Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new

Painted your house? What colors did you use? Light beige? White? Mint green? Brown? Whatever it is I’m sure your walls are looking really pretty. Well, sorry to break your heart, but your pretty walls might soon start looking old, dusty, and stained. Painting projects can be too stressful if not done by good professional painters. After going through all that hassle, watching your white walls turn yellow is sad.

Well, cheer up now! We are sharing some of the best tips to maintain your painted walls so that they look brand new all the time. Even if your wall was not painted very recently, following these tips will help you increase the life of your painted walls and keep them looking good at all times.

What causes damage to your painted walls?

The walls of your house, are exposed to a lot of harsh things. It can be environmental factors like sunlight (UV rays), moisture, and temperature, or it could your adorable little dogs and cats or a really clumsy person in your family.

If you keep a colored paper under sunlight for a few days, you’ll soon see that it’s losing its vibrant color. Something similar happens when the walls are exposed to sunlight and the wall is not protected by an anti-UV coat.

Moisture can damage not only your paint layer but the entire wall too. As far as the painted layer is concerned, moisture leads to chipping and peeling of paint. You might see some flakes of paint falling on the floor. Moreover, it can cause mold and mildew. These bacteria can be removed using proper procedure but they always leave a stain.

Another contributing factor is our silly behavior. Whatever the reason might be it does not change the fact that the paint on the walls can be ruined in no time. If you wish for a long and vibrant life for the paint on your walls, maintenance is a must. These are some things you should definitely try.

Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new Choose good quality paint

You should start caring about your freshly painted house even before the painting project is started. What do I mean? Get in touch with your professional painter and have a thorough discussion with them regarding the paint that you are choosing. A low-quality paint might save you some dollars but in the long run, it can lead to a lot of extra expenses.

Other than the quality you should also understand the type. For example, if your house receives a lot of sunlight, you could try using Latex. Compared to oil-based paints, latex is more immune to losing color and turning chalky after being exposed to sunlight. However, if it snows or rains often in your area, the chances of moisture being held in the walls are high. In this case, you can rely on good-quality oil paint. It is resistant to moisture so your paint won’t peel off that easily.

Know your paint

Take some time to research the kind of paint you have used. It is important to know this because some paints cannot handle harsh chemicals used for cleaning the walls, in that case, you will have to switch to mild liquids. Everything you do to maintain your painted walls will depend on the kind of paint used.

Remove the dust regularly

Just like your furniture, the walls need some dusting too. The dirt settles down on the wall and the longer you keep it on the wall the harder it will be to clean it later. If your wall has some texture, the chances of dust settling on the wall are higher. You can use the wall brush extension of your vacuum cleaner to get all the dirt off. You may not have time to do this every day, but once a week is very much possible

How to clean painted walls

Depending on the paint you have used the cleaning method will be different. Let’s discuss some commonly used cleaning methods.

1. Delicate cleaning with a sponge
For walls with a satin finish, using harsh chemicals and scrubbing with something rough would completely ruin the paint, hence we resort to delicate cleaning.

You start off by mixing any mild detergent of your choice in a bucket of water. We are trying to make a diluted solution so that the detergent doesn’t harm our walls. The next step is to dip a soft sponge in this solution and gently clean the wall in one direction. Make sure there is no water dripping from the sponge. Excess water running down the surface of the wall will leave additional stains. Wring it properly before use. Keep the windows and the doors open so that the moisture doesn’t seep into the surface. You can even try using dehumidifiers if there isn’t enough wind and sunlight outside.

2. Cleaning the kitchen
When you cook, the oil splatters all over the place. Over time dust will stick to the oil on the wall, making your walls look really shabby and dark. Here is where you can make use of a degreaser. Based on the kind of paint you have used, you can choose either a mild or a strong degreaser. Making a degreaser is easy. Mix about a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and vinegar into a bowl of water (about a liter). Let it sit for a few minutes and you are ready to go. Dip your sponge in it or use a spray bottle to spray some on the wall.

