Walls frame the life of the household. Unfortunately, they also wear it. Whether your walls are soft with paint or bright with wallpaper, they tend to get dirty easily (especially if there are small children in the household). Smudges, smears, and finger marks can be found everywhere. Daily living tends to mar the beauty of walls and woodwork. Painted or papered, keep your walls clean and gleaming.

If you’re going to clean your painted walls, be prepared to a big job. Replace your furniture to the center of the room, and lay down canvas drop clothes or old sheets to catch soapy drips. Gather the following wall-washing tools: white cleaning cloths, lamb’s wool duster, a natural sponge, and two buckets: one filled with cleaning solution and one filled with clean water for rinsing. If the water starts to look very dirty as you work around the room, change it. Don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Get ready to clean the walls. Mix a wall-cleaning solution in a bucket. Remove any loose dust before bringing moisture into the mix. Wipe walls and woodwork from the top down. Remove dust and cobwebs from walls and woodwork using lambswool duster or a vacuum cleaner’s extension wand and bristle brush head.

To prevent drips and muddy stains, wash walls from the bottom up: bottom to top and side-to-side. Always wash the entire wall. By doing this you will avoid a tough cleaning job. Dip the sponge into the bucket with cleaning solution. Rub the wall gently to avoid removing paint. Work in small areas. If you need a break, take it between walls, not in the middle. Wash an entire wall in a single session, using the same type of cleaning solution.

When it comes to cleaning wallpapers, check manufacturer’s guidelines first. Follow the manufacturer’s advice for appropriate cleaning methods. Dust the walls before cleaning. Use a “dry sponge” which lifts and removes surface dirt without damaging the surface. Damp a sponge with a solution of warm water and a small amount of cleaning solution. Don’t scrub too hard to avoid damage. Before cleaning, test the solution in a corner to be sure it won’t remove paper or coating. Never use abrasive cleaners to clean wallpapers.