How to Clean Wallpaper From Dirt, Yellowing: Top 5 Best Remedies

Wallpaper, like any other surface, tends to get dirty from time or careless handling. If you have children or pets in the house, wallpaper stains will appear much faster.

How to clean non-washable wallpaper and not damage it

Before you start the cleaning process, you should carefully study the markings on the wallpaper. This is necessary to ensure that after cleaning the wall covering has not lost its attractive appearance and properties. All the information you need is indicated in the form of a pictogram in the form of waves:

  • one wave – resistant to moisture, can be wiped with a damp cloth;
  • two waves – allowed to wash with a damp sponge and soapy solution;
  • three waves – high water resistance, can be cleaned with different detergents.

Some models of wallpaper also show a brush – this means that they are resistant to abrasion. For example, if the wallpaper is marked in three waves + brush – it means that it can be rubbed intensively with a lot of water or detergents.

How to whiten yellowed wallpaper and what to wash it with

There are several remedies that are sure to be in the closet of a real housewife. You do not have to spend fabulous sums on them, but these substances will help you quickly clean the wallpaper.

  • Alcohol

If you need to clean wallpaper from red wine, fruit juice, or a marker, then alcohol is a great solution. Because alcohol is a solvent, it’s great at removing even these difficult stains. Soak a cotton swab in alcohol and rub the stain until it is completely gone. The same applies to sticker glue – in this case, you need to press a cotton swab soaked in alcohol to the stain and hold it for a while. The dirt will dissolve and be absorbed by moisture, and the alcohol will volatilize itself – there is no need to wash it off.

  • Vinegar, salt, or lemon

Acids are another effective remedy against any stains on the wallpaper. You need to choose a remedy depending on what kind of stains need to be removed. If you need to find out what to clean wallpaper from nicotine, grease, or alcohol markers, then your choice is citric acid or lemon juice. You need to dilute them in water, moisten a sponge and rub the stain until it disappears.

Vinegar cleans up wallpaper glue well – apply it in its pure form to the problem area, leave it for 5 minutes, and then wash it off. Hydrochloric acid in a 3 or 5% solution can be used if there are stains on the wallpaper from green. Apply the acid to a piece of cloth, treat the contamination, leave it for 5 minutes, and wipe with a sponge soaked in water.

  • Soap

Laundry soap or decorative soap can be used to remove mild stains and bring back the shine of the material. Dilute soap and water in a 1:10 ratio, soak a sponge in the solution, wash the wallpaper, and then wipe it dry. Usually, liquid soap is used, but if the stains are old and ingrained, it is better to take laundry soap and grate it and dissolve the shavings in water.

  • Peroxide

A pharmacy remedy that is effective against various dyes, blood stains, or juice stains. It can be used only on light-colored wallpaper, as peroxide is also able to lighten the material on which it falls. To get the desired result, soak a piece of cloth in peroxide and wipe the stain from the edges to the center. Once the entire area has been treated, rinse off the peroxide with clean water.

  • Soda or talcum powder

Baking soda is a well-known universal food powder that can be used to clean the floor of an apartment if desired. Dilute the soda with water to a pulp, apply it to the stain, and leave it for 20-30 minutes. After that, lightly rub the problem area on the wallpaper and wash it off with water.

An alternative option is talcum powder, which is wonderful at removing grease from wallpaper. It will work best if you use it as soon as you stain the wallpaper. It is necessary to sprinkle the talcum powder on the stain, cover it with paper and leave it for 15-20 minutes. After that, scrub with a soft brush. If there is no result, the procedure should be repeated again.

How to wash paper wallpaper, fleece, or vinyl

Wallpapers are different and differ not only in ornamentation or color but also in the material from which they are made. Paper can be one or two layers. The first case is shown only dry cleaning, but the multi-layered paper wallpaper can be easily damp-cleaned with a sponge.

Fleece also comes in one or two layers. One layer is glued, most often for painting – they are quite durable and easy to clean. Two-ply are foam or embossed vinyl, bamboo, and textile. If you do not know how to clean fleece wallpaper from dirt, then remember – these materials are best cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, so as not to spoil.

Vinyl – one of the most popular wallpapers, two-layer, in the basis – paper or fleece. On top of them is applied a vinyl polymer. Depending on the technology of its application it is necessary to choose and method of cleaning. If the surface is reflexed, then only dry cleaning of the wallpaper is available. If you have silkscreen or hot stamped vinyl, then you can safely rub them with a brush along with any detergents.

How to clean wash washable wallpaper in the kitchen from grease – instructions

If you have water-resistant wallpaper in your room or kitchen, which can be cleaned without fear of spoiling, do it right:

  • Brush, broom or vacuum the walls of dust;
  • Treat stains (if any) with any of the above products;
  • Prepare a suitable detergent solution;
  • soak a sponge in it and wipe the wallpaper
  • Rinse the detergent from the wallpaper with a cloth soaked in water;
  • wipe the wallpaper dry.

With such simple tips and simple manipulations, you can easily clean wallpaper from any stains.

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Written by Emma Miller

I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and own a private nutrition practice, where I provide one-on-one nutritional counseling to patients. I specialize in chronic disease prevention/ management, vegan/ vegetarian nutrition, pre-natal/ postpartum nutrition, wellness coaching, medical nutrition therapy, and weight management.

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