How to Wash Walls With Soap & Water

Wash walls regularly to keep rooms bright and clean.

Wash walls with soap and water to keep them clean or to prepare them for painting. Gentle detergent and careful removal or covering of nearby furniture, carpets and artwork ensure that the process results in clean walls with no damage. Start at the top left-hand corner of the room and work down and to the right to complete the task efficiently. More than one scrub may be necessary to remove thick layers of grime.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic sheeting
• Bucket
• Liquid soap
• Sponge
• Ladder
• Clean, light-colored rag

Instructions

1. 

   Pull furniture away from walls and cover it with plastic to avoid dripping soapy water on it.

   Remove artwork, clocks and other items from walls. Pull furniture away from walls. Cover furniture, carpeting and floors with plastic sheeting to prevent them from being damaged by water or soap.

2. Fill bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and 2 tbsp. of liquid soap. Do not use too much soap or suds will be difficult to remove from walls.

3. Place ladder securely in position so that when you climb it, you will be able to reach the top left-hand corner of the wall. Place bucket of soapy water near ladder.

4. Insert sponge in soapy water. Wring out excess. Use sponge to scrub wall, starting in upper-left-hand corner and working downward and to the right, wringing out sponge and moving ladder as needed.

5. 

   A clean, light-colored rag will show traces of residual grime when wiped across the wall.

   Use light-colored rag to test wall for cleanliness. Repeat steps if walls are still dirty.

Tips & Warnings

• Test wallpaper in an inconspicuous spot to ensure that soap and water will not damage it.

References

• This Old House: Painting--How-To