How to Clean Painted Walls

Keep your walls clean and fresh without damaging the existing paint with these helpful tips.

A person in a red shirt leaning against a handrail and holding a yellow cloth to clean a food stain off a white-painted staircase wall.

Get step-by-step guidance on how to clean a painted wall.

How to Clean a Painted Wall

Pencil, pen, lipstick, marker, coffee, crayon—even the errant soccer ball: your walls face unavoidable wear and tear every day. Luckily, when you use premium-level latex paint—the most common type of interior paint—wall cleaning is easy.

Ideally, your walls are painted with a high-quality interior paint like Regal^® Select Interior. Regal Select Interior resists stains, spills and scuffs. And its durable finish washes clean without losing colour or sheen integrity.

Just painted? Here are some tips on caring for newly painted walls:

Ideally, wait at least 2 weeks for newly painted walls to cure before dusting and cleaning them using the cleaning tips below.

If spills or stains DO happen, after 4-6 hours of painting you can safely clean the newly painted wall using the cleaning tips noted below.

If you want to know how to clean walls, we’ve got you covered. To remove scuffs and stains on any latex-painted wall, here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies Checklist: Cleaning Painted Walls

Rubber gloves
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Dry and clean soft towels or rags
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Vacuum cleaner
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Two buckets

Two non-abrasive sponges or microfiber cloths
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Warm water
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Mild dishwashing soap

For tougher stains, your choice of all-purpose cleaners like Method^®, Fantastik^® and Formula 409^®; Simple green^®, and plant-derived cleaners like Mrs. Meyers^® Clean Day

Supplies Checklist: Cleaning Painted Walls

Rubber gloves
checkmark icon

Clean dry soft towels and rags
checkmark icon

Vacuum cleaner
checkmark icon

Two buckets
checkmark icon

Two non-abrasive sponges or microfiber cloths
checkmark icon

Warm water
checkmark icon

Mild dishwashing soap)
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For tougher stains, your choice of all-purpose cleaners like Method^®, Fantastik^® and Formula 409^®; Simple green^®, and plant-derived cleaners like Mrs. Meyers^® Clean Day

Step #1: Inspect the Wall

Knowing the finish of your wall helps to determine your level of exertion to avoid damaging the paint. Generally speaking:

The higher the gloss or sheen, the easier to clean, e.g. satin/pearl, semi-gloss, high gloss.

The lower the sheen, the gentler you need to be, e.g. flat, matte, eggshell.

Step #2: Prep

Prepare one bucket for the washing solution.

Prepare one bucket for the clean rinse water.

Place towels or rags along the floors and baseboards to catch any excess dirt, dust, or water to protect your floors.

Step #3: Try Water First

How do you wash walls? One of the best cleaning agents is simply water, so let’s start there.

Before washing walls, be sure to dust your walls first. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum to gently remove any surface dust and dirt.

Gently rub easier stains and scuffs using warm water and a large, non-abrasive sponge.

Pro Tip Spotlight:

Never use glass or household spray cleaners on painted walls. They contain strong solvents that can damage the finish.

Pro Tip Spotlight:

Never use glass or household spray cleaners on painted walls. They contain strong solvents that can damage the finish.

Step #4: Try a Gentle Cleaning Solution

If warm water isn’t effective on marks, scuffs and stains, advance to a mixture of warm water and mild dish detergent.

Using rubber gloves to protect your hands, begin washing at the bottom of the wall, working your way up, so the cleaning solution does not run down the wall and cause streaks that may be difficult to remove.

Work in small, manageable sections, rubbing gently in a circular motion to avoid damaging the paint.

Rinse the cleaning solution as you go using warm water and sponge from your bucket.

Step #5: Consider a Stronger Cleaner for Tougher Stains

For tougher stains, you can use one of the below products, choosing the one that best works for your interior environment, and being careful not to use them together:

All-purpose cleaners like Method^®, Fantastik^® and Formula 409^®and Simple Green^®

Plant-derived cleaners like Mrs. Meyers^® Clean Day

Once you’ve identified your product:

For best results, be sure to follow the manufacturers’ instructions on the bottle.

Clean from the bottom of your wall up, to avoid streaks and drips running down the wall

Don’t rub or scrub too hard: Let the solution do the work.

Rub gently in a circular motion to avoid damaging the paint.

Helpful Tip

The higher the gloss or sheen, the easier to clean. The lower the sheen, the more gentle you need to be.

Helpful Tip

The higher the gloss or sheen, the easier to clean. The lower the sheen, the more gentle you need to be.

Step #6: Dry Walls

Dry off excess moisture with a soft, absorbent cloth.

Step #7: Start with Premium Paint

Remember: Life’s best moments can be messy. With high quality paint on your walls, like Regal^® Select Interior and other premium Benjamin Moore paints, you’re ready to face every-day wear and tear with a smile.

