The Ultimate Guide to Clean Any Interior or Exterior Wall [2025]

Just like cleaning windows or occasional floor scrubbing, walls in your property, interior and exterior, require a bit of attention every once in a while. Cleaning walls is not an easy task but it is necessary for several reasons like property value and building aesthetics. But how to clean them? Each type of wall requires special treatment and it’s important to know how to clean them properly to finish with a good, satisfactory result.

In this article, we’ll explore how to clean the most common types of walls properly.

Why Should You Clean Interior & Exterior Walls?

Many people believe that walls don’t require specific attention when it comes to cleaning. However, there are several reasons for cleaning interior walls once a year and cleaning exterior walls once per year or every two years.

Here are some common reasons to clean interior or exterior walls:

Cleaning dust and grime that have accumulated on the surface of the wall and have caused discolouration.
Cleaning cobwebs or other germs formed in wall grouts.
Improving room lighting.
Identifying issues like cracks early and fix.
Reducing the amount of dust and improving air quality.
Cleaning stains off wallpapers.
Maintaining wood panelling and expanding their lifespan.
Improving property aesthetics and value.

Before You Begin!

You should suddenly jump into cleaning the walls. There are some precautions you should consider:

Test the cleaning technique or cleaning chemical you want to use on a small patch on the wall surface to ensure it is effective and doesn’t cause damage.
Don’t clean or scrub the wall with abrasive scrubbers to avoid scratching paints, wood panelling or wallpaper or avoid creating more dust and soil on exterior walls than you want to clean.
Clean both interior and exterior walls section by section to avoid streaks as well as physical fatigue.
Protect the floor by laying down towels, old bed sheets or old newspaper to avoid damaging it.
Always use appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves, safety glasses and, if working at heights, a safety helmet.
If cleaning walls using a ladder, make sure the ladder is secured in place and is not on a slippery surface.

Brick or Stone Walls

To clean interior brick or stone walls, you can start by dusting them using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a dry cloth. Then, use a mixture of water and mild detergent or, if you prefer green cleaning products, a vinegar solution. Scrub the solution on the brick wall with a soft brush. Rinse, if necessary, using clean water and a soft cleaning cloth.

To clean exterior brick or stone walls, dust the surface with a soft brush or a broom. Then, use a pressure washer to wash the wall. If you don’t have access to a pressure washer, you can clean the exterior wall with a mixture of water-specialised missionary cleaning solutions and a soft brush. Finish by rinsing the wall with clean water if you didn’t use a pressure washer.

Concrete Walls

To clean interior concrete walls, start by dusting the surface to remove loose debris. Dust with a soft brush, dry cloth or a duster. Then, prepare a mixture of warm water and mild detergent like washing up liquid and apply it on the wall using a soft bristle brush. To clean stubborn stains or spot-clean a concrete wall, make a solution of vinegar and water (1 part vinegar and 3 part water) and scrub it with a soft bristle brush. Apply more force when scrubbing if necessary. Rinse with clean water and a dry cloth.

To clean exterior concrete walls, remove loose dust and debris with a broom or soft brush. You can also use a leaf blower. Then use a pressure washer in low pressure setting to avoid damage. You can also scrub the wall with a mixture of water and mild detergent or specialised concert cleaning solutions. Rinse with clean water to remove soap and detergent but don’t use too much water to avoid over-soaking the concrete. Wash the exterior wall during daylight so the surface can dry rather quickly.

White Cement Walls

White cement walls are delicate and you should be careful not to apply too much pressure when cleaning them. To clean interior or exterior white cement walls, start by dusting the surface with a soft, dry cloth. Then, prepare a mixture of water and mild detergent and dampen a cleaning cloth or soft sponge with it. Scrub the surface slowly.

To spot-clean or remove tough stains, make a baking soda paste, apply it to the stain and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes before wiping it clean. Rinse the surface with clean water and soft cloth. To rinse exterior white cement walls, run water from top to bottom but avoid soaking the surface with water for too long. Do this during daylight so the surface can dry rather quickly.

