How to Keep Your Wallpaper Clean and Dust Free?

Last Updated on January 8, 2024 by Umer Malik

Hunting for wallpapers featuring our favorite cartoon characters is one of my favorite childhood memories.

Whether it’s about cartoon characters or simple patterns or designs, our obsession with wallpapers was very evident and is still there.

In fact, choosing and changing wallpaper for living rooms, dining rooms or other areas in the house has been an evergreen trend in the renovation industry. People prefer getting wallpaper for multiple reasons. From featuring walls in the room to giving your lying room a quick makeover, wallpapers serve many different purposes.

Wallpapers are also an inexpensive option to revamp your house interior. These wallpapers can last for many years and don’t require frequent replacement. Even if your wallpaper is in good condition you can even paint over wallpaper to give it a different color or look.

Considering all these aspects, wallpapers seem like a good investment. Right?

But the question arises; what can you do to keep wallpaper in good condition? Well, the proper cleaning and maintenance of the wallpaper is the key to letting them last longer. 

Let’s talk more about the maintenance tips for wallpapers. 

Tips for Maintenance of Wallpapers to Increase their Life

Once you have chosen the right kind of wallpapers for your room considering all the factors in mind, now it’s time to know about the aftercare. If you are looking for the tips, then here are our best-picks on keeping your wallpapers in good condition.

Know the Wallpaper Type

Wallpapers are of different types and according to their material, their cleaning and maintenance may vary. For instance, you can not use water to clean paper-based wallpaper while you can use cleaning chemicals for vinyl-based wallpaper.

Moreover, the same kind of wallpaper installed in different places can have different cleaning requirements. For instance, the wallpaper that is present in your bathroom is often exposed to moisture which increases the chances of mold and mildew. The wallpaper in your living room will be in different condition. So, make sure you exactly know what kind of wallpaper is there in your home to come up with a workable cleaning plan.

Regularly Remove Dust

Have you noticed that your wallpaper starts looking dull and faded after some time? This is because of the accumulation of dust particles on the surface of wallpaper which can make it look dull. For this, regular cleaning of the wallpaper is required.

To remove the dust you can use a soft microfiber cloth or feather duster and wipe it over the surface to let the dust come off easily. Simply wrap the cloth at the one end of any rod to access the higher parts of the wall. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment. 

Start from the top of the wall and then work by moving it in a downward direction. Make sure to gently remove the dust from the wallpaper surface so that it doesn’t leave any marks on the surface. You can do it once a month to keep your wallpaper dust-free. 

Use Cleaning Solutions for Deep Cleaning

Depending on the type of wallpaper you can use different types of cleaning solutions. The best part about these cleaning solutions is that you can easily prepare them at home. You can simply mix the dishwashing liquid with water. Now it’s time to clean the surface for which you follow the steps below:

• Make the wall dust-free by using the method mentioned above.
• Take the cleaning solution on a soft plain cloth (avoid using textured cloths or any scrubs as they are harsh on wallpaper).
• Apply the solution on a small patch to see how it works and check if it’s damaging to the wallpaper.
• If it works fine, then use the same solution to clean the whole wallpaper. 
• Start from the top and then move it downward and use a circular motion to clean.
• Now use another cloth preferably a towel dipped in water to rinse the wallpaper while making sure that there isn’t excess water dripping.

Stain Removal

Having wallpaper means there is always a chance of it getting stained by the grease or pencils your kids are using. If the wallpaper shows any signs of stains then you can easily remove these stains. There are special tools to clear out the pencil marks on the wall surface that will leave a stainless wall.

If the stains are from the fingerprints then you can use the erase and rub it gently on the wall surface. This earring action will absorb all the dirt or oil marks from the wallpaper. To remove stains from the grease you can use paper-based cloth, Strat by heating it through an iron and then placing it on the surface. This will absorb all the stains on the wall. You can also use face powder to clear the grease on the wallpaper. 

The selection of stain removal methods depends on what kind of wallpaper you have and how harsh cleaning action it can bear.

Tips on Wallpaper Maintenance

Here are some additional tips on wallpaper maintenance:

• Always clean from an upward to a downward direction.
• Don’t overclean the wallpaper surface.
• While cleaning the wallpaper surface, divide the wall into different areas.
• Make sure to not frequently use chemical-based cleaning ants.
• Avoid using hard scrubs on the wallpaper surface to prevent them from damage.
• Bleach cleaning agents are not a good idea for most of the wallpapers.
• Whenever using a cleaning agent, start with a patch test rather than applying it on the whole surface at once.

Understanding Wallpaper Types

Before delving into the cleaning process, it’s crucial to identify the type of wallpaper you have. Different wallpapers require different cleaning methods. Here are some common types:

1. Vinyl Wallpaper

Vinyl wallpaper is durable and water-resistant. It can withstand gentle cleaning with water and mild detergent.

2. Fabric Wallpaper

Fabric wallpapers are delicate and should be handled with care. Avoid using water-based cleaning solutions.

3. Textured Wallpaper

Textured wallpaper can be challenging to clean because dust tends to settle in the textured grooves.

4. Wallpaper Murals

Wallpaper murals often feature intricate designs. Cleaning them requires special attention to avoid damage.

Preventative Measures

1. Use an Air Purifier

Invest in an air purifier to reduce the amount of dust in the room. Cleaner air means less dust settling on your wallpaper.

2. Regular Maintenance

Make dusting your wallpaper part of your routine cleaning tasks. A little effort can go a long way in maintaining its appearance.

3. Keep Pets Away

If you have pets, ensure they don’t scratch or damage the wallpaper. Trim their nails regularly to prevent accidents.

Bottom Line

Getting wallpaper for your room is a good investment. But once you spend a few hundred rupees on this, now it’s time to take the proper care. This will help you to keep wallpaper in good condition for a longer time. This means that you don’t need to get them replaced often. So, make sure you follow all the above-mentioned tips and let it last for longer periods of time.