Walls - to wash or not to wash?

eleanor73

Hello,

We've just bought our first family home and thankfully it is in great condition to move into. The previous owners had pictures up and the only noticeable dirt they have left is the marks around where they were - just that the walls surrounding them look dirty.

My question is - Should we try and wash the walls or just decide whether to give it a coat of paint? If it is possible to give the walls a wash what should we use? I know sugar soap is great before painting but would it take the paint off?

I remember when someone cleaned my Gran's house when she moved out they cleaned the walls and they came up great but have no idea what they used.

Thanks in advance.

Eleanor

missbiggles1

Sugar soap will get the dirt off but it won't remove the paint.

I'd wash with sugar soap (making sure you rinse it thoroughly) and see whether the end result is satisfactory. If not, you've got a good clean surface that you can paint.

joedenise

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Sugar soap will get the dirt off but it won't remove the paint.

I'd wash with sugar soap (making sure you rinse it thoroughly) and see whether the end result is satisfactory. If not, you've got a good clean surface that you can paint.

Agree, exactly what I was going to say. You've got nothing to lose by trying it.

Denise

prosaver

acetone works well

Rainy-Days

If it is just dust then hot soapy water (a good squirt of Fairy liquid) and a discloth should do the job and clean it off! I wash my skirting boards down twice per year and this is all I need!

eleanor73

Thanks everyone. I hope to just clean it and not have to paint it but yes sugar soap is probably a good idea as if the dirt doesn't come off i can paint. :beer:

FairyPrincessk

Quick tips

--dust the walls first to avoid creating mud

--wash from the bottom up. This helps to prevent streaks that are difficult to clean by ensuring any drips run onto a damp wall and are easy to wipe away.

Rainy-Days

Edited........

Vermillion

Missbiggles1 - Your behaviour towards Rainy-Days is simply unacceptable. You have made this posting to deliberately to inflame a confrontation once again.

The OP made a request in her posting that she wished to clean the walls. She would prefer to clean them - if possible without the need for repainting! Yes! eleanor73 had simply asked if it could be undertaken without the need for stripping the paint off the walls as the previous owners had left the property in good order. At no time did she state in her OP that it was her ferevent wish to repaint them, but simply posed the question could it be done without that need. eleanor73 stated that if she needed to repaint then it would have to be done.

You then took issue with Rainy-Days posting by stating that it would not give a base for painting! You have taken it upon yourself to do this, once again, because you have a direct issue with her. You were warned previously about your behaviour and frankly it is seriously found wanting yet again.

There was absolutely no need whatsoever on your part to quote Rainy-Days post but you did so to provoke a reaction and this was a deliberate and cohesive act on your part. There are allot of us who are tired of your acts, but specifically your abuse of any board members who you seem to take a flight of fancy to in order to cause issue is getting tiresome.

You are asked specifically to desist with your behaviour with immediate effect. It is unwarranted and uncalled for.

missbiggles1

Vermillion wrote: »

Missbiggles1 - Your behaviour towards Rainy-Days is simply unacceptable. You have made this posting to deliberately to inflame a confrontation once again.

The OP made a request in her posting that she wished to clean the walls. She would prefer to clean them - if possible without the need for repainting! Yes! eleanor73 had simply asked if it could be undertaken without the need for stripping the paint off the walls as the previous owners had left the property in good order. At no time did she state in her OP that it was her ferevent wish to repaint them, but simply posed the question could it be done without that need. eleanor73 stated that if she needed to repaint then it would have to be done.

You then took issue with Rainy-Days posting by stating that it would not give a base for painting! You have taken it upon yourself to do this, once again, because you have a direct issue with her. You were warned previously about your behaviour and frankly it is seriously found wanting yet again.

There was absolutely no need whatsoever on your part to quote Rainy-Days post but you did so to provoke a reaction and this was a deliberate and cohesive act on your part. There are allot of us who are tired of your acts, but specifically your abuse of any board members who you seem to take a flight of fancy to in order to cause issue is getting tiresome.

You are asked specifically to desist with your behaviour with immediate effect. It is unwarranted and uncalled for.

I have absolutely no idea what you're on about and have no idea who the other poster is. I posted a perfectly simple and polite comment - why either of you has taken offence I don't know - you're completely reading something that isn't there.

Slinky

Ignoring WW3 above, it would make most sense to wash the walls with sugar soap than anything else, as if you don't and the dirt doesn't come off, you'll have to wash it again with sugar soap before painting.