How to Keep Painted Walls Looking Clean and Fresh

DirtyPaintedWalls-ClaffeysPaintingGot kids? Got pets? Put the two together and you have a recipe for dirty, grimy walls!

Even without kids or pets, your walls can  get smudges and fingerprints on them. One way or another most of us need to clean our painted walls, not only so they look as nice as they did right after they were painted, but also to increase the life of the paint.

If you’e one of the lucky ones (and there aren’t many of you) whose walls stay smudge-free, periodically dusting or vacuuming them will be all you need to do. Keep in mind that you may not always be able to see the dirt on your walls; smoke from smokers, fireplaces and candles can leave your finish dull and dirty looking. So for those of us whose walls sometimes need scrubbing, it’s important to know the kind of paint you have so you can use the right process and products.

Good rule of thumb – always test a small area of the wall you will be cleaning to make sure you won’t ruin your paint job. If you have used a lower quality paint, you may actually wash away the sheen or even the paint itself.

Latex painted walls:

Walls painted with latex are relatively easy to clean. All you’ll need is a clean sponge, a bucket of warm water with 1/4 tsp liquid dish washing detergent. The process is simple, after dipping your sponge in the water, wring it out well and gently rub.

If the spots you are trying to remove are a little tougher to remove, make a paste by adding a little water to baking soda and carefully rub the area with a sponge – never use abrasive pads – then wash off with a clean damp sponge.

Oil Based painted walls:

CleanPaintRollers-ClaffeysPaintingThe process is the same as for latex painted walls, but use this simple recipe that can help you clean your oil based painted walls:

  • 1 quart warm water
  • 1 tsp liquid dish soap (only a small amount is needed, too much will leave your walls sticky)
  • 1/4 tsp white vinegar

If there is a resistant stain, let you solution remain on the wall for a few minutes before wiping it down.

For grease spots on kitchen walls you may need to purchase a degreaser, and for removing crayon marks, try a magic eraser.

Walls can only be cleaned so many times before they become faded and worn looking or they have stains that refuse to be removed. This is probably a good time to consider a new coat of paint. If this is the case for you…

Call Claffey’s Painting, we’ll give you a Free quote, help you select a durable paint, and get the job done right.

(425) 888-3634

Claffey’s Painting is a full service painting contractor serving Western Washington, Chelan, Douglas and Kittitas Counties. We have painted over 7000 homes and would enjoy the opportunity to help paint yours. We can guide you through all the decision making processes so you get the right paint for the right job, and the professional job you’re looking for.