The battle for cleanliness: is it possible to wash walls painted with water-based paint?

Theoretically, it is possible to wash walls and ceilings painted with water-based paint, since small particles of polymers and plasticizers form a film on the surface. But in practice, not everything is so simple: if you do not know what type of dye was used during the repair, it is easy to damage the decorative layer.

When emulsion and emulsion are different

For the production of water-based paints, several polymers with different properties are used. The most popular among them are:

• Silicate – forms a coating that allows the walls to “breathe”, but is not moisture-proof. Only wiping with a well-wrung out sponge or cloth is allowed.
• Latex – perfectly passes steam, while retaining water. It can be washed without fear of disturbing the structure of the paint.
• Acrylic – its properties are better than silicate, but in many ways inferior to latex. If exposure to moisture is short, it is quite capable of withstanding washing.
• Silicone – today this is the best polymer, which is absolutely not afraid of contact with water and is suitable for frequent washing.

Preparing for cleaning

Traditionally, the most contaminated rooms are the hallway and kitchen. There, the maximum amount of dust settles on the walls and ceilings, which must be eliminated first. If you skip this stage and immediately begin wet cleaning, the appearance of the paint will be hopelessly ruined by gray-black stains.

The easiest way to go over painted surfaces is with a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush. Wiping with a flannelette or any other cotton cloth with lint wrapped around a mop or broom will take a little more time. You can take an old towel for this purpose - terry or waffle.

If you have a wood-burning fireplace or stove, it is important to remove all soot from the walls and ceiling. If a vacuum cleaner and a dry rag do not cope with the task, remove the black coating using a wide paint brush.

During work, you need to protect your eyes and respiratory tract from dust. Large sunglasses and a respirator are suitable for this. But a medical mask allows small dry particles to pass through, so it is useless to use.

Detergents: do's and don'ts

For washing walls and ceilings painted with water-based paint, only liquid household products that do not contain solvents, bleaches and other caustic components, including essential oils, are suitable.

Also, you should not use cleaning and washing powders - they do not completely dissolve in water and can eat into the coating. Then it will be difficult to get rid of the persistent chemical smell in the room.

Tools you can't do without

Even before you start cleaning, you need to prepare the following set:

• two buckets or basins, one of which is intended for clean water, and the second for soap solution.
• a soft and clean rag (if the walls are painted white or beige, then the fabric should have a similar color);
• several brushes with low-stiffness bristles - they will be needed to remove stains;
• stepladder (without it it will be difficult to wash the ceiling).

Also, do not forget about personal protective equipment.Getting detergents into your eyes is just as unpleasant as clogging your mucous membranes with dust.

Removing stains

Most often, stains form on the walls - next to the switches. The fat that is on every person’s fingers dries to the paint layer by layer, forming an unsightly, greasy “edge.” It is extremely difficult to get rid of this pollution. If the surface is white and matte, professional cleaners recommend lightly rubbing it with a light-colored eraser. In all other cases, it is better to wash off the old paint and apply a fresh layer of emulsion.

You can remove children's drawings from the walls if they are made with a simple pencil and occupy a small area. Here again the eraser will come to the rescue. But traces from an alcohol felt-tip pen will disappear only after repairs are carried out.

Grease that gets on kitchen walls and ceilings is first softened. To do this, apply a solution to the contaminated area with a sponge, which consists of 4 tablespoons of soda or table salt and a liter of water. This method is effective for fresh stains; old ones cannot be removed.

Rules for washing walls and ceilings coated with water-based emulsion

To preserve the decorative qualities of the paint, it is important to clean it correctly:

• During the washing process, only soap solution can be used. In undiluted form, detergents destroy the polymer layer.
• It is forbidden to rub the painted surface with force, otherwise a bald spot will form there.
• Frequently washing certain areas of the wall or ceiling leads to fading of the paint and the appearance of an unsightly light stain.

Washing walls or ceilings painted with water-based paint is not so difficult if the purpose of cleaning is to remove dust. But it is better to prevent the appearance of persistent stains.