Our Top Tips For Cleaning Your Painted Walls (without damaging them!)

Let’s face it—life happens. Whether it’s sticky fingerprints from the kids, scuffs from the hoover, or splashes of pasta sauce mid-dinner dash, our walls go through a lot. The good news? If you’ve used a scrubbable paint finish, you’re already one step ahead.

There are a couple of key things to keep in mind with scrubbable paints to help your walls stand the test of time in a busy home.

Let It Cure First!

Once your walls are freshly painted in a scrubbable finish, it's so important to follow the manufacturer's curing period. This can range from 1 week to a full month, depending on the brand.

Why does this matter? Well, the curing period allows the paint to fully harden and bind to the wall, creating a stronger surface that’s actually designed to resist wear and tear. Using or cleaning your walls too early can undo all that good work.

This is especially important in rooms like bathrooms where there’s lots of moisture. Hot showers and steamy air can seep into uncured walls and weaken the finish. Not ideal!

We get it—asking you not to shower for a month isn't exactly practical. So if you’ve just painted your bathroom, keep windows open or use an extractor fan to help the curing process along.

Top 5 Tried-and-Tested Tips for Cleaning Painted Walls

So your paint’s had time to cure and now it’s time to tackle the mess—without ruining your finish. Here’s how to do it right:

1. Dust First, Always

It might sound simple, but giving your walls a quick dust before diving in with water makes all the difference. A dry microfibre cloth, feather duster or even your vacuum with a brush attachment will do the trick.

Dusting removes surface dirt and stops you from accidentally scrubbing dust into the paint (yes, that’s a thing). Focus on high corners, skirting boards, and behind furniture where dust tends to build up.

Bonus tip: Make wall-dusting part of your regular cleaning routine and you’ll need to deep clean far less often!

2. Use Warm Water & Mild Soap (That’s It!)

Most of the time, you don’t need fancy cleaning sprays or harsh chemicals. A soft sponge and a mix of warm water with a few drops of mild washing-up liquid is your best bet.

Wring your sponge out well (you don’t want drips running down the wall!) and gently wipe in small circular motions. Start at the top and work your way down so you’re not trailing dirty water over clean spots.

Good to know: Scrubbable paints like our Acrylic Durable Matt, Clean Extreme Matt and even our Zinsser AllCoat are designed for this kind of cleaning—but still go gentle to preserve that flawless finish.

3. Deal With Stains Promptly (But Don’t Panic)

Caught your toddler’s latest masterpiece in crayon? Or maybe someone brushed past with a mucky jumper? No problem. Scrubbable paint means you can tackle stains—but the sooner you do it, the better.

For most marks, your warm soapy water should be enough. For greasy or more stubborn spots, try a bit of white vinegar diluted in water or products like your Zinsser Degreaser. Apply it with a cloth and gently blot—never scrub too hard or you’ll risk dulling the finish.

And remember: blot, don’t rub! Rubbing can spread the stain or even take the colour off if you're too heavy-handed.

4. Rinse & Dry for a Flawless Finish

Once the stain or smudge is gone, wipe the area down with a clean damp cloth to remove any leftover soap or residue. Then pat it dry with a soft towel to avoid streaks or water spots—especially important in warmer rooms like kitchens or bathrooms where paint can dry unevenly.

Top tip: If you’ve cleaned a large area, stand back once it’s dry to check for any patchiness in the light. A gentle second pass often sorts it!

5. Keep It Gentle—Even on Scrubbable Paint

Scrubbable doesn’t mean scrub-hard!

Avoid abrasive sponges, scourers, or harsh chemical cleaners. These can still damage even the toughest finishes and leave behind shiny spots or faded patches.

Stick to soft cloths, non-scratch sponges, and mild soap-based solutions. Think of it this way—your walls deserve the same love and care you gave them when choosing the perfect colour!

That said... I’ll be honest—I’ve absolutely grabbed the first thing in sight when cleaning up after my Labrador or my daughter. And no, it’s not always a soft sponge in gentle circular motions! I’ve definitely gone at a mark with a kitchen scourer… and you know what? My walls still look as good as new.

That’s the beauty of scrubbable paint—it’s designed to handle real life, as long as you’ve let it cure properly first. Trust me, following that curing time makes all the difference—and it means your walls can handle a rogue scrub every now and then when life gets a bit chaotic.

Need to clean a high-traffic area regularly? Our scrubbable and stain-resistant paint ranges are designed to handle repeat cleaning—ideal for hallways, kitchens, utility rooms and kids’ bedrooms.

In Summary: Clean Walls, Happy Home

If you’ve given your walls the appropriate curing period, they’ll stand the test of time and you can trust that they'll be able to handle the chaos of everyday life. 

And if you’re still in the planning stages—choosing a scrubbable finish will save you hours of touch-ups down the line, not to mention a fortune on repeat paint buys to keep everything looking fresh.

Want to know which paint is best for your space? We’re always happy to help—get in touch with our team to talk through your requirements or check out our paint finder quiz!

Happy Decorating!

Helen xx