Paint Cleaning: 7 Amazing Tips to Clean Paint, Walls, and Paint Sheen
Written by: Areej Malik
We often touch our painted walls, especially areas around switch plates and doorways. So, learning how to clean Paint, Walls, and Paint Sheen is a skill worth learning. If you don’t clean your painted walls, then dust, dirt, and germs can quickly build up.
Cleaning can cut down the dust. Dust, dirt, and germs can aggravate asthma and allergies. Cleaning properly with the right method can minimize the spread of germs and viruses. It creates a healthier environment for your family.
Here are 7 excellent tips that you should make a part of your regular housekeeping routine for more clean, beautiful, and healthy painted walls.
PS: You can also read my article Paint Sheen: 7 Types Of Paint Finishes to learn more about paint finishes.
1. Gloss and semi-gloss finishes
Gloss and semi-gloss finishes are durable and often used in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. You can use a mild degreaser as long as you scrub on glossy walls carefully. Moreover, glossy paints are tough, so you should use a soft sponge to prevent scratches on the wall.
2. Flat, satin, and eggshell finishes
Many wall paint finishes aren’t as long-lasting as the paint used on window trim, doors, and baseboards. On walls with flat paint finishes, never use harsh chemicals or commercial degreasers. Use a soft sponge moistened with a cleaning solution to clean these walls. If you scrub too hard, you may remove some of the paint.
Read my article Eggshell Paint: Everything You Need To Know About Eggshell Painting Or Eggshell Sheen
3. Latex paint
When its time to clean walls painted with latex paint, you can use warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. I would suggest you to wash this type of paint with a soft sponge and a safe, all-purpose cleaning solution. You might use water, dish soap, and distilled white vinegar.
Dip a clean sponge in your cleaning solution, dry it, and gently clean your wall. Ensure the vinegar odor is gone after the wall dries. Wipe the wall with a damp cloth. Congratulations! Your Latex paint wall is clean now!
4. Oil-based paint
Walls with oil-based paint need to wash with warm water and dish soap. Don’t use white vinegar for walls with oil-based paint. It won’t work for your wall correctly because the acid in vinegar can dull and damage your oil-based finishes. It would be better to use dish soap, baking soda, and warm water.
Note: Keep a little water on your sponge while scrubbing the dirt away. The dish soap should be strong enough to get rid of dirt on oil-based paint. On the other hand, the baking soda will make it a little rougher.
5. Clean safely
While cleaning around outlets, light switches, and thermostats is important to remove built-up filth, don’t get these areas wet. Moreover, Turn off the breaker before washing your dirty switch plates and outlet or covers them to not get them wet. While cleaning, place towels along the base of the walls to protect your floors.
Read my article: The Best Painting Do’s And Don’ts
6. Use the right technique
It’s important to use an appropriate technique when cleaning your painted walls. Usually, all you need is two buckets, some soft sponges, and dry microfiber cloths.
- Take some warm water in one bucket for rinsing and your wall cleaner in the other.
- Using light, circular motions, start at the top of the wall and work your way down. Make sections to clean to prevent spotting and discoloration.
- Wash the wall with your cleaning solution.
- Use a sponge dipped in your rinse bucket to get rid of the mess.
- Use your microfiber cloth to dry the wall, then move on to the next part.
- You should read my article How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets for mire information.
7. Dust your walls before you clean them
Whenever you are about to clean your walls with a liquid, dust your walls from the top to down. Use a broom to get up near the top molding and remove cobwebs. You can also use an unused paintbrush or dry microfiber cloth.
It makes dusting chair rails and wall corners easier. You can also use your vacuum and its brush attachment to clean your painted walls.
PS: For superior paint refinishing quality, count on your local experts at WC Painting Services. We can help renew, repaint or refinish your cabinets and other parts of your kitchen and home—both interior and exterior. To learn more, Call WC Painting Service at (508-657-4104) or schedule an online estimate today to choose the best colors for kitchen cabinets.
