How To Clean Walls
The TRUE best way to clean walls:
I have read countless articles on this subject, and it is one of the most common topics home owners ask us about. “What is the best way to clean my walls, trim, or cabinets without damaging them”? Despite popular opinion, the answer is NOT any combination of TSP, ammonia, bleach, vinegar, baking soda, dish detergent, gasoline, or even a magic eraser. While all of these (well, maybe not the gasoline…) can be effective for certain applications, we always use the same product no matter what the situation is. The answer is KRUD KUTTER. This citrus-based magic in a bottle is a cleaner/degreaser that is both non-toxic AND biodegradable. It comes in 3 sizes (1 gallon, 32 oz. spray bottle, and 4 oz. sampler) and can be bought in most retail box stores such as Lowes and Home Depot.
Krud Kutter comes as a full strength concentrate, but we have found that a diluted formula performs great in most cases and gives us even more peace of mind when cleaning delicate surface such as stained wood work and cabinets. We have used dilution rates as high as 10:1 for VERY delicate surfaces, although we have found 3:1 to be ideal for most applications we come across on a daily basis with prep work for painting as well as general cleaning. Some of the many things we use Krud Kutter for include:
– Dissolving grease stains, dirt, and handprint from walls, trim, and cabinetry
– Removing paint splatter from hardwood floors, vinyl floors, tile, porcelain, stainless steel, and carpets (from PREVIOUS contractors of course…)
– Removing tape residue
– Grill cleaning (use full strength)
– Power washing houses, cars, and exterior brick/concrete
– Cleaning and sometimes even reviving old paint brushes
My suggestion is to invest in a gallon (Around $15 and will last a LONG time) and mix it in a separate spray bottle until you find the ratio that works best for your application. This is much easier than getting the 32 oz. size and having to dump some out to make room for water if you wish to dilute. Start with 1 part Krud Kutter and 3 parts water.
**We have never had any problems with Krud Kutter damaging any surfaces, but always do a test patch in an inconspicuous spot just to be safe.**
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The person who wrote this article has an exeptional understanding of wall cleaning!!
Thank you for your feedback! Krud Kutter is still doing a wonderful job for us 7 years later!!!
I have old grease splatter on my kitchen walls. What’s the best way to clean them with krud kutter?
Hi Mary Beth – Thanks for your question! I still find Krud Kutter works best for these types of spots. Keep in mind that flat paint may not be durable and does not wipe very well, but if you have ANY sort of sheen on your walls krud kutter is great. Ideally dilute concentrate from a 1 gallon container 5:1 with warm water in a bucket and apply with a microfiber rag. Apply as little pressure as possible as so not to damage the paint. Trying this out in an inconspicuous is ideal. If you see any of the wall color coming up on your rag there is a good chance it is time to refresh the paint in that area. Good luck and happy cleaning!!!
I have had health problems and now find that my kitchen and hallway walls of coated with stick greasy. They all have gloss paint. I am 69 years old and very short so I need to use a ladder. As I have many walls to clean, which way would be the easiest way to clean this mess? Thank you.
Hi Linda – This is a tough one! Have you considered getting a lightweight, sponge-type mop? We have used these for exceptionally dirty walls that have a good, protective paint with a lot of sheen underneath. Particularly if you have a full gloss paint I think this would be much easier than climbing up and down a ladder. My suggestion would be to clean with warm water an a small amount of dawn dish washing detergent or Krud Kutter for best results, then rinse with clean water and wipe dry. You might still need to get along the edges and do those areas by hand but it would still be much easier and cleaner with a mop. Good luck and please let us know how it comes out!!!
Hi Curtis, I’m curious if you have tried Krud Kutter Gloss Off? I am about to repaint the walls in my home and was convinced on using the original Krud Kutter, but the Gloss Off seems to be formulated specifically for pre-paint prep. I’m new to painting, and the advice I have read is to prep the walls by cleaning and then sanding. This product seems to do both! The only thing is that my walls are more of a satin finish than gloss so I’m just not sure. Thanks!!
Hi Mitch – Yes, we have used the original formula Krud Kutter, Gloss Off, and also the TSP substitute (which has properties of both). The crew prefers the TSP substitute, and we go through that stuff the most. We consider sanding the walls with a pole sander to be more critical than degreasing/cleaning. Unless, of course, those walls are in terrible shape, or we have smoke/nicotine damage. Sanding + a high-quality paint and primer in 1 may be sufficient wall prep if they are in good condition. If you want to send a couple of photos, I am happy to tell you exactly how we would prep the walls on that job. Thanks for the question, and good luck with your project!