Washing Your Walls: Why, How and How Often?
Many people don’t think about washing their walls, however your home and family can really benefit from taking a little time and energy to do this. Before you say “great, one more thing to clean” and start flipping tables, we’re honestly talking about a damp microfiber cloth and the muscle strength of a two year old - in fact, it would be a great job for kids of any age!
So, WHY clean your walls?
The same reason as you clean anything else: you’ll get rid of dust, grime and odors, increase the overall hygiene of the space, and you’re even likely to see an increased vibrancy of your paint and lengthen the paint’s lifespan.
The HOW can be a bit nuanced depending on your specific wall finish, but the general rule of thumb is to test out using a barely damp microfiber cloth (with a tiiiiiny bit of dishsoap for tougher or greasy spots) on a small, inconspicuous area before committing to your whole wall. Before washing, wipe down the wall with a dry cloth or using the brush attachment on your vacuum to remove any dust or debris. After washing, wipe down the wall with another dry microfiber or lint free cloth and allow the surface to air dry. We at The List DO NOT at all, under any circumstances, recommend using a melamine sponge (ie; Magic Eraser) on your walls. These sponges are essentially a fine grit sandpaper and often do more damage than good. No shade, Mr. Clean, you’re just too strong for this job!
It’s important to note that not all paints will tolerate even the gentlest of cleaning solutions. Typically paints with a flat sheen are the least forgiving when attempting to wash, with matte and eggshell sheens more dependent on the qualities of your specific paint. Higher sheen paints (satin or semi-gloss) and enamels are more durable to withstand wiping and washing due to their higher resin content. More resin in your paint = higher sheen!
Now, HOW OFTEN should you be washing your walls?
The good news - for lightly traveled areas (honestly, most areas), we’d recommend no more than annually, with spot cleaning as needed. This is because each time you wipe your wall, there is a chance of damage to the finish, and there is no more benefit by increasing the frequency. For kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms (arguably the most hardworking of rooms here in MN), and stairwells, we’d recommend cleaning these gently anywhere from monthly to annually depending on household occupancy, presence of kids or pets, and your specific paint, to cut down on mold, mildew, grease and buildup. We always recommend a higher durability paint in your kitchen and bathroom since these are high-traffic, high-touch, and high-mess areas.
As with any recommendations, they are just that - best practices and guidelines in an ideal world. Chances are you are already wiping spots and spills before they turn into pesky stains - and if you’re not, now you know how simple and cheap (dare we say free?) it is to freshen up your walls and keep your new paint looking great for many years.
Lastly, if you’re considering re-painting a room, your contractor (oh, Hi!) or local paint store will know the best products to recommend based on factors like the amount of traffic in the space, kids, pets and what the area is used for.
As always, we at The List are here to help you succeed by sharing our resources, bouncing around creative ideas, providing honest answers to questions in our wheelhouse, and when necessary referring you to one of our carefully-curated, tried-and-true, legit lot of sister-sactioned superstars in our rolodex
Your partners in paint, paper and house pride,
Allie and Leah
Allie & Leah
Co-owners of The List
We help homeowners and businesses check off their home improvement list with painting and specialty finishes that elevate their ideas and turn ‘someday I’ll get that done’ into a beautiful space you’re proud to call your own. Get in touch!
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