Your painted walls, just like any other part of your house, are susceptible to gathering dirt and dust on their surfaces. Keep them looking fresh and spotless by following these tips on how to clean painted walls effectively. 

The Pre-requisites 

Before you begin scrubbing away, it is important to know what kind of paint finish your wall features. The best washable paint finishes would be a satin paint,  or if you like less of a sheen, a high end matte such as Sherwin Williams Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex paint. These finishes are acrylic latex paints and  are quite durable and can tolerate washing with soap and water.  Flat or lower grade matte finishes, on the other hand, are not as durable. The paint will rub  off if you scrub too hard or use an abrasive cleaner. 

Regardless, no matter what type of paint is on your walls, you should always dust them off before washing them. Consider attaching a brush to your vacuum and run it over the painted walls to remove surface dust and dirt. It is also important to use a soft sponge when washing so as not to scratch or rub off the paint. 

It’s Time to Get Cleaning

Latex Paint 

Latex Paint, also known as Acrylic paint, it is water-based wall paint. Because it is easier to work with and dries quickly, it is the most common type of paint used in interior walls and ceilings. To effectively clean latex painted walls, mix warm water with a non-abrasive cleaner. Dip a soft sponge in the mixture and wring it dry. Carefully rub the wall with the sponge, paying extra attention to doorknobs and switches, which get touched often. Rinse the sponge and repeat the process. 

Paintable finishes

If you are considering repainting your home to update or freshen  your wall color, and want to use a washable paint, consider the following.   

If you would like a bit of a sheen to your walls, you would use a satin finish.  A satin finish has a higher sheen than a matte, you will see a sheen looking straight at the walls or on an angle.  

If you would like a more flat finish but would like to be able to do a minor clean-up on it, you would need to use a high-end paint with a flat enamel finish. Most of the high-end flat enamel paints on the market today are scrubbable  (Sherwin Williams Emerald, Duration or Cashmere flat enamel for example) This finish will look more like a flat paint when looking straight at it, but will give you a slight sheen when looking at an angle.

For your trim, the best finish would be a semi-gloss or gloss, depending on the amount of sheen you would like.  Both of these are cleanable and would provide a nice contrast to the wall finish.

 Hire Us!

Not everyone can afford the time to paint their walls and do so properly. Creative Painting Systems can take care of your home painting needs for you and promises to deliver visual results that will exceed your expectations. To get an estimate or for any further details, feel free to call us at (919) 435-6023. 

If you live in Raleigh, NC  or Wake County, you can trust your home in the hands of licensed, trained, and accommodative paint professionals.  We can take care of your home and provide a solution for your home that meets all your painting needs.