Fingerprints often appear on walls around light switches and thermostats.
Cleaning surfaces painted with flat interior paint can be tricky, because if you are not careful you can damage or remove the finish of the paint. Keep in mind when cleaning flat paint that less is more. Try the least invasive, more natural methods of cleaning first, and work up to using chemical cleansers. Taking your time and cleaning your flat painted surfaces carefully will keep them looking good for a longer period of time.
Instructions
1. Wet a foam cleaning sponge or a cellulose sponge, and wring out excess water so the sponge is just damp. Rub the stains on the wall in a circular motion.
2. Dab excess water off the wall with a clean, lint-free cloth, after you clean each spot with the sponge. Allow the wall to air dry before proceeding with more attempts at cleaning.
3. Fill one bucket with warm water and a few drops of a mild dish detergent. Fill another bucket with clean water. You only need to proceed with this step if the first attempt at cleaning your flat paint was unsuccessful.
4. Submerge and wring out your sponge in the bucket of soapy water. Wipe each spot that needs cleaning in a circular motion.
5. Submerge and wring out another sponge in the bucket of clean water. Carefully wipe away any soapy residue.
6. Dab away any excess moisture to prevent dripping. Allow your wall to air dry.
7. Use a mixture of ammonia and laundry detergent to clean your walls if they are still dirty. Benjamin Moore recommends mixing 2 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of a powdered laundry detergent in 1 gallon of warm water. Ventilate the room and wear rubber gloves when you are cleaning with ammonia.
8. Test this cleaning solution on an area of your wall that is out of sight before proceeding with cleaning the rest of the wall. If color and finish are intact when the area starts to dry, proceed with cleaning the rest of the wall.
9. Submerge a sponge in the bucket of cleaning solution and wring it out so it is moist, not saturated. Carefully wipe the areas that need to be cleaned in a circular motion.
10. Wipe each area that you cleaned with a clean moist sponge to remove any cleaning agent residue. Allow the walls to air dry.
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