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I am asked at least once a week for my favorite way to wash walls, so I thought it was time to show you how I manage this daunting and potentially overwhelming task.
First off, I have to ask: Does anyone wash walls anymore?
Historically speaking, wall washing was a big part of the spring cleaning routine mostly because homes were heated with wood and/or oil furnaces and there was a build up on the walls. In modern homes this task isn’t quite as necessary BUT it is something that I have on my list. I use a rotating cleaning checklist (you can find it on my free cleaning calendar here and in the monthly subscription to Homekeeping Society here). I use the phrase ‘spot clean walls’ because I am not washing all the walls from the floor to the ceiling but I am hitting the high traffic areas and checking for handprints, fingerprints, footprints, and other smudges and smears that tend to appear every once in a while. I dust corners and walls as part of my cleaning rotation, this helps keep the walls clean as well as keep the dust down in the house. Once I’ve dusted the corners and edges I check the walls for anything that can be wiped clean.
QUICK TIP: Â I use FLAT paint throughout our home (you can see all our paint colors here) for a couple reasons but the main one is that I love how it washes up. I also keep a small container of extra paint to do quick touch ups with a small roller when necessary. The flat paint allows for a seamless blending of paint whereas I find that when doing paint touch ups with eggshell or semi-gloss the touch-up shows so I need to redo a wall instead of a quick touch up.
My favorite tools:
- castile or dish soap
- container for soapy water
- microfiber cloths
- long-handled duster
DUST THE WALLS
I start with a long-handled soft bristled wall brush. I love the one pictured because it has soft bristles that won’t scratch surfaces but grab and hold on to dust really well. (You can find links to my favorite tools here.) You can easily use a broom for this task (just make sure it’s CLEAN) or you can put an old t-shirt on the bristles of a broom and achieve a similar tool.
WASH THE WALLS
Depending on what degree of wall washing needs to be done, you can choose one of the following wall-washing solutions. Once you’ve mixed up your solution, place towels on the floor if you’re doing a full wall washing and grab either a clean towel, a white sponge (so color won’t transfer to the walls), and/or a microfiber cloth.
If you’re just dealing with general dirt on the walls you can just do a quick wipe in a small 1-2 foot section – wipe from top to bottom and left to right. If your walls are really dirty and you’re doing a full room washing, you’ll want to move from the bottom up and left to right so you aren’t getting dirty drips on your walls.
Mix up one of these simple solutions to dissolve any dirt on the walls:
Basic Wall Washing Solution
- half gallon warm water
- 1-2 drops castile or dish soap
Deeper Clean Wall Washing Solution
- half gallon warm water
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
Make sure you’re using a barely damp cloth, towel or sponge and that you are drying as you go as well. Once you’re done with one small section, move on to the next. If you feel extra motivated you can also take this time to wash your baseboards too. Here’s a post detailing how to wash baseboards.
How about you – do you wash walls? Any tips and tricks to share?
Michael Says...
Good Morning Clean Mama,
I found this post to come at the perfect time as I was doing my fall cleaning and as I’m getting close to finishing up, I was going to be washing the walls. First, how do you feel about dry dusting VS. wet dusting. I’m conflicted, so please help. I went out and found something called a “ Flip Mop “. Dusting on side, flip it over and washing on the other. It looked extremely convient, if it works as it says.
So, wish me luck this weekend as I spot wash my walls!
Your cleaning buddy,
Reveremike
Lynne Says...
This is interesting. I thought that eggshell was more durable, i.e. handles being washed better?
lisa Says...
I love my Magic Eraser for cleaning walls. We use Castille soap in the bath. I hadn’t thought about using it for cleaning the house. Thanks for the tip!
Kristinae Says...
If I didn’t have dogs, I wouldn’t need to wash the walls 🙂 Sometimes they shake and fling food and unidentified liquids on the wall.
Audrey Says...
I use my Swiffer and a washcloth. It gets the job done and the reach is perfect!
b r Says...
Post authorGreat tip!
Denise Says...
I used to wash all my walls and ceiling every spring. I despised spring cleaning because of it. Now I’ve been cleaning the most “dirty” parts of my house which are the kitchen, the two bathrooms and for the rest of the house, I only dust them. With what you wrote us today, I think I’ll manage and won’t hate my spring cleaning anymore. Thanks again.
Marilyn Trubey Says...
I love your posts and blogs. Thank you!
Leah Says...
I have flat paint in my home and it’s horrible washing the walls! Every time I wash them I either end up with a weird water mark that is worse than the actual thing I was washing off, or I end up scrubbing the paint off (I don’t scrub hard or anything- I’ve just assumed flat paint is crappy paint). Any tips would be great!
b r Says...
Post authorI use flat paint and I love it because I think it’s easier to clean. Try a microfiber cloth and go in one direction, wiping, not scrubbing. I also use Benjamin Moore’s no voc paint.
Francesca Usai Says...
Last spring I vacuumed walls and ceiling (with a clean vacuum head). It worked fine for me! I never thought about washing them, but I’ll try at next spring cleaning. Thanks for the tips!
Chervony Says...
Hi there. Thank you for sharing simple, natural methods for cleaning. I followed your advise for baseboards and walls today and it worked very well. The difference is remarkable to me and it was so simple. Water, soap and microfiber cloths are wonderful things. I will be trying your glass cleaner next. Thanks again!
Clean Mama Says...
Post authorThanks for sharing your results!
Daniella Says...
Hi, thanks for sharing. I thought the cleaning solution you make for the baseboards was to clean the walls too. That’s how I used it last week. May I ask why they are diluted differently? And is it ok to use the baseboard cleaning solution for the walls?