How Do I Wash a Painted Wall?

How to Wash a Painted Wall

There is nothing quite like a freshly painted wall. The clean, smooth surface and uninterrupted rich color is a satisfying sight. But then something happens — you swat a wasp, a guest spills coffee, a child leaves a shoe scuff — and the wall is now flawed. Most of us have wondered at some point, “How do I wash a painted wall?” or “Can I even wash it at all?” Well, it’s pretty simple to effectively clean your wall and return it to its former glory.

Will I Ruin the Wall if I Wash It?

The main concern, of course, is that washing the wall will ruin the paint. It is possible, but in most cases, it’s not likely. Always test your washing method first in a hidden area. At first, it may look like you’ve done something to the paint: there may be a light or dark patch where you scrubbed, or some streaks. This is normal, but it typically goes away within a couple of hours. Wait until the scrubbed spot has had time to dry completely before you decide to go ahead with the full cleaning.

What Do I Use to Wash a Painted Wall?

Begin with the most gentle method and see if it works and move to something stronger if it doesn’t. A dishcloth or soft sponge can do nicely as long as it is not rough.

If water and gentle scrubbing does not remove the blemish, you will need to decide whether you want to try a more aggressive method. If it is a small or subtle discoloration, it might not be worth the risk of damaging your paint to remove it. But if the dirty spot is serious enough that you’ll need to repaint if it can’t be cleaned, then there is nothing to lose by trying to scrub it off.

For cleaning a small spot, you could make a small amount of paste with baking soda and water, and scrub gently. Alternatively, laundry detergent mixed with water often produces good results. You can also make your own cleaner by mixing vinegar or ammonia in water (1 or 2 cups per gallon) with some baking soda. Be careful never to mix ammonia and bleach.

If you use a cleaning solution rather than just water, make sure you wash it off with water before it dries.

For Mold and Mildew

In this case, we recommend using a small amount of bleach mixed in with laundry detergent and water. Spray or sponge the solution on the wall and give it a minute or two to do its work. Then be sure to thoroughly wash off the result.

ALLBRiGHT PAINTING is a reliable, reputable painting contractor serving the Santa Clarita Valley and the greater Los Angeles region. Contact us at (661) 464-0771 today to learn more about our prep and painting services!