There’s a good reason why white is the go-to color for most walls. White walls make your home look fresh, bright, and clean, not to mention how it makes your home look bigger. However, anything white is never easy to maintain as it is prone to dirt, dust, and smudges.
A full wall cleaning can be time-consuming; if you’re a busy person, you may not have the time to wash the entire wall. Instead, maybe all you need is just a spot cleaning.
Spot cleaning involves targeting only the problematic areas that have dirt or stains like crayon marks and fingerprints. The cleaning process is delicate as you need to consider the type of paint on your wall. Some cleaning chemicals can be harsh to certain types of paint and may damage the paint.
Different stains require different cleaning solutions. In this article, we’ll discuss the common stains and the best way to remove them:
Grease
Since cooking can be messy, your kitchen walls are susceptible to grease splatters. You should wipe off any splatters immediately. Otherwise, these gross oil and grease stains become difficult to remove later on. Your walls are at risk of discoloration too. Thankfully, the best solution to combat built up can be found right in your kitchen.
Just mix an ounce of dishwashing liquid to a gallon of warm water. Scrub the stain using a sponge that was soaked in the solution. Then, wipe off with a damp cloth.
Stubborn grease stains may require baking soda treatment. Combine one cup of baking soda with water, then apply it to the stain using a cloth. This will save your kitchen walls. You may wish to clean your ovens while you’re at it!
Mildew and Watermarks
Whether you have a satin or eggshell paint, your bathroom walls are not exempt from watermark stains. Drip watermarks appear due to the condensation of moisture. If neglected, this excessive moisture can be a perfect breeding ground for mildew. Watermarks may be hard to remove but it’s not impossible.
Combine ½ cup of borax, ¼ cup of vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with water. Apply the mixture to the drip marks then scrub using a sponge. Rinse and dry with a clean cloth after. To prevent build up of water stains in the future, make sure your bathrooms are well-ventilated.
Safety Reminder: Ammonia vapor is dangerous to your health. Avoid inhaling.
Permanent Marker and Crayon
Every parent would love to see their kids express their creativity until they see their masterpieces on the walls. Stay calm, for these stains are easy to remove.
To remove crayon stains, you can use baking soda. Baking soda is considered as a mild abrasive agent, and is effective in removing stains. Preheat the area first using a blow dryer. Then, mix one tablespoon of baking soda and water to create a paste-like consistency. Using an old toothbrush, lather the mixture onto the wall and scrub in a circular motion. Wipe off with a damp cloth after.
Permanent marker stains on the other hand, can be removed with the use of alcohol. Dab some isopropyl alcohol on your rag, then rub it gently against the stain. Wipe off any residue from the wall with a dry cloth.
Coffee
Coffee splatters come off easily enough with the help of water and dishwashing liquid – coffee makers can be cleaned this way too. Using an old toothbrush, scrub the stain. Wipe off with a damp cloth. It would be best to remove coffee stains immediately.
Spot cleaning your wall isn’t hard. The sooner you address these incidents, the easier it is to maintain your white walls.
What to Do With Stubborn Stains?
You can book an appointment with CleanMyTribe as we offer professional wall spot cleaning.
If none of the tricks worked, consider repainting your wall. The kitchen and bathroom walls are prone to oil-based stains, so it is advisable to use gloss or semi-gloss paint on these areas.
If your walls are painted with flat paint, proper surface preparation is required before painting over the stain. The primer blocks the stain from bleeding through. If you fail to prep the wall properly, chances are the stains will just reappear after some time.