Just as you need to clean your floors and furniture frequently, your walls also need to be cleaned regularly. Since we lean on and touch painted walls frequently on a daily basis. Therefore, cleaning painted walls is just as important as cleaning other surfaces in your home. Moreover, over time, painted walls can accumulate stains, marks, shoe prints, and dust. This can also give a dull, unclean look.

To keep your walls looking fresh and new, be prepared to clean painted walls on a regular basis. It's important to note that walls with different paint types and finishes require the use of different cleaning methods. Read on to learn how to clean your walls without damaging the paint.

If you're looking to refresh your walls with a new look, check out these 11 wall painting ideas for your room for creative inspiration.

1. Types of Painted Walls

• Flat or Matte: This type of paint does not reflect light and has a dull, powder-like appearance. Flat paint does not resist scrubbing, so be careful when cleaning walls with a matte finish.
• Satin: Satin paint is often referred to as eggshell paint. It is shinier and more durable than flat paint.
• Semi-gloss Paint: This type of paint is more durable and has a higher sheen than satin paint. In addition, semi-gloss paint is less prone to wear and tear from cleaning.
• High-gloss Paint: This is the most reflective paint finish and it is very resistant to stains. It can withstand scrubbing when cleaning painted walls.

2. Oil-based vs. Water-based Paints

• Water-based Paint: It is also known as latex paint. This paint dries quickly and can be cleaned with regular soap and water.
• Oil-based Paint: This type of paint has a strong and durable coating that is resistant to stains. Hence, oil-based paints are usually used for decorating and styling.
• Therefore, before cleaning painted walls, you need to know the type of paint used for the walls in your home.

3. How to Clean Painted Walls

When cleaning painted walls you should first consider the finish. Whether the surface of the wall is shiny or flat will affect how cleaning affects the appearance of the wall. You can follow the guidelines below for cleaning painted walls.

3.1 How to Clean Walls with Flat or Matte Paint?

Darker paint finishes such as flat, satin, and eggshell are less resistant to washing. Therefore, flat-painted walls should not be cleaned with strong chemicals or degreasers. When cleaning with a sponge, avoid scrubbing hard. Before scrubbing the walls with a sponge, it should be wrung out almost completely.

• To Wipe the Walls: Wet the sponge with warm water and wring it out until it is almost dry. Then gently wipe the wall.
• Dry the Walls: Gently wipe the walls with a dry microfiber towel.

3.2 How to Clean Walls with Glossy or Semigloss Paint?

Since these paints are durable, they are usually used in high-traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Therefore, you can use a mild degreaser on a glossy kitchen backsplash or vanity door. Although glossy or semi-gloss paint is very resilient, it can still leave scratches. So clean painted walls often with a soft sponge.

• Mix Soap and Water: Pour a drop of detergent into a bowl of warm water. Then mix everything together.
• Clean the Walls: Wet the sponge with the liquid and wring it out almost completely. Then gently wipe down the walls.
• Dry the Walls: Dry the walls with a dry microfiber towel.

3.3 How to Clean Walls with Latex Paint?

• Mix Cleaner with Water: To clean emulsion-painted walls, use warm water and a non-abrasive general-purpose cleaner.
• To Clean the Walls: Dip a clean sponge into the mixture and wring it out. Then gently wipe the walls. Pay special attention to frequently touched areas such as around door handles and light switches. Finish by rinsing with a second sponge and water.
• Dry the Walls: Wipe the walls with a dry microfiber towel.
• Remove Stains with Baking Soda (optional): If you want to remove stubborn stains such as fingerprints, newspaper stains, or scuff marks. Then, make a paste of baking soda and water and wipe with a non-abrasive cotton pad.
• Rubbing Woodwork with Alcohol (optional): If cleaners (or white vinegar and water) don't remove dirt or stains from painted woodwork. Then, you can try wiping with a rag dipped in alcohol.

3.4 How to Clean Painted Walls?

Not all wall-stains can be easily removed. You may need more water to solve the problem. You can use a homemade multi-purpose cleaner to clean oil-based painted walls. Adjust the recipe according to the size of the wall or stain.

• Homemade Cleaning Solution: Add 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing liquid to a quart of warm water. Then add 1/4 teaspoon white vinegar and mix them together.
• To Clean Walls: Apply the mixture to a sponge or microfiber cloth and wring it out until slightly damp. Then gently wipe down the walls. Let the solution sit on stubborn stains on painted walls for 10 minutes before wiping them off. To prevent the color on the towel from migrating to the wall, use a lint-free white rag or microfiber cloth.
• Dry the Wall: Wipe the wall with a dry microfiber towel.

4. How to Remove Stains from Painted Walls?

To remove stains from walls, you should act as soon as possible. The sooner you clean the stain, the better your chances of eliminating it. Luckily, you likely already have the best wall-cleaning solution in your cupboard.

• Mix Baking Soda with Water: Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water to form a paste.
• Apply the mixture to the Stain: Gently work the cleaning solution into the wall stain. Then wipe away the residue with a clean, damp cloth. Mild abrasives are very effective on greasy wall stains.
• Dry the Wall: Wipe the wall with a dry microfiber towel.
• 5. How to Keep Painted Walls Clean?

In our daily lives, we should keep our painted walls clean. Preventive maintenance means less time to clean the walls later.

To keep painted walls clean, vacuum with a fine brush attachment. Then clean the walls with a broom or mop wrapped in a cloth. For best results, spray a dusting solution or use a static dusting wipe.

Wipe off fingerprints and other marks (such as sticker residue) as soon as they appear. To avoid dripping, do not use too much water when cleaning painted walls.

6. FAQ

6.1 Can I Steam Clean the Walls?

Steam should be avoided when cleaning water-based painted walls. This is because high temperatures can cause the latex paint to break and flake. If you choose to use steam to clean your walls, start with an inconspicuous spot. Be careful not to stay in one spot that will remove any paint, dirt, or stains.

6.2 Is It Important to Clean the Walls Before Painting?

Dust, vacuum and wipe down the walls before painting them. This will remove any invisible dust, dirt, or cobwebs. In addition, clean walls give the best painting results.

6.3 How Often Should I Clean My Painted Walls?

It's best to plan on cleaning your walls once a year. When you see scratches or imperfections, spot clean as needed. Areas that are prone to moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens, may need to be cleaned more frequently to prevent mold and mildew.