It’s not just the appearance of the walls of your home, but the condition they are in should be your concern as well. The overall aesthetic of your home depends largely on the combination of these two things. Many of you procrastinate the process of cleaning your walls, and not cleaning your walls regularly enough, or letting too much time pass from your last cleaning ultimately causes stains to develop on the walls and eventually look dull and drab. The walls can also develop black mold, dirt, and dust, adding to the drab look. You can, however, follow a simple wall cleaning process to prevent your walls from getting shabby. This article will guide you through that process.
1. Get Prepared for the Cleaning Process
You will first need to be able to access all corners of the wall to ensure that they are thoroughly cleaned top to bottom. The surface should not be obstructed by any wall ornaments or furniture, so take them down or remove them while cleaning. Clearing these things away from the walls will enable you to clean more efficiently.
After you have moved the furniture, you need to gather the things that you will need to carry out the cleaning. Some of the essential things needed are brooms, wall cleaning mop, sponges, liquid dish soap, bucket, ladder, drop cloths, and vinegar among others.
2. Clean the Wall Surface of Dirt and Dust
You have to clean the wall surface of dirt and dust before you begin the process of deep cleaning. You need to avoid debris spreading all across the room while you clean, so you need to thoroughly clean the surface of dirt first. A mop, broom, or vacuum cleaner can be used to get the wall cleaned from top to bottom. You also need to be careful to not scratch the paint by using a proper brush attachment.
Pay special attention to the corners as they can easily accumulate dust and are a favorite place for the cobwebs to form. Wipe over the swept wall by using a dust cloth to remove dust.
3. Prepare the Cleaning Solution
You can find many commercial products available from your local stores that will specifically help you clean the different types of wall finishes. If you want, you can use DIY wall cleaning solutions such as vinegar or dish soap to clean painted walls. When using vinegar, you need to mix 4 to 5 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar in a gallon of water, while for dish soap, you should mix 4 to 5 drops of liquid dish soap in half a bucket of water.
Before applying any cleaning solution to your walls, make sure that it will not discolor or damage them. To do this, apply the cleaner to an inconspicuous part of the wall with a sponge and see the effects after you scrub the wall gently. This way, you can change to a different solution rather than damaging the wall with an unsuitable cleaning solution.
4. Perform Spot Cleans to Clean the Stains
A stronger solution might be required to remove stains that form on painted walls due to discoloration over a long period or grubby hands. You should try to remove such stains using the same cleaning solution you use on other wall parts first. Then, if the need arises, you can always strengthen it later.
To clean such stains, start by using a soft cloth or a towel. Dip the cloth in the cleaning solution, wring it well afterward so that it doesn’t drip, and use a circular motion to gently scrub the stains away. There are specific cleaning solutions available in your local market depending on what sort of cleaning requirement you have, so choose a specially formulated stain remover if you need to remove large and stubborn stains from your walls.
5. Actually Wash the Wall
Unlike popular belief, washing something doesn’t necessarily involve splashing a lot of water to clean it; you wash a wall by wiping it with a damp sponge. You may want to put down a drop cloth or two as there might be a few drips that need to be soaked up as you go about the cleaning process.
Start the process by dipping the sponge in the bucket containing the cleaning solution, then squeeze out the excess water as you don’t want the sponge to be dripping. Cover the wall one section at a time by gently wiping the wall from top to bottom. Remember to periodically rinse the dirt off the sponge so that it doesn’t find its way back to the surface.
6. Soak Up the Moisture
There are quite a few reasons why you don’t want excess moisture to remain on your walls. It causes a lot of time to dry, and if your walls are exposed to dampness for a long period of time, the finished paint might be damaged. Soak up as much moisture as possible by blotting the wall with an absorbent towel or cloth. If the material becomes too damp, replace it with a dry one.
After the previous step, you should increase ventilation in the room. You can easily do this by opening up the windows of the room and turning on the ceiling fan to ensure that the walls dry faster. Go one step farther and leave the fans on overnight so that the entire walls can dry that much faster.
Summing Up
The best way to prevent permanent stains and dullness on your walls is to clean them regularly. Follow the steps we mentioned in the guide above to keep your walls looking as good as new for years to come. Best of luck!
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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