How to clean flat paint without damaging the finish

Q: How do I clean walls, especially those with flat paint that seems to peel or crumble when I wipe it down?

A: Paint comes in an array of sheen levels, with high gloss at one end of the spectrum and flat paint at the other. Glossy paint dries to a very smooth surface and reflects light almost like a mirror. Flat paint has a slightly rough texture. Think of it as grit popping up from a thin layer of resin holding the particles in place. That roughness keeps the surface from reflecting light in a uniform way; the light bounces off in so many different angles that you don’t really detect whether the surface bulges out over repairs or seams between sheets of drywall.

You’d probably never want to use flat paint on intricate trim because you wouldn’t discern the contrasting shapes. But if you’re a builder or remodeler trying to make sheets of drywall or patched areas appear completely smooth, using flat paint can save you a lot of work. And it’s usually cheaper, too, because it contains less resin than other paints. It’s often used in apartments and other rentals.

Advertisement

Its ability to hide uneven surfaces comes at a price: Flat paint is notoriously difficult to clean without leaving a trace. Splashes or other grime can settle into the rough texture and become hard to remove. And the mere act of scrubbing can burnish flat paint, changing how it reflects light. Flat paint is a good choice for ceilings, which are hard to sand smooth and aren’t likely to collect fingerprints. But it’s not a good option in a kitchen, bathroom or child’s room. Some designers promote flat paint as a sign of luxury, perhaps reflecting the fact that the velvety look isn’t very practical. If the walls get dirty and you want to clean them without leaving shiny patches, you might need to repaint.

But even flat paint should not peel or crumble if you wipe it down. If that happens, it’s likely because the surface wasn’t prepared properly before it was painted. The wall could have been dirty or damp, or maybe the painter skipped using a primer on new drywall or used the wrong kind. (Polyvinyl acetate primer, often referred to as PVA primer, is the type specifically recommended for new drywall. It seals both the paper facing on the drywall and the joint compound used over seams and screw heads, so the surface takes paint uniformly.) Or maybe the paint was especially cheap, with too little resin.

To clean walls with flat paint, especially ones where the paint comes off when you rub, you might want to confine your efforts to spot-cleaning unless you are prepping for new paint. Begin in the same way you’d clean glossier walls:

• Remove loose dirt by dusting the wall with a soft brush on a wand or a vacuum cleaner.
• Then mix a cleaning solution of warm water with a little hand-dishwashing detergent.
• Instead of scrubbing the wall as you would for other paints, spot-clean in the way carpet manufacturers recommend cleaning up spills without matting the fibers: Dab on the cleaning solution, wait a bit to give it time to dissolve or loosen the stain, then dab again.
• Use a soft cloth or a sponge — definitely not a scrub brush or an abrasive pad — and wring it out so you don’t get drips down the wall or onto the floor.
• If the cleaning solution starts looking grimy, mix a fresh batch.
• If stains remain, Sherwin-Williams recommends spot-cleaning again with a paste of baking soda and water. Or you can dip your damp cloth or sponge into a mound of baking soda in a bowl.
• Remember that with flat paint, scrubbing will, in effect, polish the areas you scrub. They will wind up shinier than the surrounding wall. Are shiny patches on a clean wall better than dirty spots on a wall without shiny patches? That’s up to you to decide.

If you do decide to repaint, choose a sheen that’s appropriate for the room. Here are things to keep in mind:

• The higher the sheen, the easier the paint is to clean without altering its look.
• A Sherwin-Williams guide to selecting appropriate sheen levels suggests flat paint only for rooms where you don’t expect to need to clean the walls, such as a formal living room or a bedroom for adults. Matte paint would work well there, too, and it’s also suitable for living and dining rooms.
• Where the risk of fingerprints and scuff marks is higher — hallways, children’s rooms, family rooms — go for satin or eggshell paint.
• For kitchens and bathrooms, which need frequent cleaning, semi-gloss stands up best.
• Glossy paints are ideal for trim, cabinets and doors.

Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@washpost.com. Put “How To” in the subject line, tell us where you live and try to include a photo.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLWwucRoaWlqZGR9eHuQa2atoaCoeqS4xJqloqaXYrOtrdNmp5qhnql6uK3Lpapo