3. Cleaning stains and spots
Just mix some detergent (mild) in a bowl of warm water and clean the stains with a sponge. Do not scrub, clean it gently. Wait for the water to dry to clearly see if the stain was removed or not. If you see the stain was faded repeat the step. If not, you might need a stronger solution. In any case, do a spot test on a small area of the wall which is not always visible. If the paint is able to withstand a stronger solution, then you can apply it to the stained area.

How not to clean painted walls

What’s more important than knowing how to clean the wall is, how not to clean the wall. Even if you are not able to remove the stains you can always take help from professionals. But if you end up doing something that causes more damage to the painted wall, you might have to repaint it. So here are some things to avoid when cleaning walls.

Small Touch-ups
Sometimes the paint comes off either while cleaning or sometimes without your knowledge. If the area is small, a quick touch-up can do the job of fixing it. For this touch-up to work efficiently, you need to have the paint used for the walls or at least the color. Even if you can bring paper with dried paint on it to your local store, they can provide you with the exact shade. Just make sure that you are buying the same type of paint from the same brand.

Follow these steps for a quick touch up

Prevent moisture from seeping through the walls
The exterior walls, kitchen, and bathroom are generally the only areas where there is a lot of moisture. If the moisture seeps into the wall your paint will start peeling off. To avoid this you can use a layer of transparent water repellent coat on top of the paint. A professional Painters Auckland will certainly make sure that the walls are coated. Additionally, you can start using exhaust fans and dehumidifiers in the house to keep the environment dry.

Keep the gutters properly functioning
Another problem outdoor walls face is dirty stains due to malfunctioning gutters. It leaves a black, filthy stain on the wall. If you have a roof over the windows with a flat surface, the water gets collected in those areas leaving stains of water. Make sure your gutters are functioning well. Keep an eye on the stagnant water on the window roofs. Clean it after the rain stops if possible.

Repaint the walls every 5-7 years
Well, this isn’t a tip to maintain your painted walls, but after any more than 5-7 years the paint will start deteriorating even if you keep cleaning it. If you use high-quality paint it might remain in a good state for a couple more years, but that is it. After that, a fresh coat is a must. Moreover, over time bacteria starts accumulating on the walls making your house an unhealthy environment.

Bottom line
Once a fresh coat of paint is applied, you should wait for at least a couple of weeks before you start dusting and cleaning it. Allow the paint to dry and stick to the wall completely. The greatest tip to have good-looking walls is to hire a professional painter and understand the paint they are using and ask for some dos and don’ts related to its maintenance. Little things like being gentle while cleaning or regular dusting can go a long way to keep your walls looking brand new for a long time.

Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new

Painted your house? What colors did you use? Light beige? White? Mint green? Brown? Whatever it is I’m sure your walls are looking really pretty. Well, sorry to break your heart, but your pretty walls might soon start looking old, dusty, and stained. Painting projects can be too stressful if not done by good professional painters. After going through all that hassle, watching your white walls turn yellow is sad.

Well, cheer up now! We are sharing some of the best tips to maintain your painted walls so that they look brand new all the time. Even if your wall was not painted very recently, following these tips will help you increase the life of your painted walls and keep them looking good at all times.

What causes damage to your painted walls?

The walls of your house, are exposed to a lot of harsh things. It can be environmental factors like sunlight (UV rays), moisture, and temperature, or it could your adorable little dogs and cats or a really clumsy person in your family.

If you keep a colored paper under sunlight for a few days, you’ll soon see that it’s losing its vibrant color. Something similar happens when the walls are exposed to sunlight and the wall is not protected by an anti-UV coat.

Moisture can damage not only your paint layer but the entire wall too. As far as the painted layer is concerned, moisture leads to chipping and peeling of paint. You might see some flakes of paint falling on the floor. Moreover, it can cause mold and mildew. These bacteria can be removed using proper procedure but they always leave a stain.

