Painted walls are crucial in defining the style and feel of your living space. It sets the tone, promoting positivity and complementing other home décor elements and furniture pieces. Choosing right colours and paint finish can bring comfort, class and elegance to your home set-up. However, over time, dust, dirt, cobwebs, spills, stains and gunk can accumulate on the finish, making your walls look dull and dingy.
Some spots are even laden with grease stains, smudges, adhesive residue and mould spores if not cleaned regularly. Dust-laden painted walls can ruin the feel, downgrade the indoor air quality and lurk lethal germs and bacteria, causing health problems like asthma, respiratory disorders, etc. Luckily, with a few DIY products and the right techniques, you can restore the lost shine of your painted walls.
Follow the cleaning tips from this article and maintain your walls' gleaming shine, texture and colour. The best part is that it covers specific methods for different finish types to prevent damage or costly repairs.
Let’s Get Started!
1. Consider The Paint Type Before Cleaning
Cleaning is beyond wiping or scrubbing stains and grime. It is important to understand the type of area you are cleaning for optimal results. Painted walls are one of those surfaces that require a specific cleaning approach for different paint finishes. Here are the most common types:
- Matte or Flat Finish: It looks chalky without any shine and requires precision to tackle stains and grime. Ammonia-based cleaners or sharp tools can deteriorate its finish.
- Eggshell or Satin: It reflects light with a mild sheen. Though satin finish is more durable, ensure you don’t use abrasive cleaners and tools.
- Semi-gloss: Used in kitchens and bathrooms, semi-gloss is durable and has a beautiful finish. You can use mildly abrasive products to remove stains. However, it can be prone to scratches and marks if not used properly.
- High-Gloss: The most durable finish that can be cleaned using detergent and hot water.
It is always good to hire budget end of lease cleaners Sydney to meet the landlord’s high expectations at the end of the tenancy.
2. Preparing Your Walls & Eliminating Dust
Remove all the distractions, such as picture frames, artworks, paintings, furniture and other hanging items from your walls. This will help you address dust, dirt and grime more efficiently.
Next, grab a telescopic microfiber duster to clean hard-to-reach spots like ceilings. Start from the top to eliminate cobwebs, dust particles and insect marks. A microfiber cloth can easily trap dust bunnies and allergens without spreading them further, making it the most suitable method for people with allergies.
Tip: Cover your upholstery furniture, carpets and rugs to keep dust and mess at bay.
3. Clean Eggshell Finish With Mild Detergent and Water
Eggshell or satin finish is prone to scratches and discolouration. Instead of using ammonia-based cleaning products, use mild cleaners and soft tools to eliminate grease stains, grime and gunk.
Use a pH-neutral cleaner or mild dishwashing soap and warm water solution to wash your walls. Dampen a sponge and clean every nook and cranny from top to bottom. Ensure you pay special attention to areas around light switches and baseboards. The gentle scrubbing and soap reaction duo can dislodge stains in a breeze.
Tip: Squeeze your dampened sponge to remove excess liquid to prevent water streaks.
4. Restore Gloss Finish Using White Vinegar
Believe it or not! Gloss and semi-gloss painted walls are super easy to clean and maintain. You can use acidic and mildly abrasive products to remove stubborn stains, grime and fingerprints. However, end of lease cleaning Sydney professionals recommend using white vinegar, as it is mild yet powerful enough to eliminate tough stains. The best part is that it won’t wear out the gloss finish. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Mix one cup of vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle
- Add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid
- Spray on the stained spot and scrub using a sponge in a circular motion
- Rinse and wipe with a dry cloth to prevent marks and streaks.
Tip: Always test a cleaning product on an inconspicuous spot to check its compatibility.
5. Baking Soda: A Go-To Fix for Greasy Stains
Whether it's a matte or high-gloss finish, baking soda is one of the most versatile natural cleaners for painted walls. It is mildly abrasive and removes grease, oil and smudges without leaving scratches behind.
Prepare a DIY cleaning recipe by adding one part of baking soda, warm water and dish soap liquid. Dip a sponge and scrub the walls. Do not scrub too hard, as it could cause damage or wear out the paint finish.
Tip: Refer to the property condition report when preparing your property for the final rental inspection. It is important to know your responsibilities and rights as a tenant in NSW, as you are not liable for pre-existing damages and fair wear and tear.
6. Use Hydrogen Peroxide For Mould and Mildew
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best natural cleaning products to tackle mould and mildew stains. These common fungi spores thrive on damp and dark areas, including painted walls in your bathroom or kitchen. Ensure you detect early signs, musty smell and nasty smell and treat the main cause proactively.
When cleaning painted walls, use 3% hydrogen peroxide and a magic eraser to achieve the best results. Spray, leave it and scrub using a brush or magic eraser. However, ensure cross ventilation in the room to prevent unpleasant odours- open doors and windows.
7. Touch Up Whenever Necessary
If you still see the signs of imperfections, conceal the affected spot with touch-up paint. It is good to hire a professional painter who can apply a fresh coat and restore its pristine shine. This becomes crucial when moving out of your tenancy. It is important to know your responsibility as a tenant and book seasoned end of lease cleaners in Sydney to impress your landlord and secure full bond money. They can clean painted walls leaving no signs of dirt and grime behind while giving a sense of relief at the end of your lease.
A Complete Guide to Cleaning Painted Walls
Wrapping Up
Cleaning painted walls is simple with the help of this guide. It is crucial to understand the type of your painted walls and clean them accordingly to prevent damage or discolouration. Also, prefer using eco-friendly and mild cleaners such as vinegar, baking soda and castile soap to tackle grease and stubborn stains.