run-off.

3. Sponge the soapy water onto the painted wall starting from the top and working down. Wipe a 4-foot by 4-foot section at a time. When finished cleaning the section, rinse it with water from the other bucket and a clean cloth. Squeeze out the excess water from the cloth, and again work from the top to the bottom.

4. Dry the just-cleaned section of the wall with a clean towel, working from the top in a downward motion. Wipe the baseboard also. Move to the next section of wall, and continue the same process until finished. Replace the drying towels with new ones as they become saturated.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove curtains or draperies that may become wet when cleaning the walls.

• Avoid using abrasive chemicals or scrubbing pads on painted surfaces as you risk removing the paint.

References

• Mrs. Clean USA: Cleaning Walls
• Merry Maids: Cleaning Tips