Consider painting your walls white if you want a new yet timeless look in any room of your house. For starters, white walls instantly make a room appear larger and brighter. You may also include just about any style (or color) of furniture and decor into your home because you have a blank canvas to work with. Take note, though, that as Instagram-worthy as pristine white walls are, they do require some upkeep.
Your white walls, like anything light-colored, can accumulate grime and evidence of wear and tear over time. With the correct tactics, though, you can maintain your area looking as new as the day you painted it. According to professionals, here's how to clean white walls successfully, step by step.
How Often Should White Walls Be Cleaned?
White walls, according to NeJame, require a thorough cleaning every six months or more, as this is when they begin to accumulate visible dirt and debris. You may want to clean your white walls more frequently if you have children or animals who sully your home. Even so, according to NeJame, most homeowners may not clean their walls as frequently as you might imagine.
"Wall cleaning used to be something that every good homeowner or cleaning service did twice a year," she adds, adding that if you use a cleaning service, they will likely charge you a fee to clean the walls.
The following are some of the most common signals that your white walls need to be cleaned:
Walls with visible dust
Walls are scratched.
Walls covered in dirt
Spiderwebs in the corners of the room where the walls and ceiling meet
You don't have to wait for a bi-annual clean or any of these warning indicators to appear. When it comes to freshening up your walls, NeJame suggests trusting your instincts.
What You Will Require
You'll need a few tools to effectively clean your white walls:
A duster or the dust-brush attachment on your vacuum
Using a dry mop (optional)
Cloth made of microfiber (optional)
Eraser of Magic (optional)
sponge that isn't abrasive
Dishwashing liquid that is mild
Bucket
a bath in warm water
What is the Best Way to Clean White Walls?
It took some time for your white walls to become dirty, therefore cleaning them thoroughly will take some time. Fortunately, you won't need any special equipment or cleaners to complete the task. According to the pros, here's how to clean white walls one step at a time.
Step 1: Begin with a White Slate
Make sure you're starting with a clean slate before you begin cleaning. Remove any items that may be hung on the wall and place them aside. (If you want to go the additional mile, this is an excellent time to dust them off.)
Step 2: Dust the entire room from top to bottom.
When it comes to restoring your white walls to their former glory, dirt isn't the only foe. Dust your walls completely from the ceiling down before washing. You can use any type of duster, including a microfiber cloth, but for a deeper clean, NeJame recommends using your vacuum's dust-brush attachment. Try a dry-mop head wrapped in a soft, clean cloth if you don't have a duster attachment.
Dust from top to bottom with your selected tool, taking care not to harm the wall with the hard sections of the mop or vacuum.
Step 3: Create Your Cleaning Solution
Now for the exciting part: Fill a gallon bucket halfway with warm (not hot) water. "It's really better to use less soap since it will assist you to rinse the soap fully after you've finished," she explains. "Soapy residue left on a wall attracts dirt in the long run."
Step 4: Perform a spot check
To avoid damaging your walls or paint job, test your soap solution on an inconspicuous and small part of your wall. Wash an area of the wall that's ordinarily concealed behind your couch or a painting; NeJame says you want to be sure your soap and water solution won't harm the paint's color or gloss.
Varela advises that you wait a few hours after testing to see if the paint has been harmed. He claims that flat and eggshell paints are more prone to stains and discoloration.
Step 5: Cleaning the Walls
To avoid watermarks and paint bubbling, soak a cloth or sponge in the liquid and wring it out well so it's moist but not soaked. Then, using circular motions, gently wash your walls in portions. It's better to start at the top of the wall and work your way down because water will leak as you clean.
Step 6: Pay attention to the finer points.
You can use your sponge to clean your baseboards and trim after you've properly cleaned your real walls. Melamine foam (also known as a Magic Eraser) comes in helpful if you can still see marks or dirt on any part of your wall.
Simply dampen the foam, squeeze out the excess water, and apply gently on the affected regions. Don't go overboard, since the abrasiveness of the foam may ruin the finish on your wall.
When Should I Re-Paint My Walls?
It's not the most practical option, but if you're desperate for a change, you can always paint over them. According to NeJame, there are a few clear signals that it's time for a new paint job:
The scuffs aren't going away.
The gloss of the paint has deteriorated.
Water or smoke stains can be found on the walls.
Remember that fresh paint will appear a different hue than older, faded paint jobs, making it difficult to paint over "only the dirty places" on a wall.
You might be able to get away with it, though. "If the paint was freshly painted within the last two years and you have a scratch on it, you can probably touch it up with the leftover paint," NeJame explains.
When Should I Hire a Cleaning Service?
Brown drippings on your wall that won't go away no matter how often or thoroughly you clean are one clue that you could require professional cleaning help. According to Varela, these stains are frequently caused by nicotine residue, which may have accumulated in your home as a result of past owners. "If this is the case, you should seek expert help to get rid of it," he advises.
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