How to Keep Your Walls Looking New?

So, you just made the investment to have your interior painted so how do you keep them looking new for years? Here in windy Arizona dust is the first problem. Dust is a magnet for the oils from your skin which is one reason the area around light switches gets so dirty after a few months. Plan on dusting your walls at least a couple of times a year. The easiest solution is to use a Swiffer pole and dusting pads. Its super light making it very easy to complete this annual chore.

Sometimes life happens and you find some stains on your walls. Here are some of the common stains and how to remove them.

Crayon

You’ll need a dull scraping tool like a butter knife, dish washing soap, a soft cloth, and a dry towel. Use the scraping tool to remove any excess crayon off the wall. With the dish washing soap and a little water rub the spot and the crayon should lift right up off the wall. Then dry the area with the towel.

Marker/Ink

You will need hairspray (yep, hairspray) , soft rag, and toothpaste. Spray with the hairspray. Rub gently with the towel or rag. Whatever ink remains then apply a thin layer of toothpaste and allow to sit for ten minutes. Then using a damp rage wipe it clean .

Coffee or Wine

These generally aren’t hard to remove. If you don’t catch them right after they happen then you will need mild detergent, warm water, a cloth, and a dry towel. Don’t use a lot of detergent, just enough to get a few bubbles. Moisten your cloth in the detergent solution and gently rub the wall. Dry with another cloth.

How To Clean Walls Painted With Latex Paint

Use warm water and a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner to clean the walls. Wash around where light switches are and doors as these are high touched areas. For spots that just won’t come off such as fingerprints or scuffs make a paste out of baking soda and water. If that still doesn’t work, then put a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a cloth and gently rub the spot to get it clean. Regular cleaning of the walls will help with these stubborn stains.

How To Clean Walls Painted With Oil Based Paint

Walls with oil based paint can be washed similarly to those painted with latex paint. But if you have stubborn fingerprints you should use a mixture of liquid dish detergent mixed in warm water and white vinegar. Lightly daub the stain with your cleaning solution and allow to sit for ten minutes. Then blot to remove the stain.

If the walls are textured they’ll catch lots of dust so it will require a deeper cleaning. Good old fashioned borax mixed with water will deep clean the area just don’t scrub hard or you can affect the appearance of the paint which could be as annoying as the stain was.