Another contributing factor is our silly behavior. Whatever the reason might be it does not change the fact that the paint on the walls can be ruined in no time. If you wish for a long and vibrant life for the paint on your walls, maintenance is a must. These are some things you should definitely try.

Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new Choose good quality paint

You should start caring about your freshly painted house even before the painting project is started. What do I mean? Get in touch with your professional painter and have a thorough discussion with them regarding the paint that you are choosing. A low-quality paint might save you some dollars but in the long run, it can lead to a lot of extra expenses.

Other than the quality you should also understand the type. For example, if your house receives a lot of sunlight, you could try using Latex. Compared to oil-based paints, latex is more immune to losing color and turning chalky after being exposed to sunlight. However, if it snows or rains often in your area, the chances of moisture being held in the walls are high. In this case, you can rely on good-quality oil paint. It is resistant to moisture so your paint won’t peel off that easily.

Know your paint

Take some time to research the kind of paint you have used. It is important to know this because some paints cannot handle harsh chemicals used for cleaning the walls, in that case, you will have to switch to mild liquids. Everything you do to maintain your painted walls will depend on the kind of paint used.

Remove the dust regularly

Just like your furniture, the walls need some dusting too. The dirt settles down on the wall and the longer you keep it on the wall the harder it will be to clean it later. If your wall has some texture, the chances of dust settling on the wall are higher. You can use the wall brush extension of your vacuum cleaner to get all the dirt off. You may not have time to do this every day, but once a week is very much possible

How to clean painted walls

Depending on the paint you have used the cleaning method will be different. Let’s discuss some commonly used cleaning methods.

1. Delicate cleaning with a sponge
For walls with a satin finish, using harsh chemicals and scrubbing with something rough would completely ruin the paint, hence we resort to delicate cleaning.

You start off by mixing any mild detergent of your choice in a bucket of water. We are trying to make a diluted solution so that the detergent doesn’t harm our walls. The next step is to dip a soft sponge in this solution and gently clean the wall in one direction. Make sure there is no water dripping from the sponge. Excess water running down the surface of the wall will leave additional stains. Wring it properly before use. Keep the windows and the doors open so that the moisture doesn’t seep into the surface. You can even try using dehumidifiers if there isn’t enough wind and sunlight outside.

2. Cleaning the kitchen
When you cook, the oil splatters all over the place. Over time dust will stick to the oil on the wall, making your walls look really shabby and dark. Here is where you can make use of a degreaser. Based on the kind of paint you have used, you can choose either a mild or a strong degreaser. Making a degreaser is easy. Mix about a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and vinegar into a bowl of water (about a liter). Let it sit for a few minutes and you are ready to go. Dip your sponge in it or use a spray bottle to spray some on the wall.

3. Cleaning stains and spots
Just mix some detergent (mild) in a bowl of warm water and clean the stains with a sponge. Do not scrub, clean it gently. Wait for the water to dry to clearly see if the stain was removed or not. If you see the stain was faded repeat the step. If not, you might need a stronger solution. In any case, do a spot test on a small area of the wall which is not always visible. If the paint is able to withstand a stronger solution, then you can apply it to the stained area.

How not to clean painted walls

What’s more important than knowing how to clean the wall is, how not to clean the wall. Even if you are not able to remove the stains you can always take help from professionals. But if you end up doing something that causes more damage to the painted wall, you might have to repaint it. So here are some things to avoid when cleaning walls.

Small Touch-ups
Sometimes the paint comes off either while cleaning or sometimes without your knowledge. If the area is small, a quick touch-up can do the job of fixing it. For this touch-up to work efficiently, you need to have the paint used for the walls or at least the color. Even if you can bring paper with dried paint on it to your local store, they can provide you with the exact shade. Just make sure that you are buying the same type of paint from the same brand.

Follow these steps for a quick touch up

Prevent moisture from seeping through the walls
The exterior walls, kitchen, and bathroom are generally the only areas where there is a lot of moisture. If the moisture seeps into the wall your paint will start peeling off. To avoid this you can use a layer of transparent water repellent coat on top of the paint. A professional Painters Auckland will certainly make sure that the walls are coated. Additionally, you can start using exhaust fans and dehumidifiers in the house to keep the environment dry.

