After you’ve installed your wallpaper, you can make the most of it by keeping it looking good. Ensuring your wallpaper is taken care of helps preserve its colors and prolongs its life. Taking care of your wallpaper, it goes without saying, involves cleaning it from time to time.
Most wallpaper manufacturers include instructions on how to clean the wallpaper; They label their products as “washable” or “scrubbable.” While most of today’s wallpapers are made from coated vinyl, which makes cleaning a bit easier, some wallpapers still require meticulous cleaning measures to ensure optimal preservation of your fabrics. The cleaning process also varies, depending on the stains you have on your wallpaper. If you see any stains or stains, it is best to wipe them immediately before the stain settles deep into the fabric.
If it is on the kitchen wallpaper or the edge of the laundry room wallpaper, you can immediately wipe it off with a damp cloth. Wallpapers installed in high-activity, high-humidity rooms like these are more prone to staining. Most of the wallpaper in the kitchen, the edge of the laundry wallpaper, and those used for children’s rooms are made of vinyl, which is more resistant to water and stains, and much more durable than vinyl. paper.
It is important to remember that cleaning vinyl-based wallpaper is different than cleaning paper-based.
As mentioned above, manufacturers have a manual on how to clean wallpaper, but here are some general guidelines for keeping wallpaper flawless:
For simple dust and dirt:
1. Cover the floor with plastic to prevent damage from excess water and spills;
2. Remove solid dust and dirt particles with a brush;
3. Add a mild detergent to a bucket 2/3 full of water, enough to produce a few bubbles;
4. With a sponge, soak and then squeeze out excess water and wipe the wall from top to bottom;
5. Rinse the sponge constantly and repeat step 4 until the entire wall is covered;
6. With a dry towel, wipe excess moisture from the wall.
The same process can be done on kitchen wallpaper, laundry wallpaper edge, and other vinyl-based wallpapers. For stubborn stains, here’s what to do:
For pencils:
1. Rub Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the stained area, that alone is enough to remove any crayon stains;
2. If there is no Mr. Clean Magic Eraser around, moisten a damp cloth with a mild detergent (do not use harsh abrasives as they can damage the fabric and the colors of the wallpaper);
3. Dry the wall with a towel.
For marker stains:
If the marker is washable and the stain is on vinyl-based wallpaper, such as kitchen wallpaper or laundry wallpaper border, a simple buffing with a damp towel can remove the stain; otherwise, you must do the following:
1. Clean the stain with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser;
2. If Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is not available, apply a paste made of water and baking soda to the stain and towel;
3. Rub the stained area GENTLY;
4. If the baking soda paste fails; apply alcohol and rub gently (test alcohol on a replacement wallpaper strip first; alcohol can cause discoloration and major damage to most wallpapers).
Stains that have already embedded in the wallpaper are difficult to remove and may require the use of solvents. For your protection, always wear gloves to protect your hands.