How to clean flat paint. Paint that is labeled “flat” tends to be less glossy than standard gloss paint.
This paint type provides the benefit of making dented or rough walls appear more uniform and even by not reflecting light when applied to the surface.
Glossier paints create a smoother appearance, but they can make dents stand out and can look dirty quicker. While it may seem like painting a room with flat paint will prevent water from being absorbed.
Some models are designed to actually attract moisture as part of their design concept. The flat properties of this type of paint only affect how it looks.
How to clean flat paint
To remove stubborn stains from walls that have been painted with flat paint, use a damp sponge or cloth and rub the stained areas gently. Then add vinegar to your damp sponge or cloth, and scrub.
If you can still see the stain after the solution has dried, wash the area again with an eraser sponge capable of rubbing paint off walls.
Takedown wall art and move furniture
To provide adequate cleaning space and make it easier to clean, remove ALL of the items hanging on the walls and move furniture away from them so that you have room to move a step stool around freely.
Remove dust from walls
To brighten flat paint, dust it to remove cobwebs and dust that settles on the surface. Starting at the top of the wall.
Use a vacuum with a dusting or upholstery brush on an extendable wand or a microfiber duster to remove dust and cobwebs. Work slowly down the wall in small sections.
If you are using a disposable duster, change to a clean duster as it becomes heavily soiled. Always use a sturdy step stool or ladder when reaching high spots.
Start with water and vinegar
Warm water should be placed in a bucket. Use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to soak up the water.
Wring the water until it is no longer dripping. As you work your way around the room, work in small sections
If warm water alone doesn’t do the trick, try adding a very small amount of vinegar to your water or even a few drops of mild detergent.
Sponge Specialties
Sometimes stains are a pain to clean. With white melamine sponges such as that made by the leading brand “Mr. Clean” or “Magic Eraser”, you don’t have to worry about marring your painted walls in any way or form.
As long as your wall isn’t too dark of a color, these sponges won’t leave any white residue and are considered non-abrasive (so it won’t strip off the paint finish if you rub for too long).
To touch up the paint
Touching up paint may come in handy insomuch as you don’t have to hire someone to repaint the entire wall just yet if you find that no other brush is working or there’s not a good match available for what you have on hand.
Touch-up paints are great, especially if you’re looking to simply re-color an area without messing with the rest of the coatings.
It’s best if you can find a touch-up paint that uses the identical undercoat because otherwise, the spot will look different when dried.
The Last Resort
If you have run out of matching paint and all your previous methods have failed, you can always repaint the entire wall if you have enough.
In the long run, this will obviously take more time and preparation, but you’ll achieve the desired look of a perfectly clean wall.
Cover stains with touch-up paint
If you have scuff marks or other stains on your walls that cannot be removed, try covering them with a fresh coat of paint.
The best time to do a touch-up is before the walls are dry because as the wall dries, paint that is applied becomes much harder to blend with the existing paint.
Crayon and oily splatters are easily fixed with a fresh layer of flat paint because crayon does not stain flat paint but will stain semi-gloss and high gloss paints.
How to clean flat paint
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