Keep the gutters properly functioning
Another problem outdoor walls face is dirty stains due to malfunctioning gutters. It leaves a black, filthy stain on the wall. If you have a roof over the windows with a flat surface, the water gets collected in those areas leaving stains of water. Make sure your gutters are functioning well. Keep an eye on the stagnant water on the window roofs. Clean it after the rain stops if possible.

Repaint the walls every 5-7 years
Well, this isn’t a tip to maintain your painted walls, but after any more than 5-7 years the paint will start deteriorating even if you keep cleaning it. If you use high-quality paint it might remain in a good state for a couple more years, but that is it. After that, a fresh coat is a must. Moreover, over time bacteria starts accumulating on the walls making your house an unhealthy environment.

Bottom line
Once a fresh coat of paint is applied, you should wait for at least a couple of weeks before you start dusting and cleaning it. Allow the paint to dry and stick to the wall completely. The greatest tip to have good-looking walls is to hire a professional painter and understand the paint they are using and ask for some dos and don’ts related to its maintenance. Little things like being gentle while cleaning or regular dusting can go a long way to keep your walls looking brand new for a long time.

Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new

Painted your house? What colors did you use? Light beige? White? Mint green? Brown? Whatever it is I’m sure your walls are looking really pretty. Well, sorry to break your heart, but your pretty walls might soon start looking old, dusty, and stained. Painting projects can be too stressful if not done by good professional painters. After going through all that hassle, watching your white walls turn yellow is sad.

Well, cheer up now! We are sharing some of the best tips to maintain your painted walls so that they look brand new all the time. Even if your wall was not painted very recently, following these tips will help you increase the life of your painted walls and keep them looking good at all times.

What causes damage to your painted walls?

The walls of your house, are exposed to a lot of harsh things. It can be environmental factors like sunlight (UV rays), moisture, and temperature, or it could your adorable little dogs and cats or a really clumsy person in your family.

If you keep a colored paper under sunlight for a few days, you’ll soon see that it’s losing its vibrant color. Something similar happens when the walls are exposed to sunlight and the wall is not protected by an anti-UV coat.

Moisture can damage not only your paint layer but the entire wall too. As far as the painted layer is concerned, moisture leads to chipping and peeling of paint. You might see some flakes of paint falling on the floor. Moreover, it can cause mold and mildew. These bacteria can be removed using proper procedure but they always leave a stain.

Another contributing factor is our silly behavior. Whatever the reason might be it does not change the fact that the paint on the walls can be ruined in no time. If you wish for a long and vibrant life for the paint on your walls, maintenance is a must. These are some things you should definitely try.

Maintenance tips to keep your painted walls looking new Choose good quality paint

You should start caring about your freshly painted house even before the painting project is started. What do I mean? Get in touch with your professional painter and have a thorough discussion with them regarding the paint that you are choosing. A low-quality paint might save you some dollars but in the long run, it can lead to a lot of extra expenses.

Other than the quality you should also understand the type. For example, if your house receives a lot of sunlight, you could try using Latex. Compared to oil-based paints, latex is more immune to losing color and turning chalky after being exposed to sunlight. However, if it snows or rains often in your area, the chances of moisture being held in the walls are high. In this case, you can rely on good-quality oil paint. It is resistant to moisture so your paint won’t peel off that easily.

Know your paint

Take some time to research the kind of paint you have used. It is important to know this because some paints cannot handle harsh chemicals used for cleaning the walls, in that case, you will have to switch to mild liquids. Everything you do to maintain your painted walls will depend on the kind of paint used.

Remove the dust regularly

Just like your furniture, the walls need some dusting too. The dirt settles down on the wall and the longer you keep it on the wall the harder it will be to clean it later. If your wall has some texture, the chances of dust settling on the wall are higher. You can use the wall brush extension of your vacuum cleaner to get all the dirt off. You may not have time to do this every day, but once a week is very much possible

How to clean painted walls

Depending on the paint you have used the cleaning method will be different. Let’s discuss some commonly used cleaning methods.

