We all have seen how freshly painted walls enhance the look of a house. But over time, grime, dust, pesky marks, and build-up are bound to make their way on them. Many times, even kids like to display their creativity on this easily accessible canvas. The walls must bear the brunt of pencil drawings, crayon scribblings, fingerprints of tiny hands, and food stains. Cleaning walls without removing the paint on them can prove to be challenging. However, we have simplified your job by listing some easy-to-follow steps on how to clean wall stains.
You will need:
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How to Remove Regular Grime and Dirt
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Step 1: Prep by Covering the Floor
You don’t want your floor to be splattered with soapy water, which is why we suggest that you place towels or old bed sheets along the base of the walls before you begin.
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Step 2: Dust the Walls
Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe down the walls. We have seen that this helps get rid of any loose dust or dirt and cobwebs on them. You can also use the vacuum cleaner for this and for high-reach areas, you can wrap a dry mop head with a clean cloth and dust from top to bottom.
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Step 3: Prepare a Soapy Solution
Dissolve a couple of drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in a bucket of warm water to prepare the soapy solution. Soak a clean cloth in this solution and wring out any excess water from it.
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Step 4: Test a Patch on the Wall
Even though dishwashing liquid and water make for a gentle cleansing solution, it's always best to test it on an inconspicuous area like the section of the wall behind a painting or a piece of furniture to make sure it does not damage the wall.
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Step 5: Gently Wash in Circular Motion
Once you are sure your surface is safe to work on, we suggest that you start from the top and work your way down. Use gentle circular motions without applying too much pressure.
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Step 6: Rinse the Walls
Soak a clean cloth in clear water. Wring out any excess water and use the cloth to wipe down the wall again.
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Step 7: Dry the Walls
You can gently run a clean dry cloth over the wall or even leave the fan on to help the walls dry fast.
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How to Remove Crayon, Pencil and Ink Stains
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Step 1: Act Quickly
Our experience has taught us how to clean wall stains caused due to the use of ink, crayons, pencils, and pens by simply acting quickly. Fresh crayon wall stains can be removed instantly with cleaning wipes or baby wipes if you have them handy.
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Step 2: Determine the Kind of Stain
Each kind of stain will need a different cleaning approach, which is why we feel it’s imperative to identify whether it’s a pencil, ink or crayon stain.
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Step 3: Use an Eraser/ Baking Soda
We have seen that erasers work well for crayon as well as pencil stains. Alternatively, a wet cloth dipped in baking soda can also be used to erase a pencil stain.
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Step 4: Use Toothpaste for Ink Stains
For ink stains, rub toothpaste on the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes.
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Step 5: Wipe Down
After using products like baking soda and toothpaste, use a wet cloth to wipe off any residue of these products.
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Step 6: Dry the Wall
You can leave the windows open or turn on the fan to allow the walls to dry up.
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How to Remove Greasy Finger Marks
Some greasy marks on wallsrefuse to go away even with regular scrubbing. However, the steps below will show you how to clean wall stains that are oil-based effectively.
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Step 1: Make a Paste with Cornflour
Create a paste using cornflour and water. Use two parts of cornflour and one part of water to make a thick paste.
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Step 2: Spread the Paste on The Stained Wall
Spread the paste over the stained part of the wall and allow the paste to stay for several minutes.
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Step 3: Wipe Off the Paste
Wipe the paste off using a damp cloth. We recommend repeating the above steps a few times until no further grease is left to be removed.
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Step 4: Dry the Stain
Leave the fan on and allow the stain on the wall to dry.
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Mildew on Walls Can be a Health Concern
Did you know that mildew on walls is the result of fungus feeding on grime on the wall? Mould on walls is not only an eyesore but can also be a trigger for respiratory problems, asthma and allergies. However, we have a great solution for how to clean wall stains caused by mildew. All you need to do is mix up a solution of one tablespoon of white vinegar in a litre of water and spray this solution on the affected area of the wall. Leave the vinegar on for a few hours and then wipe off with water and detergent. Regular cleaning of walls can prevent the formation of mould and mildew on walls.
Permanent markers are designed to be hard to remove which is why getting rid of stains caused by them can be tough. However, a cotton ball dipped in some rubbing alcohol can be dabbed against this stain until it is gone. Keep rotating the wad of cotton so that you are using an unstained piece with each day.