How to Clean Walls Like a Professional

With a long-handled duster or microfiber cloth, dust the entire surface of the wall from the ceiling to the floor, horizontally from left to right. Make sure you reach the corners. For larger dust bunnies and abandoned spiderwebs, use a handheld vacuum or one with a brush and hose attachment. A vacuum also works best on textured walls and those made of brick because it reaches all angles. 

Dusting the walls before washing them down is imperative. "By removing dust, debris, and hair prior to washing the walls, you are saving yourself time, energy, and frustration,” says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters, a family-owned and operated janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. “If you skip this step, it will take much longer, and you will find that some of the dust and hair will be left on the walls when dried and in your cleaning cloth." 

Next, mix your cleaning solution, or get your premixed solution ready. You can use the following recipes to get the right solution for your wall.

Brick

1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 gallon of warm water

Drywall with eggshell paint

1/2 cup of vinegar in 2 cups of warm water (a few drops of dish soap optional)

Drywall with flat paint

1/2 cup of vinegar in 2 cups of warm water

Drywall with high-gloss paint

Same as eggshell paint, or a commercial wall cleaner

Wood

Same as eggshell paint, or an all-natural commercial wall cleaner

Soak your cleaning cloth or sponge in your cleaning solution (see the table above to find the right solution for your wall type). Wring out excess water and cleaner from the cloth. 

The best way to clean walls is to scrub gently in circular motions from top to bottom, left to right. Use gentle pressure. More aggressive washing can damage the paint or other surface, especially if you have flat paint. You can also clean your ceilings using the same method.

Heavier scrubbing on wood or brick walls shouldn’t damage the surface. Avoid soaking the wall, as it could cause the paint or wallpaper to bubble or leave watermarks. 

You should also gently wipe down your door and window trim, light switches, outlets, and thermostats with a lightly damp cloth. Avoid soaking these areas, as this could pose an electrical risk.

Next, you should plan to spot-clean any stubborn stains or particularly soiled areas of the wall. Your cleaning will depend on the type of issue you’re dealing with.

Cleaning Stains

To tackle stains on your walls, you’ll need to spot-clean them a little more aggressively, depending on how deep the stain is. First, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and gently scrub the stain. Then, rinse the wall area with a clean damp cloth. If that doesn’t work, try using a  cleaning eraser, but be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first and read the manufacturer's instructions. Cleaning erasers are not recommended on high gloss, satin, and clear coat paints, wallpaper, or wood, as they could leave a permanent mark.

If you have a water stain, repainting is often the best way to take care of the discoloration. But first, be sure to fix the leak or underlying issue so water doesn't stain your walls again. If you notice during cleaning that the stain is actually mold on your walls, you can use a diluted bleach solution to scrub the wall gently. This will likely damage the wall, but it might be necessary to remove spores before repainting.

Scuffs and Other Marks

Minor scuffs and other marks on your walls should require less intense cleaning. For these, you can try putting some baking soda on a damp cloth, and use a gentle circular motion to buff out the scuff. This should do the trick for most minor marks on your walls. 

After you’re done washing the walls, dump your bucket out and fill it with clean, warm water. Then, dip a clean cloth in the water and wring it out. Wipe down the entire wall surface to get rid of leftover dirt and detergents, rinsing off the cloth as needed. If you have wood walls, skip the rinse.

Use a towel or microfiber cloth to absorb any leftover moisture on the walls. If it’s a warm, dry day, open your windows and let the breeze speed up the drying process.

If you have discoloration or stains that won't go away, consider touching up the area with the same color and paint finish. Be sure to protect your floors from any paint drips or spills. Gently brush or roll off any excess paint on your roller or paintbrush before using light, feather-like strokes over the stain.