Additionally, place a plastic tarp over the floors to protect them from moisture and dust as you clean.

Work slowly down the wall in small sections.

Always use a sturdy step stool or ladder when reaching high spots.

White flat paint on wall being cleaned up by gray towel in hand

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Begin With Water

Next, fill a bucket with warm water.

Dip in a soft sponge ormicrofiber clothand wring away excess moisture.

Working in small sections, work your way around the room from the top to bottom.

Materials and tools to clean flat paint on wooden surface

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

If there are still stains, move on to progressively stronger cleaning methods.

Create Cleaning Solution

Grab two buckets.

Fill a second bucket with clean water.

White chair with gray throw pillow being moved before applying flat paint

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Start at the top of the wall and move down the wall, working in small sections.

Rinse out the sponge frequently and pay particular attention to more heavily soiled areas.

Tip

When cleaning, always begin at the top of the wall and work your way down.

Dust being removed from wall with white and blue duster

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

This will help you catch drips and eliminate the need to re-clean areas.

The gentle abrasive action of the baking soda may remove the problem.

As a last resort, gently rub a melamine sponge with water onto the stained area.

Blue bucket being filled with water under black faucet

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Check the sponge and the wall frequently, as the paint color can be transferred to the sponge.

Scrubbing too hard can leave a shiny spot on the wall or remove the paint entirely.

If cleaning has left shiny spots or removed paint, use some leftover paint totouch up the walls.

Distilled white vinegar poured into blue bucket with water for cleaning solution

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

take a stab at feather the edges so that the new paint blends with the older flat paint.

Crayon marksand oily splatters are almost impossible to remove from flat paint.

Clean them away as best you could, and then repaint the area.

Gray microfiber cloth wiping down walls with flat paint

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Smudges and dirt around doorknobs and light switches should be cleaned away as soon as possible.

Tips to Keep Your Flat Painted Walls Clean Longer

Melamine sponge with water passing over wall with flat paint

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Touch-up flat paint in bucket held up with brush covering stains on wall

The Spruce / Ana Cadena