Material file · Hard surfaces
Painted walls: what it can take
Covers emulsion and latex-painted walls, doors and trim. No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 40 °C (104 °F)
- Rubbing
- Gently
- Stain files
- 16
01 What it is
Wall paint is a thin film; solvents soften it and abrasives polish it.
02 House rules
- No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
03 Field notes
- On flat and matte paint, scrubbing polishes the surface and leaves a shiny patch, which is often more visible than the original mark.
- Grease on walls darkens slowly as dust sticks to it; dish soap in warm water removes it before it needs repainting.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | Test first | Its grit can leave shiny patches on flat or matte paint. |
| Borax | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Test first | It can soften some paints; test in a corner. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | Test it on the paint first; wipe off after the dwell time. |
| Hot water | Test first | Hot water softens some paints; warm is enough. |
| Household ammonia | Test first | Diluted, it is a standard wall cleaner; it can dull flat paint. |
| Lemon juice | Test first | Its sugar leaves a sticky film; vinegar is the better acid for walls. |
| Magic eraser | Test first | It can dull gloss and satin paint and burnish flat paint into a shiny patch: light pressure, and test in a corner first. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | It can soften latex paint; test in a corner. |
| WD-40 | Test first | A classic for crayon on walls; wipe its oil off with dish soap afterwards and test the paint sheen first. |
| White vinegar | Test first | Diluted vinegar is usually fine on gloss paint; test matte paint. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Avoid | It can lighten coloured paint. |
| Oxygen bleach | Avoid | It can dull and lighten wall paint. |
| Steam cleaner | Avoid | Steam can blister and lift paint. |
| Acetone | Never | It dissolves wall paint. |
| Chlorine bleach | Never | It leaves bleached patches in coloured paint. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Never | It strips paint. |
05 Stains on wall
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| Hair dye | Specialist | Hot water, Waiting |
| Acrylic paint | Tough | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Mildew and mould spots | Tough | Scrubbing matte paint, Mixing bleach |
| Nail polish | Tough | Acetone, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Permanent marker | Tough | Water first, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Baby food purée | Stubborn | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Ballpoint ink | Stubborn | Hairspray, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Grease and cooking oil | Stubborn | Scrubbing matte paint |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Stubborn | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Candle wax | Manageable | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Crayon | Manageable | Scrubbing matte paint |
| Hair and body oil | Manageable | Scrubbing matte paint |
| Highlighter | Manageable | Scrubbing matte paint |
| Slime | Manageable | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
| Sticker and tape residue | Easy | Scrubbing matte paint |
| Washable marker | Easy | Hot water, Scrubbing matte paint |
06 The most common mistakes on wall
Counted across all 16 stain files for wall:
- Scrubbing flat or matte paint (16 files). Friction polishes the paint and leaves a shiny patch that shows more than the mark.
- Hot water (7 files). Heat helps pigments bond to the fibres before you have lifted them.
- Leaving it until morning (1 file). Oxidative dyes keep developing for 30 minutes or more.
- Mixing bleach with other cleaners (1 file). Bleach with vinegar, ammonia or acidic cleaners releases toxic gas.
- Acetone or nail polish remover (1 file). It dissolves wall paint.
- Water first (1 file). Water spreads alcohol-based ink and does not dissolve it.
07 What the wall files use most
These are the products the 16 stain files for wall rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Wallpaper, limewash and chalk paints, which need their own methods.
Specialist-rated stains on wall: hair dye.