Most people clean their floors and countertops often but don’t do much cleaning on the walls. The walls are pretty much always clean, though, right? Not necessarily. Walls can be covered in germs, bacteria, dust, and other undesirable particles. Once you realize that, you may want to clean them more frequently, and here are some methods for how to do that.
- Clear and Vacuum
This is the most basic wall cleaning method you will find. It involves taking everything off the wall to start with, like you should for any wall cleaning method. Take down pictures, clocks, decorations, and any kind of hangings. Make the walls as clear and naked as possible before you start to clean them.
Once you have cleared everything away from the walls, then you can run a vacuum up and down the walls. You should use a flat attachment for the vacuum cleaner that covers as much surface area as possible. This will make the work take less time and allow you to be more efficient.
Just run the vacuum from the top of the wall all the way down from there. Always start at the top and then clean toward the floor. This will keep you from having to clean the same area more than once. The only time you start from the bottom is when you are using a strong cleaner that could streak if you start from the top.
You may need to inspect your vacuum attachment before using it. If there is anything sticky, greasy, or dirty stuck to the end of it, then it will make your walls look untidy. The vacuum method may not completely clean the walls, but it is a good first step. It will deal with most of the stuff that is stuck to the walls and make them look brighter and lighter. You can use the same method for cleaning your curtains at the same time.
2. Wipe Them Down
You can use the wipe down cleaning method as a follow up to the vacuuming method to use it as your sole wall cleaning method. Wiping down the walls takes longer but tends to be more effective and makes the walls look even better. It is ideal for people who do not have a vacuum cleaner or do not have the right attachments for their vacuum to clean the walls with.
There are a number of resources you can use for wiping down walls. The simplest may be to take a clean cloth or rag and to dip it in a mixture of dishwashing soap and warm water. Squeeze out the excess water and wipe from the top of the wall and work your way down. You should dust the wall before using this cleaning method, though.
Different kinds of walls will call for different cleaning methods. We recommend never using commercial cleaners to tidy up your walls. Most of them can be tough and abrasive, peeling off paint or fading the color of the walls. For oil painted walls, only use dish soap and warm water. For latex paint, you can use the same mixture with the addition of distilled white vinegar. Instead of a cloth, use a soft sponge to clean the latex walls.
If you are cleaning your walls using the wipe down method and you notice that some of the paint is being damaged, then stop the process immediately. You may be using a cleaner that is too strong or you may be applying too much force as you clean. If you have any doubts that your cleaning method is not right for your walls, then try it out first on an out-of-the-way place on your wall, like behind a piece of furniture. That way, if it doesn’t work out, at least it won’t be highly visible and hard to cover up.
To clean concrete or brick, warm water and dish soap works well, but it is even more important that you dust or dry wipe first on these surfaces.
3. Hire Skilled Professionals
Another option is to have someone else do the cleaning for you. If your walls are very dirty or you don’t feel able or equipped to handle the cleaning, then why not hire professionals who offer wall cleaning as a service? In most cases, professional house cleaning companies will have wall cleaning as an additional service or as part of their deep cleaning package rather than as a part of their basic cleaning service.
If you find a company you like, just ask them about their wall cleaning and if they can do that in addition to their basic cleaning or if they can provide that service alone, based on what your needs are. Many cleaning services will be willing to work with you and customize the cleaning to fit your needs.
If you go this route, you will know you are getting great results and you will know that your walls will be cleaned properly. You also don’t have to worry about your walls being damaged. Trained cleaning professionals should be able to clean any kind of wall surface without damaging it, and if they do damage it, then they are liable for repairing the damage or reimbursing you. Do check their cleaning contract, though, just to protect yourself and to make sure that they are going to guarantee your satisfaction and handle repairs from any damage they cause.
Keep the Walls Clean
How do you make sure that your walls stay clean and that they don’t need a lot for cleaning all throughout the year? There are a few ways you can do that.
The first is to simply dust your walls often. You should especially make sure that you dust any clocks, pictures or other hangings on the walls. That is where dust and pest droppings will tend to accumulate.
Then, just do a light dusting overall the walls every so often. You should also make sure there is plenty of air circulation in your home, as that reduces mold and other issues that create problem for your walls.
If you follow these tips, you will have to clean your walls less often, and they will stay looking nice for longer.
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