I skipped this day in Home Ec.
September 6, 2011 6:52 AM   Subscribe

Cleaning like it's 1949--help me figure out a better way to deep clean painted walls and mouldings.

Moved into a unit where--as was the fashion here way back when--wood mouldings and casings were painted a glossy white, and walls are light-colored, latex based. I've started trying to clean with paper towels and 404 or Fantastic (I know) and, while it's effective on the mouldings, it takes forever and kills half a tree....and it's just leaving clean streaks that make the grimy walls look, well, grimier. There's got to be a better way to do this. How do you wash your walls and painted mouldings?
posted by availablelight to Home & Garden (21 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: [Um, that should read, 409, not 404. Though my technique is definitely in error.]
posted by availablelight at 6:54 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


Sounds like you need a big bucket with hot-hot-hot water, Mr. Clean and a big sponge. That's how I've always cleaned my walls. Rinse and repeat.
posted by notcreative at 7:01 AM on September 6, 2011


This is a job for TSP. This link on wall washing recommends an ammonia solution first and TSP second, but I have a special respect for TSP. It's powerful.
posted by Miko at 7:01 AM on September 6, 2011 [6 favorites]


I think the standard method is a bucket filled with water and a capful of bleach and a scrub brush, then wipe everything down afterwards with a clean, damp cloth to get rid of streaks.
posted by phunniemee at 7:02 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


I've used lighter fluid to get out stubborn scuff marks before.
posted by grouse at 7:04 AM on September 6, 2011


Have you tried magic erasers? You can get them store brand or Mr. Clean brand. They are FANTASTIC for cleaning walls and scuffs. I use them all the time to keep the office walls in my workroom white white white.

There is also a cleaner called Dirtex that works wonders. Usually what I use is a hot water solution of oxygen bleach or Dirtex and magic erasers. Works wonders.
posted by Tchad at 7:07 AM on September 6, 2011


Response by poster: Have you tried magic erasers? You can get them store brand or Mr. Clean brand. They are FANTASTIC for cleaning walls and scuffs. I use them all the time to keep the office walls in my workroom white white white.

The problem I'm having is that there is so much build-up and surface area for the initial clean--magic erasering just a single wall would take at least a week and would probably be a human rights violation. (The scuff marks I have addressed are pure white islands in a sea of gray that I used to think was white.)
posted by availablelight at 7:12 AM on September 6, 2011


Find your local equivalent of sugar soap, this is what it does best. (Apart from cleaning ovens, it is awesome at that too)
posted by Trivia Newton John at 7:14 AM on September 6, 2011


Magic erasers on walls will take the paint off too and depending on how thick the paint it, this can make the walls look terrible. I would only use a magic eraser on a really stubborn mark that you are having trouble getting off otherwise, and even then I'd be careful.

As said above, hot hot hot water with a touch of bleach in it. If you don't want to use bleach a little Mr. Clean or dish soap will work instead. Use a rag or sponge, not paper towel. You will need to change the water on occasion. When you're finished and the walls are dry, get some clean hot water and wipe everything down again to get rid of streaks and residue.
posted by Polychrome at 7:16 AM on September 6, 2011


With walls that dirty - ugh. Can you just paint them a new coat of the same white? Ultimately, less effort.

I don't see how you'll be able to avoid scrubbing. Even with a powerful solvent like TSP you'll have to apply it and then wipe every inch of the surface. Applying with cleaning towels and then rubbing off with big car wash type sponges is what I've done.
posted by Miko at 7:17 AM on September 6, 2011


Yes, you will also have to scrub very hard. I don't think there's a way to do this that isn't a lot of effort.

Painting the walls would have the best result if that's an option.
posted by Polychrome at 7:18 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


TSP is the answer. I used it to clean walls and mouldings and doors and pretty much every surface of our house that the previous owners had smoked in for 30 years. It is amazing. That stuff just dissolves the grime without too much scrubbing. You do want rubber gloves.
posted by sulaine at 7:22 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


I have found ammonia does wonders, but really isn't much fun due to the vapors.
posted by jannw at 7:25 AM on September 6, 2011


I've cleaned walls and ceilings with Wet Swiffers. It worked well for grease, e.g. above the stove.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:25 AM on September 6, 2011


Start at the bottom and work up or you'll get streaks. ?I agree that painting is easier in the long run for really dirty, smoke-stained walls.
posted by bonobothegreat at 10:02 AM on September 6, 2011


repaint. do you rent? here in the u.s., every three years and before you move in the landlord is obligated to repaint the apartment. call him up and tell him the situation. 'walls are so filthy i can't get them clean. time to repaint!' if he refuses, call the board of health.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:26 AM on September 6, 2011


Bleach does not remove dirt. It may change the color but it will not remove the residue.

I've had good luck with Simple Green, hot water, and rags. No reason to use paper towels if you just recycle old clothes or pick up a bag of rags. I was able to get all of the yellowing grease of the walls and ceiling around our stove without a huge amount of work. It's less caustic than TSP.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:37 AM on September 6, 2011


First step to painting walls: wash them first. I dont think painting is the easy route.

I use laundry detergent in a bucket of hot water, and an old wash cloth. Scrub brush for the dusty top of the floor molding.
posted by vitabellosi at 12:25 PM on September 6, 2011


Laundry deterg is made to be rinsed out and may streak. I'd use Pinesol or Mr. Clean, whichever scent you least hate, and a big sponge. Paper towels are not a great choice for this task. You may need to rinse anyway, if they're filthy walls. If you have a sprayer, spraying a section of wall acts a bit like soaking dishes; it soften up the grime.

Music helps.
posted by theora55 at 1:16 PM on September 6, 2011


First step to painting walls: wash them first. I dont think painting is the easy route.

Here's the thing: if you wash walls before painting, you really only need to give them a thorough swipe. Your goal is just to get the grease/oil spots and dust off so they don't interfere with paint adherence.

True grime cleaning requires more in the way of elbow grease. If it were my house and the grime were that bad - and it sounds like it is - I would far rather do a basic wash followed by a coat of clean, fresh paint than do a lengthy deep scrubbing process on every inch of wall.
posted by Miko at 2:38 PM on September 6, 2011


I vote for TSP and then painting! I have been cleaning walls in preparation for painting. Using the TSP, I could get the walls *perfectly* clean with a lot of elbow grease. But my husband decided it was taking me too long, so he just started wiping things to the point of non-stickiness. And that was sufficient for a new coat of primer (so far) to stick very nicely. We used 1/2 cup TSP to a gallong H2O, and did a quick rinse afterword. That may be too strong (it is used for 'deglossing' at that concentration) for regular cleaning (i.e. if you don't want to paint...)
posted by Tandem Affinity at 8:38 PM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]


« Older Teaching English to Spanish Nurses and Physios   |   How do I stop judging them? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.