How to Clean Walls with Vinegar

Co-authored by Chris Willatt

Last Updated: November 6, 2022 Approved

Household cleaners can be both expensive and toxic, causing many people to search for alternative approaches. Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner and can also be used to effectively clean walls. You can create a simple cleaning solution with vinegar and water. Even though it's a natural solution, be sure to perform a spot-test before proceeding. Also be sure to use a white sponge and cloth to avoid the sponge color bleeding onto the wall.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing the Room

1
Protect your floors. Lay a dropcloth or towels along the baseboard where you intend to start. Ideally, your sponges shouldn't be dripping wet when you use them, so feel free to skip that part if you're confident in your ability to catch the occasional drip that may run down the wall. However:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Do keep some towels around just in case your bucket suffers a major spill. Play it extra safe and lay one out to set your bucket on while you work.
2
Ventilate the room if needed. Depending on how strong your solution is, you may find the smell of vinegar a little overwhelming. If so, open windows and/or set up some fans to improve air circulation. Vinegar fumes aren't dangerous, but they may tempt you to rush through the job. Avoid doing so, since a rushed job may lead to drips and other water marks that will remain visible after the walls have dried.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Prevent electric shock. Unplug power cords from outlets. If you intend on cleaning outlet covers and/or where they cover the wall, switch off the fuses for those outlets before doing so. Do the same for light switches, telephone cords, and any other fixtures with an electric current.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Remove decor. If you're cleaning the entire wall as opposed to spot-cleaning, take down anything that's mounted to them. Ensure a thorough cleaning without any obstructions that might be hiding dirt. This can include any:
- Photos, posters, or other artwork.
- Shelves, coat hooks, or other functional items.
- Electronics, like wall-mounted TVs or speakers.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating a Vinegar Solution

1
Start with a mild mixture. Expect a relatively small amount of vinegar mixed with warm water to be sufficient for the job a lot of the time. Simply combine 2 to 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water in a bucket or similar container. However:^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Keep in mind that you'll be carrying that bucket around the room with you. Depending on the size of your bucket, adjust the amounts as needed to keep it only halfway filled to avoid spills.
2
Test-clean a select spot on your wall. Pick an area that is blocked from view by furniture or otherwise hidden. Wet a sponge in your mixture and squeeze it until the excess water has been wrung out. Wipe the area in a circle, using minimal pressure. Repeat with a second sponge and clean water to rinse. Then pat dry with a soft cloth or towel.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Use soft sponges (as opposed to a more abrasive kind meant for scrubbing burnt food), especially if your walls are painted. Using tougher sponges could ruin your paint's surface. Sponges in bolder colors may leave their color on the wall.
3
Add more vinegar if necessary. Compare the test-spot with the rest of the wall. If your mixture did the trick, use it as is. If the test-spot still seems dirty, increase the ratio of vinegar to water and repeat. Start by adding ½ cup (118 ml) of vinegar to your gallon of water. If that still seems weak, keep adding ½ cup of vinegar at a time.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Extremely dirty walls may require a ratio of 2 parts vinegar to 3 parts water.
4
Add baking soda if needed. If the dirt on your walls has crusted over and/or built up, you may need something a bit more abrasive than just vinegar and water. Start by adding a ¼ cup (55 g) of baking soda to your solution and test-clean again.^{[7]
X
Research source} If necessary, keep doing so up to 2 to 3 cups (442 to 662 g). However, bear in mind:
- If your walls are painted, abrasive agents like baking soda may damage the paint, especially if it's latex-based. If your solution starts ruining your paint job, you may need to apply a fresh coat rather than clean.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Wiping Your Walls Clean

1
Fill a second bucket with clean water. Again, only fill it halfway so the water doesn't slosh over the sides as you carry it. Use this for rinsing. Depending on how strong your solution is, and/or how much surface you have to wash, refresh the bucket with clean water periodically, as needed.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Additionally, you should use a second sponge for rinsing. As with the rinsing water, replace as needed if it becomes too foul as you move along.
2
Soak and wring your cleaning sponge. Again, only use a soft, light-colored sponge for this to avoid causing permanent streak marks. Soak it in your solution. Then squeeze it dry over your bucket until no more water drips from it.^{[9]
X
Research source}
3
Work from the top down. First, break your wall up into columns in your head, each about a foot or two (30 to 60 cm) wide. Start cleaning each column where the wall meets the ceiling, and go down from there before proceeding to the next one over. This way you're more likely to catch any accidental drips of water that may run downward.^{[10]
X
Research source}
4
Wipe in soft circles. Remember: if your walls are painted, vigorous scrubbing can damage the coat. Use as little pressure as needed. Wipe in a circle, reversing directions occasionally, to further reduce the risk of damage.^{[11]
X
Research source}
5
Work on one small section at a time. Ideally, you will be using as little liquid as possible to avoid water stains and marks. Still, if left to air-dry, the liquid you did use may cause permanent eyesores, so don't try to clean the whole column at once. Instead, only wash a couple square feet (60 cm) at a time.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- If you're working on a ladder, you may want to work on even smaller sections since you may be going up and down in between the washing, rinsing, and drying.
6
Rinse and dry each section immediately. As soon as you're done washing with your solution, switch sponges. Repeat the same process with fresh water. Pat the area dry with a soft cloth or towel, replenishing them as needed.^{[13]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you clean walls with a microfiber cloth?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

You can use a microfiber cloth instead of a sponge, if you'd like. Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning because they trap dirt instead of just moving it around. Plus, they're gentle enough to be used on all surfaces, which is especially good for painted walls.
Question

Will this procedure get rid of the cigarette smoke smell?

Community Answer

If the smell is coming from the walls then it might be helpful, but usually smoke smell is stuck in curtains. I think much of the smell will go away if you give them a wash them as well.
Question

Can I make the vinegar water solution half-and-half?

Dathan Mitton

Community Answer

The strength of your mixture will depend on what you are cleaning. For example, the ratio given above is suited to cleaning walls, but a half-and-half mixture would be too strong for most household paints. It would, however, be suitable for cleaning especially-strong smells or stains from certain surfaces, as well as for uses that may require a stronger antibacterial solutions (bathtubs, toilets, sinks, tile floors, etc.).