How to wash walls after interior maintenance & painting

The life expectancy of your professional interior painting job will be extended if you wash the walls frequently. Regular wall cleaning will make it easier to clean them later. Depending on whether you’re cleaning entire rooms, spot cleaning or preventative maintenance, the method and tools that you use to clean walls will determine what you choose. Cleaning methods will depend on the type of wall paint.

Semi-gloss paints and gloss paints work best when washed. Paints with a flat, eggshell or satin-finish finish paint can streak or fade. If you don’t know what kind of paint your walls have, or if it’s been a while, test it to find out how it reacts to cleaning. You might consider a new job if it fails to perform well.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is about getting rid of dust before it sets in the dirt. Better Homes and Gardens suggests using the soft brush attachment to your vacuum to get rid of any dust. Next, use a dust mop or cloth-covered sweeper to clean up.

Magic Eraser

This Mr Clean cleaning tool is great to have on hand. This tool is particularly useful for cleaning fingerprints and crayon artwork you don’t wish to show.

Cleansing Walls with Oil-Based and Latex Paint

Make your own dish soap solution by mixing three to four drops of dish detergent with half a bucket of water. To wipe the walls, use a damp sponge. To clean the wall of dirt, use a dry cloth. Continue to wipe the wall until it is clean. Avoid contact with electrical outlets or other places that have electricity.

To remove oil-based paint stains from walls, you can use a mild degreaser if necessary. You should not use harsh cleaners or scrubbing tools on painted walls.

Cleansing Walls with Mold

Mouldy spots can develop from water exposure and are resistant to regular cleaning products. To test if the mould is gone, you can use a damp sponge. To kill the mould, you can try a 50/50 bleach and water solution. Mould is likely to be behind any peeling or chipping paint. These problems can be prevented by hiring an interior painter. To prevent mould growth, we use special paints and high-pressure washing techniques to clean exterior walls.

From the Bottom to the Top

Begin at the base of the wall, and move upward. It is much easier to clean runoff from areas that have been cleaned than it is to clean areas that are still dirty. Two buckets are needed: one bucket with the detergent mixture, and another bucket with clear water for rinsing. When the water becomes dirty, change it.

Dulux Painting offers professional quality paint jobs that will keep walls looking fresh and clean. Our expert application and high-quality paints will give you a durable, long-lasting finish.