Is it possible to wash wallpaper before painting? Analyzing materials

Over time, stains from fingers, food, ink, and felt-tip pens appear on any wall covering, and dirt and grime accumulate. The walls in the kitchen, nursery and hallway get especially dirty. There is not always a desire to take on repairs. Is it possible to wash wallpaper before painting? There is no definite answer to this question; it all depends on the type of roll product and the paint applied to it.

What types of wallpaper can be painted?

Today, the building materials market sells several types of wallpaper for painting. All of them have a textured pattern. Usually the rolls have a neutral white color, but you can also see plain colored ones.

There are 4 types of wallpaper for painting:

paper;
fiberglass;
non-woven.

Paper-based wallpaper is the most short-lived type of roll product; its base quickly becomes wet when exposed to moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended to wash them; all dirt from the wall surface is removed using a dry cloth, an eraser and a vacuum cleaner.

Fiberglass is particularly durable and has a long service life. Wet cleaning is permitted provided that the material is not subjected to strong impact. Simply put, you don't need to rub them too hard.

Advice
If the wallpaper is dirty, run a paint roller over the stain. You will not only hide the resulting defect, but also refresh the color of the wall.

Non-woven wallpaper is created on the basis of pressed viscose.The material can be cleaned using detergents, but it all depends on what kind of paint was used.

If a water-based composition is applied over non-woven wallpaper, the stains are removed with a damp cloth slightly moistened with water. When using acrylic, water-dispersed or latex coatings, it is allowed to use non-aggressive detergents.

Attention to the label

It’s easy to find out the roll’s resistance to moisture: all care information is contained on the label. So, if there is:

Wave 1 - such products cannot be washed, they are wiped with a well-wrung out damp cloth;
2 waves - you can use neutral means;
3 waves with a comb - this material can be cleaned with a brush and a washing vacuum cleaner.

Rules for washing wallpaper

Provided that the marking allows for wet cleaning, proceed with the process:

First, go over the wall with a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust that has settled on the surface. If the repair was carried out a long time ago, turn on the unit at low power.
Dampen a rag or sponge in a soapy solution and quickly wipe the stain, avoiding getting the material wet. Try not to press too hard, otherwise the coating will be damaged.
Remove any remaining moisture with a dry cloth.

Advice from purity-en.htgetrid.com magazine
Do not leave the wet area in a draft or near a heating device, otherwise the fabric will come off.

Paintable wallpaper is a practical interior solution; it allows you to update your home without much effort. All you have to do is repaint the walls. And if the coating is resistant to moisture, it can be easily cleaned with detergents.