What Is Best to Clean Down Walls Besides TSP?

Ammonia

• A versatile, all-purpose cleaner, ammonia will leave walls looking their best without damaging paint, paneling or wallpaper. Mix 1 cup of nonsudsy ammonia with 1 gallon of water. When mixing the ammonia, choose cold water over warm or hot water. The colder the water, the less fumes ammonia produces. Start washing the bottom of the walls with a sponge moistened in the mixture and move your way upward. Once you have cleaned the entire surface, wipe the residue off with water and let air dry for several hours.

White Vinegar

• Not only will white vinegar remove greasy buildup, it will also remove odors trapped in the pores of the wall. To use white vinegar, first mix 1 to 2 cups of the pungent liquid with a gallon of water. Carefully fill a clean spray bottle with the vinegar cleaning solution and mist a small section of the wall. Gently wipe that section with a microfiber cloth. Continue misting small sections of the wall and wiping with the cloth until you have thoroughly cleaned the surface.

Borax

• Borax is a natural multipurpose cleaner and laundry booster that cleans painted walls, wallpaper, paneling and drywall. Dissolve 1/2 to 1 cup of borax in a gallon of lukewarm water. Use a long-handled spoon to mix the borax in the water until all the cleaning powder dissolves. Moisten a sponge in the borax mixture and gently scrub the walls clean. After you have thoroughly cleaned the walls, rinse the borax residue off the surface with a lint-free or microfiber cloth dampened with water.

Considerations

• Before beginning the cleaning process, wipe cobwebs and other surface debris off the wall with a clean dust mop. Furthermore, test the chosen cleaning solution on an inconspicuous location of the wall. If after waiting 24 hours, no damage or discoloration occurs, continue cleaning the wall as described. After you have cleaned the walls, keep them looking their best by wiping fingerprints and grime immediately off the surface with a damp cloth.