Washing down walls - soot marks

mancbird

Hi everybody

We have a multi fuel burner in our living room and I've noticed that our walls are starting to look quite dingy and soot stained

What would be the best way of cleaning these walls? I was thinking sugar soap but wasn't sure if this would just strip the paint from the walls? The walls are painted in matt emulsion paint.

Also, we have fabric lampshades in this room and they are looking a mess because of the soot what would be the best way to clean these or will I just have to get new ones?

Finally, if I was to use my hoover to clean up the sooty mess round the back of the fireplace, would this wreck my hoover? I'm currently pregnant and find it awkward to get round there with a dustpan and brush!!!!

Sorry for all the questions, hope someone is able to help!!!

Thank you,

Mancbird xxx

grannigrunt

hi Mancbird If you are going to use the brush from your hoover it would probably need a good wash afterwards before you used it on anything else. These fires are lovely but can make a mess. I use an old hoover that I keep in the garage to clean behind mine. You can always use the brush accessory to clean your lampshades or I think I've heard of people using rolled up bread but I've never tried this. If the shades don't have glue on them try washing them in the shower. Not sure about the walls at all. If they are particularly dirty from soot you would have to brush them down first before you put any water on....but someone else will probably be along to give you a better idea of how to deal with them.:)

sandraroffey

try brushing the walls first, then use a strong solution of sugar soap. its very good. then it may need a quick coat of paint, but either way, sugar soap is good. or even, neat onto a cloth and scrub the wall with it - JIF. shifts anything. good luck.xx

Gigervamp

The trouble with matt paint is that it tends to be very easy to rub off. It doesn't come off in flakes, but kind of fades. I think you'll have to give it a good scrub (washing up liquid and hot water) and re-paint that bit.

Soot is very greasy. We don't have a fire, but do have a fireplace and the soot comes down in bad weather and it's really annoying!

I use my normal hoover to clean it out after getting the worst of the soot with a dustpan and brush. (That probably doesn't apply to you as your soot is what's got into the room through burning, but it might help others.)

Most vacuum cleaners nowadays have several filters that can be washed, so I don't know if hoovering would be too much of a problem. i.e, causing a problem by clogging up the hoover.

Re the lampshades. I've heard about the bread trick, (always wondered how the original person to do that thought of it!) or like another poster suggested, just stick it in the shower. If it comes unstuck from the frame, you can try using a glue to stick it back on. If that doesn't work, you could always recover it.

mancbird

Thanks everyone, lots of good ideas here I think I'll try the washing up liquid first as I'd have to go into town to get sugar soap. I'd have never have thought to put the lampshades in the shower but will give that a go too!

zippychick

as this has dropped down the board ive moved it to the in my home board to see if yuo can get some other suggestions

Zip