How do I clean the walls?

[SplshMtn99]

The majority of our condo walls are painted a porcelain color. We are removing a wall paper border from our kitchen & dining room that we put up 7 years ago. The border is coming off nicely, but you can see the walls are dirtier than where the border was. Just like when you remove a picture from the wall. We would really like to not have to paint the kitchen & dining room if at all possible.

Give me your BEST wall cleaning solutions & tips to remove the dirt & not leave streaks.

I've googled & come up with the obvious Magic Eraser answer, but the thought of doing 2 rooms with tiny Magic Erasers sounds daunting. Also, I don't want walls with little swirly scrubbing patches showing if you know what I mean.

What tools & what solution? I'm wondering how Oxyclean might do?
How about those dry sponges that insurance company cleaners use to clean up "puff backs" or fires? (Like these: http://www.absorene.com/prodsumm/prod05.html )

OH, BTW, its just regular everyday dirt. Not from smoking. No kids. We do have a wood pellet stove, but that does not emit smoke into the house. It heats room air by circulating it around the sealed heating chamber.

 

[DeterminedOne]

Although I have never used it myself, I have heard good things about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for cleaning dirty walls.

 

[JR6ooo4]

chances are that it will always show the line. The exposed area of the wall paint may have been affected by many things. UV light, smoking, general living etc...

My dad swore by TSP (tri-sodium phosphate).

Mikeeee

Oh and if you do wash them start at the bottom. Otherwise when you add the cleaner to the wall it will run down in drips and make super clean paths that are very hard to get rid of. At least in all my experiences with wall cleaning.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

leave streaks.

I've googled & come up with the obvious Magic Eraser answer, but the thought of doing 2 rooms with tiny Magic Erasers sounds daunting. Also, I don't want walls with little swirly scrubbing patches showing if you know what I mean.
.

See below

Although I have never used it myself, I have heard good things about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for cleaning dirty walls.

 

[WeirdEyes]

If the paint is a flat paint, don't use the Magic Eraser! We did that at work and ruined the walls and had to paint them. If the walls are satin paint, the erasers work fine. Good luck!

 

[Steamboat Marti]

If the paint is a flat paint, don't use the Magic Eraser! We did that at work and ruined the walls and had to paint them. If the walls are satin paint, the erasers work fine. Good luck!

That's a lesson I learned the hard way too!

And I love your picture in your signature -- I've been to that castle too! Granted I was only 10, but I swear I saw Nessie from that castle.

 

[Disney4Drew]

We had some construction done in our house and I had to clean every wall when they were finished! Anyway, I always use Murphy's Oil Soap diluted in warm water and a clean rag. It never streaks, cleans effectively and gives you that really "clean" smell when you're done! Good luck!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Our paint is Eggshell finish. I've used the magic eraser for small spots but don't want to do 2 whole rooms with it.

Murphy's Oil Soap? Wouldn't have thought of that one. I use that on all our stained woodwork & doors. I'll give that one a try since I have it.

I use TSP when we prep for painting but I don't think it ever really LOOKS clean. But I can try that too.

 

[Robmom]

I have this problem as well. I saw a spot on my wall and I took the Magic Eraser and it took it off beautifully. Then it left a clean spot on the wall! I said to myself, I'm not cleaning the entire wall with this eraser. I may try Murphy's oil.

 

[WeirdEyes]

That's a lesson I learned the hard way too!

And I love your picture in your signature -- I've been to that castle too! Granted I was only 10, but I swear I saw Nessie from that castle.

Thanks! I loved the castle and Loch Ness!

I love Murphy's Oil Soap...it works great on just about everything!

 

[WDWAurora]

Dilute a little pine sol in some water. I usually do about half and half, and use pure if it's really bad. The magic eraser WILL REMOVE THE PAINT depending on the kind of paint. Don't risk it!!

 

[punkin]

I haven't found anything that works well. I have dirty streaks and swirls down my walls from the time when I tried to clean them. I just have to repaint them in the next year or two and this time NOT use flat paint.