White walls need gentle care with neutral cloths and light scrubbing. Rendered walls require a soft brush and careful rinsing. Mould goes with vinegar or diluted bleach. Scuffs lift with a magic eraser, while smoke stains shift with vinegar and baking soda. Blu Tack residue needs scraping, vinegar, and sometimes a touch of oil. Before painting, sugar soap is your best friend for a smooth finish.

Keeping walls clean can feel like one of those endless house cleaning or commercial cleaning tasks. They get scuffed, stained, and marked without you even noticing. Then one day, you look around and realise the walls have gone from ultra crisp to super grubby.

The good news is that you actually don’t need anything fancy to get them back in shape. This guide will show you exactly how to clean walls easily, step by step, no matter what they are made of or what has marked them.

Table of Contents

1. How to Clean White Walls

White walls look great when they are spotless, but they also show every little mark over time. Don’t let them stay that way. Grab these materials and follow the simple steps below. Remember, you’ll want to avoid coloured cloths or sponges. Sometimes, dye from the fabric can transfer onto the wall and leave faint streaks, which are very noticeable on white paint. Stick with white or neutral microfibre cloths.

Materials

Bucket of warm water
Mild dishwashing liquid
Soft sponge or microfibre cloth
White vinegar
Clean towel

Steps

Start by dusting off the wall with a dry cloth or vacuum brush attachment.
Then, mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid in warm water.
Dip the sponge, wring it out so it’s damp not dripping, and wipe the wall gently.
For stubborn spots, try a bit of white vinegar on the cloth and rub it onto the mark, but skip the harsh scrubbing. It’s tempting to go harder on stubborn marks, but scrubbing too firmly can actually remove the paint’s finish and leave a shiny patch. Gentle circular motions are a much safer bet here.
Finally, rinse the wall by wiping it again with a clean sponge dipped in fresh water. Go over the same area to remove soap.
Don’t forget to wipe it dry with a towel!

2. How to Clean Rendered Walls

Rendered walls make any space look incredibly aesthetic. But when it’s time to clean them, it can be tricky because the surface is textured. Dust and dirt just love to sit in the grooves.

Materials

Soft bristle brush
Bucket of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid
Garden hose with a spray nozzle
Clean rags

Steps

Brush the wall to loosen dirt and cobwebs.
Mix warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid in the bucket.
Dip the brush into the mix and scrub gently in circles.
Rinse the wall by wiping it down with a clean sponge dipped in fresh water. Avoid soaking the surface too much, as too much water can damage the render.
Pat down any drips with a clean rag.

3. How to Clean Mould off Walls

Mould is common in bathrooms, laundries, and damp corners. But whatever you do, don’t ignore it. They can spread quickly and can cause health issues.

Materials

White vinegar or diluted bleach (never mix the two)
Spray bottle
Gloves
Sponge
Clean cloth

Steps

Put on gloves and open a window for ventilation.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar or diluted bleach.
Spray the mouldy patch and leave it for at least 15 minutes.
Wipe with a sponge until the mould is gone.
Rinse the wall by wiping over with a clean sponge dipped in fresh water.
Dry with a cloth.
Keep the area ventilated to stop mould from returning and living on your walls rent-free.

4. How to Clean Scuff Marks off Walls

Scuffs usually come from shoes, bags, or furniture scraping against the paint.

Materials

Magic eraser or clean white sponge
Warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid
Clean towel

Steps

Dampen the magic eraser or sponge. If you’re using the former, don’t forget to do a patch test first, as it can be too abrasive for certain finishes.
Rub gently on the scuff mark.
If it’s too stubborn, add a drop of dishwashing liquid.
Wipe the area with a damp cloth.
Rinse the spot by wiping over it with clean water on a fresh sponge.
Dry with a towel.

5. How to Clean Smoke off Walls

Smoke from cooking or cigarettes can leave walls looking yellow and smelling stale. Don’t worry; there’s a way to fix that.

Materials

White vinegar
Baking soda
Bucket of warm water
Sponge or cloth
Clean towel

Steps

Mix one cup of vinegar into a bucket of warm water.
Dip the sponge and wring it out well.
Wipe the walls from top to bottom.
For stubborn stains, make a paste of baking soda & water and scrub lightly.
Rinse the wall by wiping with a sponge dipped in fresh water.
Dry with a towel.

6. How to Clean Blu Tack off Walls

Who doesn’t love how handy Blu Tack is? But the downside is that it often leaves greasy marks behind. That’s not so great when you’re going about your end-of-lease cleaning process.

Materials

Plastic scraper or old credit card
Sponge
Warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid
White vinegar
A small amount of eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, or cooking oil
Clean towel

Steps

Gently lift the Blu Tack off with a scraper. Do not yank it, or you will damage the paint.
Dab the mark with warm water mixed with a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
If the greasy stain remains, use a little vinegar on a sponge.
For stubborn sticky residue, rub a tiny amount of oil on a clean cloth or cotton bud and gently work it into the mark. Wipe over with warm soapy water afterward to remove the oil.
Rinse the spot with a clean sponge dipped in fresh water.
Dry with a towel.

7. How To Clean Walls Before Painting

But what if you’re getting ready to repaint your walls? You want to make sure the surface is cleaned properly first. Paint sticks best to a smooth, dirt-free surface.

Materials

Sugar soap (available at hardware shops)
Bucket of warm water
Sponge
Gloves
Clean towel

Steps

Put on gloves and mix sugar soap with warm water following the packet instructions.
Dip the sponge and wring it out.
Wipe the wall in sections, working from top to bottom.
Rinse the wall by wiping with a sponge dipped in clean water.
Let the wall dry completely before painting.

Leave the Cleaning Up to Simone’s Instead

You can scrub walls yourself if you like, but it sure does take time and effort. If you would rather not spend your weekend covered in soap and dust as you struggle to reach those walls, Simone’s Cleaning Services can do it for you. From residential to NDIS and strata cleaning, we know the right way to deal with everything from scuffs to mould in various spaces.

Contact our team today and let the pros handle it.

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