The following are the common types of stains on the walls and the simple tips on how to remove them.
1. Grease
Grease usually occurs on the kitchen walls, cabinets, and cupboards. When you’re trying to cook pieces of bacon and egg on the pan, grease begins to splatter in every direction. Then it builds up over time, resulting in unsightly and yucky gunk. Good news, though – they are easy to remove.
To remove small stains, make a cleaning solution consisting of ¼ teaspoon of dishwashing soap and a cup of warm water. Mix them together. Dip a sponge into the solution and start wiping the grease off the walls. To remove more stubborn grease, mix 1/3 cup of regular household vinegar and 2/3 cup of warm water.
2. Crayons
When your children start to show off their artistic side, you want to encourage them to develop their talents. It’s fun to get artwork from them, but when your little Pablo Picasso starts to create their masterpieces on the walls, that’s where the fun practically stops. But don’t panic! Crayon marks are notoriously tough to remove from walls, but you can get rid of them by trying any of the following tricks:
- Wall erasers – such as Magic Erasers, which don’t come as expensive and work like a charm;
- Basic H2 degreaser with a microfiber cloth;
- Toothpaste (not gel) – squirt a good amount of toothpaste on the wall and rub it using a rag or scrub brush. The abrasive properties of the toothpaste will help in dissolving the crayon;
- Pencil eraser or art eraser (art gum) – use them to erase these crayon marks in a circular motion;
- Baby wipes;
- Baking soda – sprinkle a good amount of baking soda on a damp clean rag or sponge, then start scrubbing off those crayon marks.
- Dish soap and water – have a bucket of dish soap and dip a textured washcloth into the solution. You must scrub hard though before the crayon marks start to practically disappear.
- WD-40 – WD-40 works in many ways: a chemical lubricant, dirt and grime remover, and a water-displacing agent. Put on hand gloves and open the window first before using WD-40. Also, make sure that you pay attention to the warnings on the product label.
3. Permanent marker
Like crayons, permanent markers are quite stubborn to remove from walls. Try any of the regular toiletries – rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, nail polish remover or hairspray – to remove these tough marks. Dab any of these products onto a cotton ball or a clean, soft rag, and blot the marks or scrub them in a circular motion.
4. Mildew
Mildew usually occurs on the siding or exterior walls, but it can also happen to interior walls as long as there is a high degree of moisture. To get rid of mildew, put one tablespoon of white vinegar to one quart of water, and shake the solution in a spray bottle. Spray it directly on mildew. You can also use a commercial mildewcide and use it according to directions on the label. Rinse thoroughly and let the surface dry completely. If the area you’re working on lacks proper ventilation, consider using an electric fan.
Stains are no fun to look at. Fortunately, it even takes just your everyday household items in getting rid of them. But if you still find them ineffective in removing stains, you can call for the best commercial East Bay companies to fix this problem and even retain the original look of your interior walls.