Tile Walls

To clean tile walls, generally found in toilets, shower, washrooms and, sometimes, kitchens, start with removing dust with a dry cloth. Then, prepare a mixture of water and soap or any other mild detergent and scrub the surface of the wall with a soft brush or a microfibre cloth. To remove tougher stains, use a mixture of water and vinegar or specialised toilet sanitation sprays.

Also, you should use grout cleaners or baking soda paste to clean the grouts between each tile. Grouts are generally places where mould may start to grow. Use a soft scrubber or soft brush to clean the grouts after soaking them for about 5 minutes with baking soda paste or other toilet cleaners.

Cleaning Tile Wall Grouts in Washrooms or Toilets

Finish with rinsing the tile wall with water and dry it with a clean cloth. It is recommended to use sanitation cleaners or disinfectants to cover a thin layer on tile walls after rinsing. This helps with eliminating viruses and bacteria in places where the risk of cross-contamination is high.

Wallpapered Walls

Cleaning Walls with Washable or Non-Washable Wallpaper

Cleaning wallpapered walls is a delicate work and you have to approach it carefully. There are two types of wallpapered walls: those with non-washable wallpapers and those with washable wallpapers.

To clean non-washable wallpapers, you should only dust the surface of the wall with a dry microfibre cloth or a soft duster. Don’t use water or any water-based cleaner to clean such wallpapers. To spot-clean small stains, use a dry cleaning sponge (a.k.a. magic sponge or chemical sponge) and use the sponge manufacturer’s instructions to wipe off the stains without using water.

To clean washable wallpaper, on the other hand, you can start by getting rid of the dust with a soft microfibre cloth or duster. Then, prepare a solution of lukewarm water and mild detergent and use a soft sponge or microfibre cloth to clean the surface of the wall. Although they are called washable wallpapers, you still shouldn’t soak them too much with water as if the surface becomes too saturated, it can damage the wallpaper. Finish by rinsing the wallpaper with a clean, damp sponge and dry it with a dry soft towel.

Painted Walls

Cleaning Latex Paint or Oil-based Paint Wall

You can generally find painted walls inside. There are two major types of paint applied on walls: Latex paint and oil-based paint.

To clean walls with latex paint, dust the surface with a soft cloth or microfibre duster. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with brush attachment but be careful to scrub it on the surface slowly and without applying too much pressure. Then, dampen a soft sponge in warm water mixed with a little bit of mild detergent. Scrub the surface with the dampened sponge gently and avoid using too much water as it can damage the paint. Finish by rinsing the wall with a clean sponge and fresh water and pat dry with a soft and clean towel or microfibre cloth.

To clean walls with oil-based paint, dust the surface of the wall first similar to dusting a later painted wall. Then, use a mixture of warm water and mild detergent or a gentle all-purpose cleaner. Spray it on the wall and use a soft sponge to clean the wall. You can use a mild degreaser to clean stubborn stains. Finish by rinsing the wall with clean water and a soft sponge and pat dry with a soft, clean towel.

Wood Panelling

Wood panelling walls are also found inside buildings. To clean a wall with wood panelling, start by dusting the surface with a soft microfibre cloth or a soft duster. Then, Dampen a soft sponge in a mixture of warm water and mild soap and clean the wood surface. Be careful not to saturate the surface with too much water as it can damage the wood panelling. Finish by rinsing the surface with a clean soft sponge and clean water and pat dry with a soft towel. It is recommended to use wood conditioner or polish after cleaning the surface of finished wood panelling walls.

Conclusion

Cleaning the surface of interior and exterior walls is just as important as cleaning windows or scrubbing floors. There are several benefits to regularly cleaning walls. We discussed the most important advantages of cleaning walls in this article. We also provided instructions on how to correctly clean the surface of several different types of walls without causing damage.

The information provided in this article can help you properly clean your property’s walls and maintain the aesthetics of the buildings, increase property value and benefit from other advantages of regular wall cleaning.

How to Clean Any Type of Walls Without Damaging Them?