How to clean a white wall: each stain has its solution

Between the red wine from my wild parties, the marker stains from the kids, and the cooking grease from the kitchen, my walls have definitely seen better days. 

Whatever the reason, I’ve asked the favourite housekeepers available on Yoojo to share their best tips for getting rid of those unsightly stains on my white walls. 

Find an easy solution you can try for every type of stain before deciding on a complete wall cleaning service (like the one you can book on Yoojo) !!!

Magic sponge: the miracle recipe for your walls?

If you’ve been looking for a miracle product to clean your walls, you’ve probably come across the “magic sponge”. 

And it really is a good solution for removing many stains on your walls, but I’ve learned to be careful. 

The magic sponge is slightly abrasive and can spread stains on your walls. 

That’s why I always test it on a hidden part of the wall first. If all goes well, I gently rub the stain with the dampened sponge.  

For every type of stain, there’s a solution

Not all stains are created equal. For every problem, there’s a very specific solution. 

And even though the best solution is to hire a professional cleaner to take care of your walls, if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, here are all the stain-busting tricks I’ve discovered.

Discover our top-rated cleaners

Cleaning mould from walls: don’t make these mistakes

Before you dive into cleaning mouldy walls, be aware that this is a health hazard... it's best to call in a professional, especially if the stain is old and significant.

If the mould is just starting, you can easily prevent it from spreading. 

First of all, don’t tackle a mouldy wall with bleach. It tends to bleach everything. instead, use diluted ammonia (half water, half ammonia) on a dampened cloth to get the job done. 

If the mould is just beginning to form, dissolve a small amount of baking soda in warm water and spray it on the stain. Then clean it with a cloth.

Cleaning yellowed white walls

Over time, my walls start to yellow. This is especially true if you smoke indoors or have high humidity that eventually creates yellow stains on the walls.

To prevent this, the best technique is to regularly clean the walls with an anti-static broom to prevent stains from building up.

For already yellowed walls, mix some miracle-working baking soda into a large dose of hot water. Take a sponge and test it on a small, hidden section of the wall. If it works fine, gently rub the yellow stain.

Cleaning liquid stains on your walls: tea, coffee, soda, etc.

For stains from alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate, or soda, blot them immediately with paper towels. However, if they’ve dried and you couldn’t get to them in time, clean them with a cloth soaked in household alcohol.

Alternatively, you can use clay stone. Apply it with a dampened sponge and a bit of the clay stone for those tougher stains.  

Removing scuff marks from furniture: it’s easy

The solution here is simple. On a white wall, use a small amount of white toothpaste and dab it with a sponge. 

Repeat the process until the stain disappears! 

How to remove glue stains from walls

If you’ve spilled glue on the wall during a fun craft session with the kids, don’t worry. Start by scraping off as much glue as possible.

Then, use a damp sponge with a little acetone.

Take it slowly to avoid damaging the paint.

Cleaning red wine stains on a white wall: multiple solutions

If you accidentally spill red wine on your wall, get rid of the stain with a cloth dampened with soapy water and a couple of drops of household alcohol. 

If the stain persists, dab it with a cloth soaked in ammonia, then rinse with a damp sponge and dry. Another option is to use hydrogen peroxide to remove red wine stains from the wall.

For the toughest stains, use soda crystals. Clean the stains with a sponge soaked in a mixture of warm water and soda crystals (1 cup of crystals per litre of water). Rinse the cleaned area with a damp sponge and dry with a clean cloth.

I’ve got crayon, pen, and marker stains on a white wall

The kids are little artists and think the walls are canvases just waiting to be turned into masterpieces? No worries, there are solutions.

Clean pencil or crayon marks with a school rubber. For water-based paint stains on a painted wall, use a cloth soaked in household alcohol.

For ink stains, pen marks, or marker lines, use a clean cloth with household alcohol or try hairspray. Spray the hairspray on the stains, and when the ink starts to drip, blot it and repeat until the stain is gone. Then rinse the area with a damp sponge and dry it with a cloth.

Removing candle wax from a wall

For candle wax stains, carefully scrape off the excess and then clean the stain with a cloth soaked in turpentine.  Rinse with a damp sponge and dry the area.

Cleaning cigarette smoke from a white wall

For smoke or nicotine stains on the wall, clean the entire exposed wall with a cloth soaked in a mixture of water and soda crystals. Rinse and dry afterward.

And how to clean grease stains from a painted wall

To clean oil, grease, or food stains from a wall, you can use either a wet or dry cleaning method. The wet method involves using a cloth soaked in ammonia. Don’t forget to rinse after removing the stain. 

For dry cleaning, apply some dry clay or talcum powder to the grease stains and rub in a circular motion. Let the powder absorb the grease and repeat until it disappears.

Can’t get the stains out? 

It’s probably because the paint absorbed the stain, or you didn’t clean it fast enough! In that case, I’d suggest repainting. Don’t worry, you can also find painters on Yoojo who handle painting jobs for homes.

Conclusion: removing stains from a wall isn’t easy, but there are solutions

As you can see, there are as many cleaning techniques as there are types of stains, and getting rid of them isn’t a piece of cake. Sometimes, washing the entire wall is the only solution!

Start with a magic sponge, then try one of my techniques, and if the stain still persists, it might be time to call in a professional cleaner who can get rid of all your wall stains in one go: