How to Clean Painted Kitchen Walls

Installing tile behind a stove or sink can make cleanup easier.

Kitchen walls need regular cleaning, especially around the stove, counters and kitchen sink. These areas are often prone to splashing food and water on painted wall surfaces. Kitchen walls should be painted with a semigloss paint because of the kitchen's higher humidity and the need for routine cleaning. A non-abrasive cleaner and scrubbing pads should be used for the job or the paint will be dulled and damaged.

Things You'll Need

• 1 gallon warm water
• 2-gallon scrub bucket
• 1 cup bottled ammonia
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• Mixing stick
• Rubber dishwashing gloves
• Empty spray bottle
• Nylon-backed scrub sponge, non-abrasive and uncolored
• 2 dishwashing rags
• Paper towels (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour a gallon of warm water into the scrub bucket.

2. Pour the ammonia, vinegar and baking soda into the bucket and stir ingredients with the mixing stick.

3. Put on a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves.

4. Remove the nozzle of the spray bottle.

5. Submerge the bottle into the bucket and fill with the cleaning solution. Screw the spray nozzle back onto the bottle and set the nozzle to mist.

6. Mist the wall with the solution. Don't apply too much spray or the solution will streak down the wall. Apply only enough to dampen the wall. Let it soak for 30 seconds.

7. Submerge the scrub pad into the scrub bucket, then wring out most of the liquid.

8. Scrub the entire wall from bottom to top. Re-submerge the sponge repeatedly throughout the scrubbing process.

9. Wipe the scrubbed wall with a wet wash rag.

10. Wring out the rag with fresh tap water and wipe down the wall again.

11. Dry the wall with paper towels or a dry dish rag.

12. Repeat this process until all of the kitchen walls have been cleaned.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get the cleaning solution in your eyes.

References

• Vinegar Book: Cleaning Your Walls With Vinegar