Can I Wash Home Wallpapers?

Can I Wash Home Wallpapers? Wallpapers can look spectacular, especially on a large wall in a living room or bedroom. They can be a fantastic way to inject personality into a room, and prioritize what’s important for the individual.

Most people are careful when selecting their wallpaper design, ensuring that they have the right color scheme, palette, and pattern. However, have you ever stopped to think about how to maintain and care for your wallpapers? Can I wash my wallpaper? The answer is YES! Some wallpapers are even water-resistant and can withstand a thorough cleaning.

Tips to Wash Home Wallpapers

1. Use of Wet Sponge

A wet sponge is the best way to remove most dust, dirt, and marks from your walls. A wet sponge can even be used to create a clean mirror-like surface on some walls, blurring imperfections and revealing the true definition of the wallpaper underneath. To get this effect on your walls, you should use a clean sponge to remove all the dust and dirt, then wipe the area again using a cloth to dry it off.

2. Wet Wipes

Wet wipes can be used as an alternative to a wet sponge. They are usually more convenient to carry around and they are also cheaper than sponges. For more thorough cleaning, you should use both wet sponges and wipes together.

3. Alcohol-Based Cleaners

For incredibly tough stains that can’t be removed with wet cleaning, you should consider using an alcohol-based cleaner to clean off your walls. You should mix the alcohol-based cleaner with water before using it to dilute the mixture. The alcohol-based cleaner should be applied on a cloth and then wiped off. This will leave a streak-free finish with the water-repellent properties that the alcohol has.

4. Vinegar

Vinegar is a chemical that has a similar effect to alcohol-based cleaners. Vinegar can be diluted with water before cleaning and the streak-free result will be the same.

5. Soap or Alternative Cleaning Agents

Other alternative cleaning agents such as dishwashing liquid, baby wipes, soft cleaning brushes, and cotton buds can also be used to clean your walls without damaging the wallpaper’s finish.

Wallpaper Maintenance Tips

i. Do not over-wet the wallpaper

Wallpapers are quickly ruined with experienced water damage on the surface. You should not use too much water when cleaning your wallpaper as this can cause the glue that holds the paper together to come apart. This will cause the paper to peel off from your wall and be ruined.

If you are washing with a sponge, you should allow excess water to drip from it before wiping the wall so that you do not overwhelm your wallpaper. You should also apply the cleaning agent on a cloth and not directly onto the paper as this will cause damage.

ii. Wipe gently

When cleaning your wallpaper, you should never rub too hard as this can cause the paper to be removed from your wall. You should wipe gently around the affected area instead.

You should clean your walls regularly to avoid damage to your wallpaper caused by dirt, grime, and stains. If you do not clean your walls regularly, more severe damage such as stains may occur which may be hard to remove. Cleaning your wallpaper at least once a month will prevent it from being ruined over time.

iii. Avoid using too harsh chemicals

Using too harsh chemicals can ruin your wallpaper. You should look for cleaning agents and products that are designed for use on wallpaper, or you can use vinegar diluted with water instead. The best way to avoid damaging your wallpaper is to test the cleaning solution on a small area of the wall first, such as near the floor or at a corner before using it on your whole wall.

iv. Do not expose to strong sunlight

You should avoid exposing your wallpaper to strong sunlight, UV rays, and high temperatures as this can damage the dye used in the paper and ruin its color. This will also cause parts of your wallpaper to become overexposed, which can fade or become damaged by sunlight. By avoiding exposure to these damaging factors, you can extend the life of your wallpaper and maintain its original white color.

v. Remove stains promptly

It is never too late to try and remove stains from your wallpaper. Even if you think the stain has already set in and penetrated the paper, you should still try and clean it off with wet wipes or an alcohol-based cleaner.

If the stain does not come out after several attempts, you can call a professional cleaning service for help. The longer you leave the stain on your wallpaper, the harder it will be to remove so you should try and remove stains as early as possible.

vi. Hire a professional

For stains that do not come out or go away through cleaning, you should hire a professional cleaning service. If you cannot remove the stain yourself then a professional cleaner may be able to remove it for you. Hire a professional cleaner if attempting to clean the stain yourself has not worked. Alternatively, you can also seek out help from friends or family members who are good at removing stains.

vi. Avoid excessive handling

Do not try and stick, unstick or reposition the wallpaper yourself unless you are a professional. Using your hands can cause the paper to tear or lose its original color and pattern. The glue in the paper is usually very strong and if you tear it with your hands, any cracks in the wallpaper will get worse over time.

The best way to avoid damaging your wallpaper is to call a professional to help you with wallpapering or if you are planning on repositioning the paper yourself, use wallpaperer’s putty instead of your fingers.

Can I Wash Home Wallpapers? – Conclusion

Wallpapers are a very important feature of your walls, so you should pay attention to the maintenance tips in this article that can help you to keep your wallpaper looking great.

Wallpaper is often an overlooked feature of your walls, but its importance cannot be ignored. It acts as a decorative element that gives your room a sense of style and character. Your wallpaper can also help to make your room look more spacious.