How To Clean Matt Emulsion Painted Walls

How to Clean Flat Paint Walls

Dingy, scuffed walls are never attractive. Clean the walls along with other parts of your living room to make the space feel tidier and more appealing. Just remember, walls with flat paint need special treatment. Scrubbing flat paint too vigorously could cause the finish to wear down, making the sheen appear patchy in spots. So, how do you clean flat paint walls? Just follow these tips.

Find Out if You Have Flat Paint

Before you follow our cleaning techniques, make sure you have flat paint walls. This term doesn't refer to the texture of the walls—instead, it means that the wall is a matte finish. Since it doesn't reflect light, flat paint is good for hiding imperfections in ceilings and accent walls. At 0 to 10 percent gloss, it's safe to say that your walls have flat paint if they don't reflect light at all, even from an angle.

Gather Your Cleaning Supplies

Make sure your cabinet of cleaning supplies includes the following essentials, which you'll need to clean flat paint walls:

Sponge or cloth
White vinegar
Eraser sponge
Foam cleanser
Detergent
Touch up paint and paint brush

Clean Flat Paint Walls

It's important to clean dirt and stains from flat paint walls as quickly as possible. The longer you ignore them, the harder the walls are to clean. Here's what we suggest for removing smudges, smears, and scuff marks from flat paint walls:

Start by rubbing the stained wall with a clean, damp sponge or cloth. Sometimes, water is all you need to remove stains, allowing you to avoid any cleaning products at all. This is most likely to work if you tackle wall stains as soon as you see them.
If plain water doesn't work, try adding vinegar to your damp sponge or cloth and gently scrub the walls.
If vinegar doesn't remove the stain entirely, use an eraser sponge for problematic spots. This gentle cleaning product should eliminate the stain without damaging your flat paint walls.
For especially stubborn wall stains, apply a gentle store-bought foam cleanser. Follow the directions printed on the container for the best results.
The last cleaning technique you should try is applying diluted detergent. About one tablespoon of detergent to one gallon of water should do it. Dip your rag into the solution and gently scrub the wall to remove the last of the stain.
If you have the original wall paint, break out the can and a painter's brush. Touch up the stained spot to cover it for good. Another option is to repaint the entire wall with a new, more durable sheen. An eggshell finish, which is 10 to 25 percent gloss, is more durable and easier to clean than flat paint without appearing too shiny.

Call Molly Maid for Help

If all else fails, seek professional cleaning assistance from Molly Maid. Our team is comprised of insured, licensed, and uniformed housekeepers who know all the tricks in the book to keep your home looking, feeling, and smelling fresh and clean. We can tackle stubborn wall stains and many other household chores.

For help with your professional house cleaning, contact your local Molly Maid, a Neighborly companyLink opens in a new tab or call (800) 654-9647 today for a free estimate!

August 31, 2017
By Molly Maid

April 20, 2019