Dust first
Walls collect dust, cobwebs and grease, especially near ceilings and in kitchens. Before any wet cleaning, dust from top to bottom with a microfibre duster on an extendable handle or a vacuum brush attachment. If you go straight in with a wet cloth, you'll spread grime around.
Know your wall finish
This is the important bit. Different finishes react very differently to cleaning. Matt and flat finishes mark easily and can go shiny or patchy if you scrub them. Silk, satin, eggshell and kitchen-and-bathroom finishes are more washable. Wallpaper varies – vinyl wallpapers can usually be wiped; others can't take water at all.
If you have a leftover tin of the wall finish, the label often says how washable it is. If not, test in an inconspicuous spot first, such as behind a door.
Spot-cleaning marks
For fingerprints and light marks, a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a drop of washing-up liquid usually works. Wring the cloth out well, work gently in small circles and then wipe with clean water. Pat dry.
Melamine sponges (often sold as 'magic erasers') remove scuffs very effectively, but they're mildly abrasive and can take the sheen off some finishes. Use them lightly and test first.
Skirting boards
Skirting boards are dust magnets. Vacuum along the top edge with a brush attachment, then wipe with a damp cloth and a little mild cleaner. A tumble dryer sheet or a light microfibre cloth wiped along afterwards can help dust settle less quickly. Kneeling pads make this job far more comfortable.
Door frames, doors and light switches
Door frames, handles and the area around light switches pick up grease from hands. Wipe them with a cloth and mild soapy water, then dry. Spray the cloth rather than the switch, and never get light switches or sockets wet. The tops of doors and door frames are often very dusty – easy to miss.
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Kitchen walls
Walls near the hob can have a greasy film. A little washing-up liquid in warm water cuts through it. Rinse well and dry. If the grease is heavy and the finish isn't washable, cleaning may not be enough.
Common marks and what to try
Every wall finish reacts differently, so always test in a hidden spot. As a starting point:
| Mark | Try first |
|---|---|
| Fingerprints around switches | Damp cloth with a drop of washing-up liquid |
| Scuffs from shoes or furniture | Dry microfibre cloth, then a lightly used melamine sponge |
| Crayon | Damp cloth; a melamine sponge used very gently |
| Grease in kitchens | Warm water with washing-up liquid, rinsed |
| Dust and cobwebs | Vacuum brush or dry microfibre duster |
Gentle first steps for common wall marks (test first)
Before moving out
If you rent, walls are one of the areas a check-out inventory looks at. Scuffs from furniture, marks around light switches and Blu Tack residue are common. Remove what you can carefully, but don't scrub so hard that you damage the finish – that can cause bigger problems than the original mark. Small marks after several years may count as fair wear and tear.
Our end of tenancy cleaning checklist covers the other areas clerks usually check.
When cleaning won't fix it
Some marks, particularly on matt finishes, won't come off without damaging the wall, and heavy scrubbing can leave a patch that's more noticeable than the mark. At that point, it's a touch-up job rather than a cleaning one.
Wall spot-cleaning and skirting boards are often part of a deep clean and an end of tenancy clean. Cleaners can remove what's removable, but they can't promise to remove every mark – a good cleaner will tell you that up front.
