Ivy says:
Our fabulous commenter Bramble asked:
How exactly does one dust the wall? Do you dust the entire wall with a dust cloth? Do you wash it?
This, of course, varies depending on how big your walls are and how dirty your walls are. My preferred method is to use a wool duster with an extension handle. The wool picks up dust very well and since it has an extension handle, you’ll be able to reach just about everywhere. (Unless your walls are as tall as mine, then you’ll need a ladder.)
Now, for really dirty walls, it depends on the type of paint that is on your walls. If you have satin or semigloss, just use a damp rag to wash down the walls. I like a little Pine Sol in a bucket of water. To me, nothing smells like “clean” more than Pine Sol, a throwback to my childhood or something. With flat paint, it’s a bit different. I’m tempted to tell you to repaint with satin or semigloss, but naturally not everyone can do that. The alternative is using a dry sponge like this. For what those sponges cost though, I’d try to clean the walls with a wooly duster first, or perhaps gently washing them with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
There ya go, Bramble! More than you ever wanted to know about cleaning walls!
Tags: Dust · Living Area · Walls
Dear Household Goddesses,
My nearly 2 year old daughter is many things. She is a clever, fearless, climbing artist who uses the world as her canvas. As hard as we try to keep any and all writing instruments away from her, she seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to finding stray pens or bits of crayon. I can’t keep an eagle eye on her at all times, because sometimes I need to take her 3 year old brother to the potty, take a shower, or blink. My apartment walls are covered in crayon (washable and not), marker (washable and not), colored pencil, and various kinds of pen ink.
I’ve tried soap and water, multi-purpose cleaner, Soft Scrub, and Magic Erasers to get my walls clean but nothing seems to do more than fade it out. My lease eliminates any repainting options. What can I do?
Signed,
All Marked Up
Heather says:
If the washable markers and crayons are leaving stains it sounds as though your walls are painted with flat paint, the least scrubbable and least stain resistant type. Unfortunately, some of the marks may be permanent, but here are some tricks to try. Test each cleaning method in an inconspicuous area to be sure you will not create a bigger problem.
- Ink – try spraying with aerosol hairspray or dabbing with rubbing alcohol.
- Crayon – try rubbing with toothpaste (not gel) and then wiping clean with a damp sponge. WD-40 is another product to try, as with any solvent, use sparingly in repeat applications rather than spraying willy nilly.
- Marker – treat as you would an ink stain
Good luck, maybe you have a budding Rosa Bonheur.
Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
Tags: Living Area · Spills and Stains · Walls
