Semi-gloss and high-gloss paints on walls are capable of withstanding greater amounts of scrubbing to clean the surface. That is why they are recommended for use in kitchens, children’s rooms play areas, and anywhere the walls need to be frequently cleaned.
Still, a lot of people like flat paint and the way it looks on their walls. It is possible to clean flat paint walls you just have to be a little more careful and follow some simple guidelines so your paint finish is not marred by your cleaning process.
One of the first things you have to know about cleaning matte finishes is you need a gentle cleanser and a gentle cloth. You do not want to scrub the area.
Your best recourse, if you have a matte finish, is to make sure that you wipe away any possible stain or obvious dirt as soon as you see it. Keeping the wall clean is easier than trying to rub away a dried spot and not rub away your paint.
Create a Cleaning Kit
Create a cleaning kit for use on your walls. The kit has:
- A sponge
- A soft-bristled brush
- Gentle soap (dish detergents are often the best choice)
- Micro-fiber cloths for possible drying
- Plastic or rubber gloves for your hands
- A bucket for clean rinse water
Place this collection of items somewhere they can stay together and anytime you want to clean the walls you have everything handy to do the work with.
Remove Dust First
Before you jump in and start cleaning a wall you need to remove all dust and loose dirt particulates from the surface. If you do not get the dust off first then when the dust becomes damp it will create muddy streaks on the surface.
Dust using a soft micro-fiber cloth or something like a Swiffer Duster so you can remove all loose materials without wetting the wall.
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Check for Problem Areas
Carefully examine the surface to see if there are any areas that look like they are going to be problematic. If you see a smudge, smear, or possible stain then you want to address that area first. Stains can be real nightmares on matte finishes. Products like Mr. Clean Erasers often lift matte paint off as they lift away the stain.
If you have a stain then you want to make your own stain remover. A mixture of baking soda and peroxide can be formed into a paste. Gently apply the paste to the wall and the peroxide formula will cause the stain to be lifted gently. Dab the paste off of the wall using a clean damp sponge. DO NOT RUB vigorously. Gently dab away the baking soda and peroxide being certain to rinse your sponge often.
Another stain lifter is white distilled vinegar and water. The white distilled vinegar can make tough stains become easy to remove. Vinegar also helps to remove odors like cigarette and pet odors. You can mix vinegar and water and use a soft sponge to wipe the mixture over the surface of the walls periodically to remove these foul odors from your home.
Cleaning Day
When you choose to clean your walls do not do so on a cloudy or rainy day. The water on the walls will not dry quickly and that moisture can cause matte finishes to be damaged. You want to clean on sunny days that are warm and with good ventilation in the room. I like to bring a fan into my room and after I have cleaned the wall, I point the fan at the wall and allow it to help the area dry quicker.
When you mix your soap solution you only want a couple of drops of dish liquid in your gallon of water. If you make too many suds the soap will require a greater amount of water to rinse it away and the excess water will possibly damage the surface.
Clean from the top of the wall to the bottom. If you clean the bottom area first then when you wash and rinse the upper portion of the wall water is going to slide down the wall and get onto the clean area you have already created. This will make you have to go over the bottom section more than once to keep the wall clean.
When you get to baseboards you can take a soft-bristled toothbrush and clean the top of the baseboard without scrubbing at the painted wall surface, A toothbrush is narrow enough to get into the hard-to-reach areas and not overlap with the wall or floor surface.
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Staying on Top of Things
I like to keep a small plastic spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water in my cleaning center. It allows me to address any spot or stain quickly without having to stop and mix cleaner each time. I keep several sponges in my cleaning kit so I have one always ready to use.
Always dab softly and never rub fiercely when cleaning matter painting. This type of paint does not reflect light as the semi-gloss does so every little mark and imperfection will show.
You can clean the walls painted with flat paint but you should do so with care, and do not clean them as often as you would a semi-gloss or high-gloss surface.
