Should you wash your walls?
An interesting question we keep getting here, at Maid in Essex, is how and if you should wash your walls. Even the cleanest of homeowners rarely thinks about giving the walls a good old scrub, largely because we don’t really think of the walls as something that can get dirty. They’re just there.
Except that’s not quite true. Walls, like any other piece of furniture or object in your house can acquire dirt and dust, as time wears on, regardless of the color you’ve painted them. This can weigh down the appearance of your home, and give the walls a dirty, depressing look.
In which case, you’ve only got one option – washing them. In this article, we’ll look at how, why and when you should wash your walls, to keep your home looking 100%.
Tip: Before we get any further, keep in mind that not every type of wall will be as easy to clean as some others. In some cases, your best bet might be hiring a professional cleaning service, to make sure you don’t end up damaging or staining your walls.
1. Line the floor with towels.
This is a non-negotiable step in cleaning your walls, especially if your floor is, as in most cases, made of wood. Since wood has the gnarly habit of swelling up when exposed to moisture, you will want to line the wall you are washing with towels, to catch any dripping water, and prevent that from getting into your floors.
2. Use a mild cleaning agent.
This is a good idea, regardless of the type of wall you are working with, save, perhaps, for concrete walls. If there’s wallpaper, for example, you may want to use a soft, soapy cloth, soaked in a lot of water, and a little (mild) cleanser, and gently wipe off the dirt. Don’t scrub too harshly, or use harsh cleaning liquid, or else you risk damaging the wallpaper. Same goes for painted walls.
Unpainted walls are easier to clean, though these, too, may pose problems. For instance, a wooden wall poses the same problem we discussed in the previous step – soaking up moisture and swelling.
3. Go the DIY route.
Rather than opting for a harsh chemical agent to remove stubborn stains, why not give DIY at-home cleaning remedies a chance? Often, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, or lemon juice mixtures can work wonders in lightening the walls, and surfaces of your home, without leaving behind discoloration or even worse staining.
4. Towel dry.
Regardless of the material your walls are made of, you will want to remove excess water, to ensure your walls dry quickly, and well. In order to do this, we suggest using a sponge or cloth to scrub the wall, then using a dry towel to sponge off excess moisture.
Why? When?
The reason why you need to regularly clean your walls is that this will allow your home to retain its new and clean look, and thus brighten up your living space. Generally, it’s good to clean your walls regularly, without overdoing it, so about once a year, or even once every six months, in some cases, should be good.