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

Theoretically, it is possible to wash the walls and ceiling 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 emulsion is different

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

• Silicate - forms a coating that allows the walls to "breathe", but is not waterproof. Only rubbing with a well-wrung sponge or rag is allowed.
• Latex - perfectly passes steam, while retaining water. It can be washed without fear of breaking the structure of the paint.
• Acrylic - in its properties is better than silicate, but in many ways inferior to latex. If the exposure to moisture is short-lived, it is able to withstand washing.
• Silicone - today it is the best polymer that is completely not afraid of contact with water and is suitable for frequent washing.

Preparation for cleaning

Traditionally, the most polluted premises are the entrance hall and the kitchen. There, the maximum amount of dust settles on the walls and ceilings, which must be eliminated first. If you skip this step and immediately start wet cleaning, the appearance of the paint will be hopelessly spoiled by gray-black stains.

The easiest way is to walk along painted surfaces with a soft brush vacuum cleaner. It will take a little longer to wipe with flannelette or any other cotton cloth with a pile wound around a mop or broom. You can take an old towel for this purpose - terry or waffle.

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

During operation, eyes and respiratory tract must be protected from dust. For this, large sunglasses and a respirator are suitable. But the medical mask allows small dry particles to pass through, so it is useless to use it.

Detergents: what is possible and what is not

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

Also, do not use cleaning and washing powders - they are not completely dissolved in water and are able to 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

Before starting cleaning, you need to prepare such a set:

• two buckets or a basin, one of which is for clean water, and the second for soapy water.
• soft and clean rag (if the walls are painted with white or beige paint, then the fabric should have the same color);
• several brushes with a pile of low rigidity - they will be needed to eliminate stains;
• a step ladder (without it it will be difficult to wash the ceiling).

Also do not forget about personal protective equipment. Detergents in the eyes are as unpleasant as dust in the mucous membranes.

Stain removal

Most often, spots form on the walls - next to the switches.The fat that is on the fingers of each person, layer by layer, dries to the paint, forming an ugly greasy “edging”. Getting rid of this pollution is extremely difficult. If the surface is white and matte, professional cleaners recommend rubbing it lightly with a light eraser. In all other cases, it is better to wash off the old paint and apply a fresh coat 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 the traces of the alcohol marker will disappear only after the repair.

The grease that has got on the kitchen walls and ceilings is pre-softened. For this, a solution is applied with a sponge to the contaminated area, which consists of 4 tablespoons of soda or sodium chloride and a liter of water. This method is effective for fresh spots; it’s impossible to withdraw the inveterate.

Rules for washing walls and ceilings covered with a water-based emulsion

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

• Only a soap solution can be used in the washing process. Diluted detergents destroy the polymer layer.
• It is forbidden to rub the painted surface with an effort, otherwise a bald spot will form there.
• Frequent washing of certain sections of the wall or ceiling leads to fading of the paint and the appearance of an ugly light spot.

It is not so difficult to wash the walls or ceiling painted with water-based paint if the purpose of cleaning is to remove dust. But the appearance of persistent stains is best avoided.