Dirt and dust build up on your walls and ceilings over the years and will dull paint colours, create streaks and stains, and hamper backgrounds and other fine finishes. Whether you have slapped a few coats of bargain-of-the-week paint on the inside or invested in artisanal wall and ceiling treatments, keeping the shell of this room tidy is a necessary periodic chore. Simply take a cautious approach and apply the right tools to accelerate the job and avoid doing any harm to a delicate finish.
The Down and Dirty
Floors are not the ultimate repository for all of the dirt which shoes monitor in. A number of that grit and dirt goes airborne and sticks to walls and ceilings, particularly in areas such as kitchens, where a thin film of grease may build up over time, also on rough surfaces — plaster, stucco, fabric and paper sheets, and paneling. Your charming offspring may leave the imprints of their death on door frames and walls; chairs and other furniture can scrape walls or leave paint marks. You need the simple battery of weapons to handle mounting decoration casualties: feather dusters, brooms, cellulose sponges, paintbrushes, a vacuum with a long wand and brush attachments, clean rags. In addition, you need to test your cleaning method on an unobtrusive area to make sure it won’t fade, degrade or harm the finish.
Cobwebs on the Ceiling
For regular wipe-downs, a fresh broom will swipe away most cobwebs on the ceiling and at the corners. If you have let things get to the point of observable dusty banners and spider webs, then wear a shower cap to keep whatever you dislodge your hair off. A actual ceiling cleaning means tacking a non-skid dropcloth on the floor, covering your head and arms, wearing protective goggles, using a sturdy, flat-tread ladder, and lining up the tools. To begin with, whisk away what you can with a broom, or vacuum the ceiling and corners using a long-handled wand and soft brush. Then squeegee or wash the ground in orderly overlapping rows with plain water or a gentle cleanser. A solution of white vinegar and warm water, dilute gentle dishwashing soap or earth-friendly organic cleanser is most likely all you require for many ceilings. Function as”dry” as you can to prevent drips and streaking — and rinse the same way, with plain water on a squeezed-out mop or sponge.
Writing on the Walls
Your walls might be merely dingy or almost graffitied. In any event, start with a vacuum and soft brush. A dry paintbrush can get into crevices around molding to dislodge dirt. Wipe down the walls with a soft, lint-free cloth; you could achieve higher by wrap a mop with the fabric for areas close to the ceiling. Oil-based paints are washable, however matte or eggshell paint will wear off under pressure, so test your cleaner before handling the entire wall . The ideal way to wash walls is to wash the surface with a moist cloth or sponge, working in vertical vertical panels from floor to ceiling. Use plain water or a homemade mix of ammonia, vinegar, baking soda and warm water — and exfoliate your work space. Should you use a soap or cleansing fluid, wipe down with plain water and a clean sponge to rinse. Let it air-drydry paneling or a fragile finish with a soft fabric.
Special Effects
Cleaning challenges have the toughest decor or even the least-ventilated rooms. Paper or fabric wall-covering should be dusted and occasionally vacuumed to prevent discoloration or ripping it. Painted murals should be coated with protective sealer and dusted often, and less often, wiped down with a almost-dry sponge and plain water. Dry clean whitewashed or limed surfaces — if they become too grubby, just re-whitewash them. Kitchen walls might require a de-greaser. Popcorn ceilings should be vacuumed fairly often rather than washed. A coffered or alternative elaborately paneled ceiling gets dusted, dry-mopped, vacuumed and occasionally wet-wiped: Fancy toppings require more maintenance. Bathroom mold may need stronger remedies. Trisodiumphosphate and water, followed by dilute chlorine bleach may help to keep mold in check.