1. Delicate cleaning with a sponge
For walls with a satin finish, using harsh chemicals and scrubbing with something rough would completely ruin the paint, hence we resort to delicate cleaning.

You start off by mixing any mild detergent of your choice in a bucket of water. We are trying to make a diluted solution so that the detergent doesn’t harm our walls. The next step is to dip a soft sponge in this solution and gently clean the wall in one direction. Make sure there is no water dripping from the sponge. Excess water running down the surface of the wall will leave additional stains. Wring it properly before use. Keep the windows and the doors open so that the moisture doesn’t seep into the surface. You can even try using dehumidifiers if there isn’t enough wind and sunlight outside.

2. Cleaning the kitchen
When you cook, the oil splatters all over the place. Over time dust will stick to the oil on the wall, making your walls look really shabby and dark. Here is where you can make use of a degreaser. Based on the kind of paint you have used, you can choose either a mild or a strong degreaser. Making a degreaser is easy. Mix about a teaspoon of liquid dish soap and vinegar into a bowl of water (about a liter). Let it sit for a few minutes and you are ready to go. Dip your sponge in it or use a spray bottle to spray some on the wall.

3. Cleaning stains and spots
Just mix some detergent (mild) in a bowl of warm water and clean the stains with a sponge. Do not scrub, clean it gently. Wait for the water to dry to clearly see if the stain was removed or not. If you see the stain was faded repeat the step. If not, you might need a stronger solution. In any case, do a spot test on a small area of the wall which is not always visible. If the paint is able to withstand a stronger solution, then you can apply it to the stained area.

How not to clean painted walls

What’s more important than knowing how to clean the wall is, how not to clean the wall. Even if you are not able to remove the stains you can always take help from professionals. But if you end up doing something that causes more damage to the painted wall, you might have to repaint it. So here are some things to avoid when cleaning walls.

Small Touch-ups
Sometimes the paint comes off either while cleaning or sometimes without your knowledge. If the area is small, a quick touch-up can do the job of fixing it. For this touch-up to work efficiently, you need to have the paint used for the walls or at least the color. Even if you can bring paper with dried paint on it to your local store, they can provide you with the exact shade. Just make sure that you are buying the same type of paint from the same brand.

Follow these steps for a quick touch up

Prevent moisture from seeping through the walls
The exterior walls, kitchen, and bathroom are generally the only areas where there is a lot of moisture. If the moisture seeps into the wall your paint will start peeling off. To avoid this you can use a layer of transparent water repellent coat on top of the paint. A professional Painters Auckland will certainly make sure that the walls are coated. Additionally, you can start using exhaust fans and dehumidifiers in the house to keep the environment dry.

Keep the gutters properly functioning
Another problem outdoor walls face is dirty stains due to malfunctioning gutters. It leaves a black, filthy stain on the wall. If you have a roof over the windows with a flat surface, the water gets collected in those areas leaving stains of water. Make sure your gutters are functioning well. Keep an eye on the stagnant water on the window roofs. Clean it after the rain stops if possible.

Repaint the walls every 5-7 years
Well, this isn’t a tip to maintain your painted walls, but after any more than 5-7 years the paint will start deteriorating even if you keep cleaning it. If you use high-quality paint it might remain in a good state for a couple more years, but that is it. After that, a fresh coat is a must. Moreover, over time bacteria starts accumulating on the walls making your house an unhealthy environment.

Bottom line
Once a fresh coat of paint is applied, you should wait for at least a couple of weeks before you start dusting and cleaning it. Allow the paint to dry and stick to the wall completely. The greatest tip to have good-looking walls is to hire a professional painter and understand the paint they are using and ask for some dos and don’ts related to its maintenance. Little things like being gentle while cleaning or regular dusting can go a long way to keep your walls looking brand new for a long time.