How to Clean Walls and Wallpaper

Periodic cleaning of walls and wallpapers is necessary for a house setting as a daily outlay of dust particles and mud smudges in our day to day activities makes the wall lose its bright original colour hence dampening the beauty of the wall paint and wallpapers. Should one decide to clean out the finger smudges and dust that falls on the walls, several steps are involved so as to bring back the vibrancy of our walls back to their original state.

Some of these measures required include preparation of the room for cleaning. This includes removing the furniture that is against the wall to enable cleaning and laying down of clothing so that the water used to clean the walls is absorbed by this clothing and also covering the furniture with clothing to ensure the furniture is protected from dust and water while cleaning the house. This will provide easier cleaning of the house after finally cleaning the walls.

While cleaning the walls such as a clean cleaning cloth, a natural sponge, rubber gloves for protection of our hands while handling abrasive cleaning solutions, fresh water for rinsing and cleaning solution for washing, the walls are necessary. The cleaning solution used depends on the degree of dirt on the walls. For very severe dirt on the wall, one uses an alkali solution that contains 250 ml of white vinegar, washing soda (borax), ammonia and warm water.While in the case of cleaning of light and standard stains on the wall, mix a gallon of water with dish washing detergent and use this solution to clean off the stains. Before using water to clean off the walls, it is important first to dust off the dirt on the walls. This is important as it ensures that the dust accumulation on the walls won't turn into mud which makes it harder to clean the wall woolen water is introduced to clean the wall. A woolen duster can be used to dust the walls and remove the cobwebs from the top of the wall heading downwards.

During the actual cleaning of the walls, dripping of water on the walls heading downwards cannot be avoided. Should these drips land on the dry, dusty parts of the walls make it a hectic task to remove them hence it is advisable to clean the walls from the bottom to top? This ensures that as the wall cleaner moves up the wall while cleaning, the drips produced while cleaning will be easier to clean off as the drips will fall on already washed surfaces. Those drips can be easily removed by just wiping off the streaks using a clean cloth or a natural sponge. While cleaning, rub gently on the walls to ensure that the paint does not get removed or the paint fades, rinse the walls with fresh water and then dry the walls using a clean cloth to remove the excess moisture. While cleaning the walls, it is important to remember to wash the whole wall in one session using the same solution with the same amount of alkalinity. This will ensure that the wall does not get roll marks. Roll marks are wave effects that are caused by stop and go the wall washing; they occur indifferent parts of the walls when not removed at the same time.

As for houses that use wallpapers, it is important to follow the manufacturer's guide for washing the wallpapers. Before cleaning the wallpapers are dusted then washed to remove the loose dust on the wallpaper surface. The wallpapers are dusted and cleaned using a soft brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to start at the top of the wall heading downwards. Ensure that you avoid cobwebs as fibres stick on the wallpaper, instead, lift the fibers while removing them from the brush. Some wallpapers that can be damaged by water are cleaned using wall wall paper dough sold at paint stores. The mixture is utilised by taking a handful of dough and rolling the dough into a ball. Throw the ball across the wall covering to lift the dirt. When the mixture gets dirt, knead the dirty parts into the centre of the ball and expose afresh surface and continue cleaning the wallpaper. To find out if the wallpaper cannot be washed using water, dampen a natural sponge with little dish washing liquid in water and dab some on a small part of the wall. If the wallpaper material darkens and absorbs the water, the covering is not washable hence wallpaper dough is the most advisable thing to use to clean that wallpaper.

Rooms with walls exposed to grease and steam. A combination of dry cleaning solvents and crushed white chalk powder are used to create a dark paste which is applied in the lubricated part, then after the spot dries, brush the dried glue from the wall. The dry adhesive absorbs and removes the grease marks. Light washing should occasionally be done after a few months. However, luckily the wallpapers and coverings used in such areas are usually made of waterproof material. Washing is easy through a quick swipe with a natural sponge that has been dipped into water and detergent and ensure that the natural sponge is not too wet. It is also important to make sure that the wallpaper is cleaned from the bottom up, this way drips will not dry leaving behind streaks on the wallpapers.it is also not advisable to scrubbale wallpaper despite the wallpaper being scrubbable. Instead Use a natural sponge,slightly dampened with a solution of warm water to clean these washable wallpapers then pat dry with a towel to remove excess moisture.

As for non-greasy markings on the wall, an art gum eraser is rubbed on the wall until the stain disappears then the eraser residue is wiped off the wall using a dry clothing. Crayon and wax in the walls are scraped off with an object like a plastic knife then try to remove the wax and chalk residue from the wall as much as possible. In conclusion, do not use abrasive cleaning solutions as they scratch the wallpaper coating, hence reducing the beauty of the walls and wallpapers.