How To Clean Walls
Like a Pro

If you take pride in keeping your home neat and clean, you know a trick or two for housekeeping. You want to keep your home looking beautiful, from scrubbing and mopping to hardwood floor care and carpet cleaning. But do you know the best way to clean walls? Learning how to clean walls helps minimize dust, dirt, and germs that can aggravate asthma and allergies. Plus, washing away dirt and grime makes your home look and feel cleaner.

How to Wash Walls With Safe, Natural Cleaning Solutions

Because The Maids® is one of the only residential cleaning services to clean for health, we recommend safe, eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Here are the cleaning supplies you’ll need: 

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Mr. Clean® Magic Erasers
• Liquid dish soap
• Microfiber cloths
• Sponges
• Buckets

How to Wash Painted Walls

1. Dust Before Washing Walls

Dust your walls from the top down. A broom is good for getting up near the top molding and removing cobwebs. An unused paint brush or dry microfiber cloth makes dusting chair rails and wall corners easier. Use your vacuum and the brush attachment if your walls are really dusty.

2. Go Easy On Flat, Satin, And Eggshell Finishes

Many wall paint finishes are less durable than those typically used for window trim, doors, and baseboards. Never use harsh chemicals or commercial degreasers on walls with flat, satin, and eggshell finishes. Wash these walls with a soft sponge dampened with liquid dish soap and water. Don’t scrub too hard, or you could remove paint.

3. Use More Elbow Grease for Gloss And Semi-Gloss Finishes 

Because these paint finishes are so durable, they’re often used in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Mix white vinegar, liquid dish soap, and baking soda, and use a soft sponge to scrub away dirt and grime. Use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to wipe off the dirt and cleaning residue, and let the wall air dry. 

4. Use Warm Water and A Natural All-Purpose Cleaner For Latex Paint

Learning how to wash walls with a latex finish is simple. A soft sponge and an eco-friendly cleaning solution of water, dish soap, and distilled white vinegar is all you need. Dip a clean sponge in your wall cleaner, wring it dry, and gently clean your wall. The vinegar odor will disappear after the wall dries, but you can wipe the wall with a damp cloth to speed things up.

5. Wash Oil-Based Paint Using Warm Water And Dish Soap

Skip the white vinegar for walls with oil-based paint. The acid in vinegar can dull and damage oil-based finishes. Use dish soap, baking soda, and warm water, and keep your sponge damp while scrubbing. Wipe off the cleaning residue and dirt with a clean, damp microfiber cloth and allow the wall to air dry. 

6. Clean Safely

When learning how to wash walls, play it safe around outlets, light switches, and thermostats. If your switch plates and outlet covers have buildup, turn off the breaker before cleaning them. To protect your floors, use towels along the base of the walls while you wash them. 

7. Spot-Test Your Cleaning Solution First

The cleaning ingredients we recommend are gentle and safe, but it’s always best to spot-test an out-of-the-way spot on your walls first. This is especially important for flat or matte finishes; if the cleaning solution is too harsh, it could leave light-colored streaks and stains.

8. Use The Right Technique

Proper technique is essential when you’re learning how to wash walls. Fill one bucket with warm water for rinsing and the other with your wall cleaner. Start at the top and work your way down using light, circular motions. Wipe off the residue with a sponge dipped in your rinse bucket. Dry the wall with a microfiber cloth, then move on to the next section.

9. Work On Stubborn Stains After You Wash Your Walls

Make a paste with baking soda and water for stubborn stains like crayons, grease, and shoe scuffs. Lightly rub the paste onto the stain using a sponge and work in a circular motion. Use hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from fruit drinks and red wine. Use a clean, damp cloth and dab a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the stain. Wait five minutes, then wipe the stained area with a damp cloth.

10. Keep Walls Clean With Regular Maintenance

Regularly dusting and spot-cleaning your walls will keep them clean and looking good. Also, use rubbing alcohol to disinfect commonly touched areas like switchplates to minimize germs. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers will remove scuffs and surface stains, and a damp microfiber cloth is ideal for cleaning chair rails and molding.

How to Clean Walls That Aren’t Painted

While most residential wall washing typically involves painted drywall, many homes have different wall finishes. Wallpaper, wood paneling, and tile require a different approach than washing walls that are painted. 

How to Clean Wallpapered Walls

To clean wallpaper, always dust the wall with a microfiber duster or cloth. Smudges and fingerprints can often be removed by spot cleaning. Because wallpaper can be delicate, especially if it’s not washable, use a light touch. Dab a soft cloth in cornstarch and cold water, and gently clean the wallpaper. 

How to Clean Wood Walls

Mix one cup of water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup mineral oil, and 10 drops of lemon oil. Dampen a clean cloth and rub the cleaner into the wood, going with the grain. Let the wood air dry for a warm shine and a pleasant lemon aroma. For spot-cleaning, use a cloth dampened with lemon oil.

How to Clean Kitchen Walls

Kitchen walls and backsplashes are notorious for greasy buildup and grime, so a degreaser is vital. Mix a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 gallon of warm water. Use a sponge to gently scrub the walls. Use a clean, wet cloth to remove the cleaning residue and let the wall air dry. 

Washing Bathroom Walls

Soap scum, grime, mold, and mildew can build up without regular cleaning. Before cleaning the bathroom walls, use hydrogen peroxide and a damp cloth to remove mold and mildew. Apply a paste using baking soda and water to the tile and grout lines, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub the tile and grout with a nylon scrub brush, wipe off the cleaning residue, and you’re done.

Washing walls, especially ones that haven’t been cleaned in a while, isn’t the easiest housekeeping chore. But when you learn how to clean walls like the pros, you can make them look fresh and new again.  

The Writing Is On The Wall: The Maids Makes House Cleaning Simple  

Since 1979, The Maids has made housekeeping healthier, safer, and easier. Whether you rely on our handy house cleaning guides or invest in professional cleaning services, we’ve got your back. Discover how you can enjoy a cleaner, healthier home more often with a free, customized cleaning quote today.