Interested in learning more?

Check out these professional tips and tricks:

How to prepare walls for painting: Covers sanding, removing mildew, priming, and a helpful video.

How to paint interior walls: Set yourself up for success and watch the step-by-step video for expert guidance.

How to paint window trim: Freshen up any space by giving windows a fresh coat of paint.

Find more step-by-step tips on our How-To for Interiors and How-To for Exteriors pages. And as always, for the best expert insights on painting-related questions, visit your local Benjamin Moore store.

Regal^® Select Interior

Ready to paint? Choose Regal^® Select Interior which resists stains, spills and scuffs from the outset, and provides a durable finish that washes clean without losing colour or sheen integrity.

A bright blue-painted mudroom with built-in cabinets, bench and drawers, hanging straw bags and hats, and playful blue and white rug.

Key Features

Benefits

Resistance to stains, spills, scuffs, marring and burnishing

Stands up to everyday wear and tear

Durable, washable finish

Wash clean without losing colour or sheen integrity

Unbeatable flow and leveling

Achieve professional results every time

Excellent hide and fast-drying

Complete projects faster and with fewer coats, even clean off-whites

Smooth to the touch

Provides a beautiful finish

Mildew-resistant coating

Stands up to humidity

Engineered with Gennex^® Colour Technology

Contributes to superior hide and colour retention across all Benjamin Moore colours

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is acrylic paint washable?

A. Yes, acrylic paint is washable. The critical factor is timing: If you spill acrylic paint, wipe it up as quickly as possible with a soft rag. Use warm water and a sponge to make sure all of it comes up. Isopropyl alcohol or anything with acetone will help remove more stubborn paint spots on surfaces. On fabric, dishwashing soap, isopropyl alcohol or acetone-based nail polish remover typically works as well.

Don’t forget to test isopropyl alcohol, or any cleaning agent, on an inconspicuous place to make sure it doesn’t cause damage prior to using it on any surface or fabric. As for washing acrylic painted walls, refer to our guide on how to clean painted walls for step-by-step guidance. Get more tips on preparing walls for painting. And remember: do not wash newly painted walls until they have cured for two weeks after its initial painting.

Q. Is acrylic paint washable on skin?

A. Yes, acrylic paint can be washed off of skin with warm water, soap and a washcloth. Wash it off as quickly as possible to avoid having to use too much pressure.

Q. How do you wash walls before painting?

A. Most walls can be washed using a sponge and warm water. For walls with exposure to oil or grime, like kitchen walls, wash with a solution of water and grease-cutting detergent and follow up with clean water to remove any residual cleaning agent. Finish by wiping the walls with a damp cloth. Most importantly, make sure you let everything dry thoroughly as painting damp walls creates a host of issues. Want to learn more? Get more tips on preparing walls for painting.

Q. What is the best way to scrub walls.

A. Never scrub your walls—always take a gentle approach. First, dust walls. Then gently rub easier stains and scuffs using warm water and a large, non-abrasive sponge. For tougher stains, try either an all-purpose cleaner or a plant-derived cleaner. Refer to our guide on how to clean painted walls for step-by-step guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is acrylic paint washable?

A. Yes, acrylic paint is washable. The critical factor is timing: If you spill acrylic paint, wipe it up as quickly as possible with a soft rag. Use warm water and a sponge to make sure all of it comes up. Isopropyl alcohol or anything with acetone will help remove more stubborn paint spots on surfaces. On fabric, dishwashing soap, isopropyl alcohol or acetone-based nail polish remover typically works as well.

Don’t forget to test isopropyl alcohol, or any cleaning agent, on an inconspicuous place to make sure it doesn’t cause damage prior to using it on any surface or fabric. As for washing acrylic painted walls, refer to our guide on how to clean painted walls for step-by-step guidance. Get more tips on preparing walls for painting. And remember: do not wash newly painted walls until they have cured for two weeks after its initial painting.

Q. Is acrylic paint washable on skin?

A. Yes, acrylic paint can be washed off of skin with warm water, soap and a washcloth. Wash it off as quickly as possible to avoid having to use too much pressure.

Q. How do you wash walls before painting?

A. Most walls can be washed using a sponge and warm water. For walls with exposure to oil or grime, like kitchen walls, wash with a solution of water and grease-cutting detergent and follow up with clean water to remove any residual cleaning agent. Finish by wiping the walls with a damp cloth. Most importantly, make sure you let everything dry thoroughly as painting damp walls creates a host of issues. Want to learn more? Get more tips on preparing walls for painting.

Q. What is the best way to scrub walls.

A. Never scrub your walls—always take a gentle approach. First, dust walls. Then gently rub easier stains and scuffs using warm water and a large, non-abrasive sponge. For tougher stains, try either an all-purpose cleaner or a plant-derived cleaner. Refer to our guide on how to clean painted walls for step-by-step guidance.