How to Clean Walls With Flat Paint?

When you do not notice light bouncing off your painted wall, you know the wall has flat paint. Wondering how to clean walls with flat paint?

Read on.

Flat paint is commonly used to paint walls of newly-constructed homes as it leaves a matte finish. It does not reflect light and thus helps cover up surface imperfections. While it is easier to spray or roll on, flat paint has its share of disadvantages.

Unlike other types of paint, flat paint easily shows off smudges and fingerprints. Besides, it is not highly moisture-resistant. This is why flat paint is recommended against use in kitchens and bathrooms.

It is also advised not to vigorously scrub walls that have flat paint as it might not affect the color and turn the texture uneven. Speaking of which, we are posed with the question – how to clean walls with flat paint?

Just because the paint is delicate, it doesn’t mean you’d leave the surface as it is or let dirt accumulate. The good news that it is possible to clean such walls without hampering the color and texture. 

Checklist of Cleaning Supplies

Here is a list of all the things you will need to swipe your walls clean. 

• A step stool or ladder
• Bucket(s)
• Sponge, a piece of microfiber cloth, 
• Vacuum cleaner or duster
• A spray bottle
• A small paintbrush
• Plastic tarps
• Dishwashing liquid, white vinegar, baking soda, warm water
• Melamine eraser
• Touch-up paint
• A painter’s tape

How to Clean Walls With Flat Paint?

Once you have all the supplies ready, you can start preparing to clean the walls. Below are the essential steps to follow through the process. 

Remove Wall Accessories and Move Furniture

Before you start cleaning, the first obvious step is to empty your walls of any wall art or accessories. If there is any furniture placed against the wall, those need to be removed and covered with a tarpaulin.

The floor needs to be covered properly as well. 

Get Rid of Dust

When the walls are bare, you can start by removing dust from every corner of the wall.  Use a step stool or ladder to reach the top of the wall. You may dust the walls using an upholstery brush but it’s easier to vacuum cobwebs and dust specks.

However, if you use a disposable duster, make sure you change it after finishing a section as it might get heavily soiled. 

Wipe Walls with Water

The next step is to wipe the walls with warm water. Dip a soft sponge or microfiber cloth into a bucket of warm water, squeeze them off extra water, and gently scrub the walls.

If this is not effective in clearing tough stains, you might want to move on to stronger cleaning methods. 

Dilute Soap with Water

Mix dish soap or laundry detergent in the bucket of water and then dip your sponge into the solution. After letting go of any water remnant from the sponge, rub it over the wall’s surface.

Try scrubbing a little harder over regions that have stains or any marks. If the soap isn’t strong enough to remove stains, there’s another solution you can prepare.

Mix baking soda with vinegar and apply the solution over stains or smudges. The gentle abrasive impact of baking soda might wipe off the stain. 

Rinse

After wiping the walls with soap water, you need to remove any trace of the cleaning materials. Take a clean sponge or microfiber cloth, dip them into a bucket of clean water, wring them tight, and then rinse the wall lightly. Touch the surface to check if the soapy remnants are all gone.

It’s important to wipe the walls clean to prevent any kind of stickiness left by soap water or detergent. 

Pat the Walls Dry

After rinsing the walls clean, it’s time to pat them dry with a clean towel.

Be careful to lightly pat the towel so as to avoid scrubbing off any paint. 

Apply Touch-Up Paint

If you’re still unable to remove stains after thoroughly cleaning your walls, there’s one other solution. Get a touch-up paint of the exact color of the walls.

Sometimes, the cleaning process might leave the walls with chips or shiny spots. To cover such blemishes, you can use leftover paint or new matching paint.

Apply a light coating of the paint and feather the edges in a way that the new coat blends seamlessly with the older flat paint. 

Tips to Maintain Flat Painted Walls 

We are bringing you a few tricks in the book to keep your home looking, feeling, and smelling fresh and clean. 

• Avoid touching your walls with your feet or hands as they can easily leave marks and stains.
• Teach your kids to not draw on your walls. Get them a drawing notebook.
• Always keep a damp rag or a cleaning eraser handy so that you can wipe off stains or smudges the moment they’re formed on the walls. 

Closing Thoughts

We hope our guide on cleaning flat painted walls will be helpful the next time you take up the responsibility to clean your walls. If all else fails, you have the option to seek professional assistance. With a little effort and the right equipment, you can tackle even stubborn stains and marks.

FAQs

How to remove crayon marks from painted walls?

If you notice crayon marks on your flat painted walls, don’t panic. Here are a few tricks that can solve the problem.

• Heat up the crayon marks with a blow dryer and then wipe them off with a damp rag. You can also add a little dish soap to the rag and later wipe the surface with clean water.
• Cleaning erasers can also help remove crayon marks. Just don’t rub aggressively. 
• Another easy trick is to apply a little toothpaste or mayo to the area with stains. Let the solution sit for some time and then wipe it off with a damp cloth or sponge.
• You can also try using a WD-40 spray to remove crayon marks. However, use dish soap to wash off the oily residue once the marks have been removed.

What are some things to remember before cleaning walls?

Remember to cover your floors with a plastic tarp to prevent them from getting messy. Also, always cover electrical outlets with painter’s tape before you set out to apply paint. Do not forget to cut off the power supply for the time you’re cleaning.