How To Clean Walls? Do’s & Don’ts

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young woman with a bucket full of spray bottles and cloth mops wiping a wall

How To Clean Walls? Do’s & Don’ts

By : Jessica Williams
Walls are the most important aspects of a home for structural integrity and appearance. But, these surfaces are often neglected when it comes to cleaning, causing them to accumulate scuff marks, dust, cobwebs, etc. Dirty walls look unpleasant and reduce the indoor air quality. They also make tenants lose their bond, which is up to four weeks of rent when the weekly rent is $250 or less and up to six weeks of rent when the weekly rent is over $250. If the walls of your rental property are heavily soiled at the end of tenancy, you cannot get a complete bond repayment. Therefore, you need to clean walls to maintain household hygiene and keep these surfaces in good condition. You can hire professional end of lease cleaners in Adelaide to clean your rental property adequately for the final inspection. However, keep the following do’s and don’ts in mind when cleaning walls yourself.

Pay Attention Paint Finish On Walls

Before getting cleaning supplies for removing spots and contaminants from walls in your home, inspect them to know the paint finish. Wall paints have different finishes that determine their durability, appearance, texture, shine, etc. Additionally, the finishes decide whether the paint is washable and how easy it is to clean. For example, glossy, semi-glossy and satin paint finishes are easy to clean, whereas matte and flat finishes are the hardest to clean. Professional end of lease cleaners in Adelaide inspect walls before cleaning them to know what tools or products to use, and you should do the same.

Test Products Before Using

To ensure you don’t damage the walls while cleaning them, test cleaning products on an inconspicuous spot. Whether you are using soap and water, magic erasers, a multi-surface cleaner or any cleaning product, use it at a hidden and small area. It will help determine whether the product effectively removes pollutants, stains and spots without threatening the structural integrity of the walls. Testing cleaning products before use is a professional technique many experienced end of lease cleaners in Adelaide employ to optimally clean household surfaces and fixtures.

Dry Off Walls

Keep windows and doors of your house open or turn on the fans to ensure the walls dry off completely after cleaning. Taking these measures is crucial when you are washing walls, as excessive moisture of walls can cause mould growth, paint blisters, discolouration and other issues. Therefore, after washing or spot cleaning walls, wipe them with a dry microfiber cloth and ensure the area is well ventilated.

Don’t Scrub Harshly

While removing spots and stains from walls, don’t make the mistake of scrubbing them harshly. It can cause severe discolouration, paint chipping and other types of damage to the walls. Thus, you can lose your security deposit or pay for repairs, both of which are expenses you can avoid by being careful. While cleaning walls, use soft sponges and microfiber cloths to wipe walls and ensure you don’t cause scratches or create swirls. In any case, don’t use hard scouring pads, steel wool, or other harsh cleaning tools to remove stubborn stains/spots.

Don’t Clean Without Proper Technique

Professional end of lease cleaners in Adelaide can clean walls and almost any area in the house efficiently because they use proper techniques. Therefore while sanitising walls in your home, you should always move top to bottom and wipe making an ‘S’ pattern. It will help you save time and energy, plus you can prevent cleaned areas from getting re-contaminated. In addition to moving top to bottom, move in a circular pattern from left to right while cleaning walls in a room to remember which surfaces you have tended to.

Don’t Use Excessive Cleaner

People often make the mistake of using too much cleaner, thinking it will remove spots and stains better. However, it is counterproductive, as excessive cleaners are harder to wash and leave streaks or a film of residue that attracts dust and pollutants. Rather than looking clean, walls in your home can appear chalky and become dirty again quickly. Therefore, read the label before using a cleaning solution to use the right amount and clean walls properly. Additionally, it will help you know how much dwell time to give a product and get the best results.

The Bottom Line

Keeping walls in your home clean and sanitary is crucial to maintain their appearance and structural integrity. Dirty walls are unhealthy and can make tenants lose their bond money entirely or partially. Therefore, you should hire professional end of lease cleaners in Adelaide for cleaning your rental property at the end of a tenancy. But, while DIY wall cleaning, make sure to follow the do’s and don’ts mentioned above to get optimum results and prevent damage.