How to Clean Painted Walls
Hello, and welcome to our post dedicated to maintaining and preserving the quality of painted walls! If you’re planning to paint or you’re just cleaning your walls on a regular basis, then you will need to know what kind of cleaning is most appropriate. Now that we’ve covered how to paint let’s get to how to maintain the painted surfaces, with help from SpecialClean.
Types of Paint Finishes
Before starting scrubbing, it's crucial to identify the type of paint on your walls. Each type has its specific cleaning considerations:
- Glossy Paint: It is smooth and shiny, the simplest to wash. Glossy paint is appropriate for rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, and other areas where the walls get some wiping.
- Satin Paint: It has a soft sheen and is somewhat washable. Considered good for higher traffic areas due to its durability against cleaning.
- Eggshell Paint: This paint has a low luster finish, harder to clean than gloss or satin. The best cleaning method is with gentle wiping to avoid damage.
- Flat or Matte Paint: It has no shine, absorbs stains easily, toughest to clean. It requires the gentlest cleaning methods to avoid streaking or paint removal.
- Acrylic Paint: This is a form of paint that is famous for its durability, and which does not wash off easily; it can be applied to internal and/or external walls. It can be safely washed with water and even a solution of mild washing up liquid, so it does not require protracted washing regimes that will be very suitable for daily usage.
- Latex Paint: One of the most preferred water-based paints due to its inherent quality of drying fast and ease of wash up. For the common walls painted with the latex paint, it is a common practice to use only a soft sponge and a mixture of mild dish soap and water to clean up the stains without affecting the finish.
Why Is It Important To Know?
It is in this respect that one can be in a position to know the safest and most effective way of cleaning your walls depending on the type of paint used. This helps you retain the looks and texture of the painted surfaces for a long time period.
Tips To Clean Painted Walls
Hence, you have to clean painted walls because it is important in preserving the beauty of your home and durability of the paint. But, it is advisable to consider a few important points when it comes to cleaning any kind of painted wall. Here are some general tips that apply to all types of painted walls:
Start with Dusting:
Start by lightly vacuuming or using a feather duster, a microfiber cloth can also do the magic. This first action aids in the washing process, as it gets rid of debris and dust that may contaminate the solution in the next step.
Use Gentle Cleaning Solutions:
Mix warm water with a mild dish soap for a safe and effective cleaning solution. This mixture is gentle enough for most paint finishes.
Test Spot:
It is advisable that if you are intending to clean your walls using a solution of some sort, you should first try the solution on an area that is not easily seen. This precaution is very important to avoid causing a situation where the cleaner will affect the paint or leave some unpleasant marks.
Use Soft Sponges or Cloths:
Avoid using abrasive tools. Soft sponges or cloths are ideal to prevent scratching or damaging the paint.
Wipe Gently:
It is very essential to spread the cleaning solution gently while rubbing it in circles so that the pressure is evenly distributed so that the cleaning solution does not leave streaks on the mirror.
Professional Guidelines For Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered some of the most common queries inquired by the public. Being the professional cleaners in SpecialClean, we’re providing some basic guidelines to deal with the specific situations. You can take these professional advice to get your home sparkling clean.
How to Clean Walls Before Painting
It takes more than just picking up a brush and a bucket of paint to paint your walls – your walls need a lot of preparation before the paint is applied. Start with wiping off all the corners and baseboards from cobwebs or dust using a soft brush or vacuum cleaner. Next, address the grime-prone areas that are usually found in kitchens or children's rooms with mild washing soap or if one is adventurous enough, use trisodium phosphate (TSP) but use the environmentally friendly option since they have been deemed environmentally unfriendly.
If the walls are clean of dust and various stains, wash them with warm water and dish soap, and to make circular motions to prevent soaking the walls. It may be good to wash the walls with clean water after that let it dry before painting again.
How to Clean Walls Without Removing Paint
To clean your painted walls with no stripping of color, there are certain measures that need to be taken. Warm water is to be added to a basin, and just a hint of dishwashing soap to create a cleaning solution.
For cleaning the walls the best approach here is to take warm water which has been mixed with a teaspoon of mild dish soap then immerse in a soft sponge. The key point here is to squeeze the sponge before wiping the walls clean.
This approach is effective for removing surface dirt and minor stains without damaging the paint. Always ensure to dry the walls with a clean towel after cleaning to prevent water marks.
How to Remove Stains from Painted Walls
For those small scratches and light blotches, even a warm water and dish soap combination should be enough. Wipe this solution gently on the surface of the stain using a soft cloth or sponge and then wipe it gently. For the more stubborn stains like grease or crayon marks, use the paste of baking soda and water or a slight addition of the white vinegar in your cleaning solution.
It's important to always test these stronger solutions on a small, inconspicuous area of your wall first to ensure they do not damage the paint.
How to Clean Walls with Flat Paint
Matt or flat paint finishes are commonly used in interior spaces as they have a porous nature hence they soak stains and get spoiled easily during cleaning. Walls with flat paint can be cleaned safely by using warm water mixed with mild dish soap.
Apply the solution gently with a soft sponge, using minimal pressure to avoid degrading the paint finish. Be especially cautious to not scrub too hard and always follow up by patting the area dry with a soft, dry cloth to avoid streaks and further paint absorption.
Wrap Up
From time to time people repaint their rooms or have just relocated to a new home and it is important to learn how to clean painted walls effectively. Avoid using strong chemicals such as heavy soaps; instead, wash by merely using warm water with a mixture of mild dishwashing soap. This means your walls will remain as clean as when the work was started and no wall is harmed in the process.
As stated before cleaning has to be done often as it keeps the home beautiful and the paint lasting longer. Thank you for the following step by step guide from SpecialClean.
Ready for Spotless Walls?
In summary, SpecialClean is a reputable brand for professional cleaning services for your walls without the stress of having to do it yourself. Our specialists work on the most effective techniques which are possible for our home and building. To book a cleaning session call us today and let our expert cleaners bring back the sparkle of your walls. On behalf of SpecialClean, we hope you have a pleasant experience when cleaning your home.
