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Clean Up After Interior Painting

After you have invested in professional interior painting, washing the walls regularly will help extend the life of the paint job. The more often you perform regular maintenance on the walls, the less difficulty you will have getting them clean later on. The method and the tools you use to clean walls will depend on whether you are performing preventive maintenance, spot cleaning, or washing entire rooms. The type of paint on the walls will also determine the best method of cleaning.

Semi-gloss and gloss paints are the best for washing, while those that have a flat, eggshell, or satin-finish paint may streak or fade. If it has been a while since your last paint job, and you aren’t sure what type of paint you have on your walls, do a test spot to see how it responds to cleaning. If it doesn’t do well, you will probably want to consider getting a new paint job.

scrubbing off scribbles on wall

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance is more about removing the dust before it becomes set-in dirt. Better Homes and Gardens recommends starting with the soft brush attachment on your vacuum to remove loose dust before wiping down with a dust mop or cloth-covered broom.

Magic Eraser

This cleaning tool by Mr. Clean is a great cleaning item to keep on hand. It is especially effective for fingerprints and for cleaning crayon artwork that you don’t want to display.

mold on wall

Cleaning Walls Painted with Latex and Oil-Based Paint

Mix your own solution of three or four drops of dish soap with a half-bucket of water. Use a damp sponge to wipe walls without over-saturating. Use a dry cloth to wipe the dirt off the wall. Repeat until the water stays clean. Avoid coming into contact with outlets and other areas where there is electricity.

If walls are painted with oil-based paint, you can use a mild de-greaser, if needed, to remove stains. Neither type of painted walls should be cleaned with scrubbing tools or harsh cleaners.

Cleaning Walls with Mold

Water exposure can lead to moldy spots that are resistant to regular cleaning products. Try using a damp sponge first to see if it removes the mold. If not, try a 50:50 bleach and water solution to kill the mold. If the paint is chipping or peeling in the area, there is probably mold behind the wall. Hiring aprofessional interior painting contractor to paint your home will help prevent these problems from occurring. We use special paint in areas to prevent the growth of mold and high pressure washing to remove mold from exterior walls.

Walls washing after interior painting, Atlanta GA

Work From Bottom to Top

Start at the bottom of the wall and work upward. Cleaning runoff from areas that have already been cleaned is easier than cleaning from areas that are still dirty. Have two buckets, including the one with the detergent mixture and a bucket of clear water for rinsing. Change the water whenever it becomes dirty.

The best way to keep walls clean and fresh is to always choose the professional quality of paint job that you get from Dixon Painting. We will provide you with the quality paints and expert application that will provide you with a long-lasting, durable finish.

Sources: http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-painted-walls/#page=0

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