How To Clean Walls Without Removing Paint

Any home cleaning project is bound to come with a little bit of risk. You’ve probably been staring at your dirty walls for weeks, wishing you had the guts to take on the task. You want your walls to be clean, but you aren’t quite sure how to clean walls without removing paint. Unfortunately, it can be surprisingly easy to fade paint or take it off the wall completely, if you’re not careful.

Not anymore!

Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your paint stays right where it belongs…

How to Clean Your Painted Surfaces Effectively

Before you begin, it is important to consider what your wall paint is made of.  Depending on if you have latex-based or oil-based paint, the materials and scrubbing techniques you can use will vary significantly.

Cleaning Latex-Based Wall Paint

Latex-based paint responds very well to vinegar or dish detergent. Add just a few drops of dish detergent or a few tablespoons of vinegar to approximately half a bucket of water. Once these solutions have been mixed together, use a soft sponge to gently remove dirt and grime from your walls.

Make sure to wring out the sponge thoroughly between each scrub and rinse session. If the sponge becomes filled with too much of the mixture, it could leave permanent streaks on your paint that are tough to ignore and even more difficult to repair.

Cleaning Oil-Based Wall Paint

Oil-based paints are a little less tricky to clean. While vinegar and detergent still work great, oil-based paints can tolerate a mild degreaser. If the walls in your kitchen are oil-based, you may already have some degreaser nearby.

Speaking of kitchens, the debris in this area of your home has a tendency to cling to walls, so this may be where you can put a degreaser to the test. When scrubbing, it is important to use a soft sponge rather than a coarse sponge or a wire brush. These abrasive tools can damage your paint, even with the most delicate cleaning chemicals. In this case, a bit of degreaser on a wash cloth should do the trick.

For The Really Hard Jobs…

Not all jobs are ft for DIY cleaning solutions. If you’re not sure whether your wall paint is latex-based or oil-based, or if you feel overwhelmed about the possibility of scrubbing down your home, consider consulting E&B Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

E&B has been providing quality service to the St. Louis area since 1974. We specialize in a number of home cleaning services, like pet stain removal, carpet repair, air duct cleaning in more. For more information visit our website.