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How to Clean Painted Walls Without Damaging Them

The right method by sheen — plus what never to use on a painted surface.

Dunwoody Painters Maintenance Tips
Person gently cleaning a painted interior wall

Cleaning is where most homeowners accidentally damage their paint. The trick is matching the method to the sheen.

By sheen

SheenCleaning approach
Flat / matteDry dust only; spot clean gently with water
EggshellSoft cloth, warm water, mild dish soap
SatinSoft cloth, mild soap; safe for regular cleaning
Semi-gloss / glossSoft cloth or sponge, mild soap, rinse

The method

  1. 1Dust the wall top to bottom with a dry microfiber cloth.
  2. 2Mix a few drops of dish soap into warm water.
  3. 3Wring the cloth nearly dry — never soak the wall.
  4. 4Wipe in gentle circles from the bottom up to avoid streaks.
  5. 5Rinse with a second damp cloth and blot dry.

Never use

  • Magic-eraser style melamine pads (they abrade the film and leave shiny spots)
  • Ammonia, bleach, or degreasers on flat paint
  • Abrasive scrub pads
  • Steam cleaners

When cleaning won't help

If the mark has burnished the finish or the wall shows uneven sheen after cleaning, recoat the full wall corner to corner. Spot painting on an aged wall almost always flashes.

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