Properly Cleaning Your Painted Surfaces 

If you like your home to look clean and fresh, you probably vacuum, dust, and tidy on a daily basis. Sure, you probably leave the deep cleaning and organizing for those big spring or fall cleanouts, but there is still something that many homeowners forget to do – clean their painted surfaces!

Believe it or not, your walls are the largest amount of real estate in your home. Think of how many square feet your walls take up and yet they are overlooked when it comes to routine cleanings. Here are some reminders of how to clean your painted surfaces so they do not lose their sheen or paint color. 

Cleaning Different Paint Sheens 

The first thing you should consider when washing painted walls is the finish or sheen. For duller paint finishes (less shine) such as flat, satin, or eggshell you will want to show care since they are less durable when it comes to cleaning. Do not use harsh chemicals or degreasers when cleaning flat paint walls and be mindful when washing with a sponge to not scrub too hard. For semi-gloss or full gloss finishes, it is ok to use a mild degreaser. These finishes tend to be used in high traffic areas or where messy fingers can leave residue and grime behind. 

Dust Before Washing 

Even if your home seems fairly dust-free, it is there and you will want to dust off any debris or cobwebs before you start to wash the walls. We suggest a feather duster that has an extender arm as lots of times homeowners will spot collected debris in the corners near ceilings. Dust from top to bottom and don’t forget the trim work where dust and dirt can get stuck in the detail work. 

Washing the Walls 

Depending upon the color palette you use in your home, smudges and stains may be noticeable or not so noticeable. The place that we notice them most often are around light switches. Use two buckets for cleaning. Use one with a gentle soap product and warm water, the other with a warm water rinse. That way you won’t be putting dirty water back on your walls. We also suggest using a sea sponge as they are more gentle on paint, although they don’t hold together after repeated use. 

Start at the top of each wall and work your way down. Make sure to dry the walls after to prevent water stains or streak marks. You will also want to dry the floors around the perimeter of each room so there are no slips or falls. 

For cleaning tips and tricks check out our past blogs. When you need interior or exterior painting done, choose the pros at Jerry Enos Painting. Call Jerry Enos Painting today at  978-546-6843, or visit our website. 

Categorised in: Color Trends, Decorating, How-Tos, Interior painting, Jerry Enos