How to Clean Semi-gloss Painted Walls

The slightly glossy finish of semi-gloss paint makes walls and ceilings washable. In general, the glossier the finish, the more likely you can clean the walls without damaging the paint. Semi-gloss paint works well in the kitchen, children's rooms and other high-use spaces in your home that require frequent cleaning. Put the walls on your to-do list with some regularity, perhaps monthly, to keep the project manageable and the grime from turning into a permanent design.

Semi-gloss painted walls can withstand frequent cleaning.

Step 1

Dust the entire wall with a duster to remove loose debris. Start at the top of the wall and work down.

Step 2

Fill a bucket with warm water. Fill another bucket with warm water and a squirt of liquid dishwashing soap, or mix a bleach-free all-purpose cleaner with warm water according to the labels instructions.

Step 3

Submerge a clean cloth in the cleaning solution and wring it out well.

Step 4

Scrub the wall in approximately 3-foot-square sections using the cloth and cleaning solution, working in a circular motion from the bottom up to prevent streaking. Rinse each section immediately after washing it with a clean rag and the clean water from the bucket. Dry each section promptly with another clean rag or towel.

Step 5

Repeat this process of washing, rinsing and drying the wall in small sections until the entire wall is clean. Move on to the next wall in the same fashion.