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Tip Store: Cleaning: Walls and Ceilings

​Keep Walls Spotless with a Sample Pot

After many years of painting the walls and then watching different marks/chips appear as the years go on, I decided the last time that after I painted I would also purchase a small sampler paint of the same colour. Particularly on corners of arches I get a lot of little nicks. Now instead of watching my walls get in worse condition, I simple do a quick walk through every couple of months and repaint those tiny chips. Result walls look gorgeous all the time and no unsightly chips to make it look old. I am expecting that because of this I will save a fortune over the time of not having to repaint as quickly. I tend to paint every 5 years or so as I really disliked seeing those chips :) You could also put some of the saved paints in a glass jar with plastic lid. Put a bit of gladwrap on top of the paint and store it upside down.
​- Contributed by Carla, 7th January 2011

​Cleaning Up Nature's Lace

For cleaning those hard to reach cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling place a sock wet with water or salt water on the handle end of a broom or mop and just brush them away.
​- Contributed by Amber, Ross Creek, 24th March 2009

​Easy Clean Painted Brickwork

Approximate $ Savings: $100

​We have a typical Brisbane style big white double cavity brick home with matching white brick fence. The fence was so old and over the years it became stained from age, moss, graffiti, and I don't know what else but it had heaps of black all over it. We went to sell it and to save time and money instead of repainting it I tried scrubbing it with Jif and bleach which was extremely hard work and didn't even budge the stains. Then one of our friends who is a painter let me in on a trick of the trade - to use liquid pool chlorine. Sceptical, I went to local pool shop, it cost me about $5, put on some gloves, one bucket with chlorine another with water, and would wash with Chlorine and wipe off with clean sponge and I was amazed at the results! For particularly difficult stains you just leave the chlorine on for a bit longer. I also did this on the house where required. It made a huge difference and everyone thought we had repainted it - and it really did look like we did, it was so white and clean like it had been freshly painted, took no time at all to do the fence and saved a fortune in paint. Our garage floor also had heaps of stains on the concrete so I poured some chlorine on the floor and swept it around with a broom and just let it dry, it also came up like new as well. Just remember to use gloves, have ventilation, and be careful not to get onto plants.
​- Contributed by Scott, Clontarf, 27th August 2008

​Slip On Dusters

Old microfibre bedsocks (most bedsocks are now made from microfibre) are great for cleaning smears from doors and architraves that are otherwise clean. Use them clean and dry; just slip one on your hand and rub lightly. Some socks work better than others, so try them out and stay with your favourite.
​- Contributed by Jan, 16th August 2008

​Tried and True Wall Cleaner

To get rid of those stubborn marks off walls and even carpet!! A tried and true formula that has never failed me: slightly dilute a cup of vinegar in some lukewarm water, add a big squirt of fresh lemon juice into a spray bottle or bucket and wipe away.
​- Contributed by Sarah, Werribee, 12th July 2008

​Cleaning Rattan Fans

I have a cleaning solution for white rattan fans. Once cleaned and dust free, cover with knee high stockings. Keeps dust from settling on the blades themselves. I have picked up the stockings from Woolworths supermarkets at $3.98 for 4 pairs. Also Coles had some reduced down to a dollar for a pair, although they were skin colour, which wasn't a problem for the lounge room fan, which is on all day to ensure air gets around, as it can get a bit stifling. No one notices the colour until they look up at the stationary fan. It costs about $2 per fan and at the moment has lasted over 2months.
​- Contributed by Valentina, Swansea, 6th May 2007

​Easy Crayon Off The Walls

Approximate $ Savings: $6.00 Instead of buying expensive cloths to get the children's drawings off the wall simply apply Aeroguard. Use a little spray, wait a few seconds and it wipes straight off
​- Contributed by Jodie, Traralgon, 14th February 2007

​Dilute Chlorine to Wash Walls and Ceilings

If you use diluted chlorine to wipe these areas with, it works wonders and there are no stains and no mildew!!
​- Contributed by Katrina, Banora Point, October 19th 2006

​Sugar Soap to Wash Walls

​We had a mould and mildew problem in our laundry, with mould on our ceiling and walls from our dryer. I fixed it with diluted bleach, a stiff scrubbing brush and lots of elbow grease. Then wipe down with sugar soap solution after that. Ventilation was improved afterwards to stop reoccurrence. Good Luck!
​- Contributed by Deanne, Werribee, October 18th 2006

​Aggy Recommends....

I saw this on How Clean Is Your House on Foxtel. Aggy recommended oil of cloves after cleaning off the mildew, as bleach and vinegar don't really work. Oil of cloves is available from your chemist!
​- Contributed by Glenda, Doonadella, October 18th 2006

​Paint on Bleach

Straight bleach on a cloth you no longer need, wipe stain wait 10 minutes & the stain will be gone. Alternately you can use a paintbrush with bleach. Try not to splatter it as it will bleach the floor & wear gloves and glasses. Best idea is lay a plastic sheet down and a drop sheet or anything old you no longer need over it. Also have the room well ventilated. Wipe over with water on cloth when stain has disappeared. This removal method lasts for quite a few months.
​- Contributed by Kate, Woonona, October 18th 2006

​Try Oil of Cloves to Kill Mould

Try oil of cloves. I wash listening to Shannon Lush on ABC radio and she said to wipe bathroom grout with it as it kills mould and mildew whereas bleach merely whitens it but does not kill the spores.
​- Contributed by Judy, Boronia Heights, October 18th 2006

​Stop Mould With Good Ventilation

First clean with water containing 20% chlorine bleach or Exit Mould. However, the only way to stop the mildew returning is to improve the amount of natural light and/or ventilation that is in these rooms. Try not to leave these rooms closed up and dark. Open curtains, windows and doors to improve light and air movement.
​- Contributed by Melissa, Labrador, October 18th 2006

​Anti-mould Paint Saves Scrubbing

Wipe the mildew with a product called exit mould gel by Selleys to remove the stains, or if you want you can buy paint from Dulux that contains an ingredient to stop the mould and there is also an additive you can buy and put into a tin of paint you may already have purchased. The key to stopping mould is to keep the prone area dry, which can be obtained by wiping with a dry cloth daily or keeping a good airflow in the room.
​- Contributed by Lyn, Kingston, October 18th 2006

​Oil of Cloves to Kill Mould Spores

We have a mould problem and have been using chlorine mixed in water but the stain still remains. On a morning show the other day they said to use oil of cloves. They explained the bleach, vinegar etc doesn't kill the mould completely, they just take the top level off. The oil of cloves kills the mould spore and it will not re grow.
​- Contributed by Cathy, Jannali, October 18th 2006

​Mop the Mould Away

I put some undiluted bleach on a flat-type mop head and wipe the areas with the mould with the mop and leave for an hour and then wipe over with same mop that has been rinsed out in water - the mould and stain are 95% gone by the next day.
​- Contributed by Linzee, Mitcham, October 17th 006

​Diluted Bleach Cleans Mould Stains

Watered down household bleach will remove the worst of the marks, remember to use gloves and have the area well ventilated.
​- Contributed by Alene, October 17th 2006

​Spray on Mould Cleaner

I had a mould problem in my bathroom. I use a spray bottle filled with cheap bleach. Just spray on the mouldy area and the bleach will not only kill off the mould spores but will also get rid of existing mould without rubbing. Just spray and leave. Also works for tile grout. I find using this I only need to spray mould once or twice a year, it takes forever to come back after bleach.
​- Contributed by Clare, Morwell, October 17th 2006

​Go to the Cause

Stop the mould by opening the widows and doors. Use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air. Heating the room will help. An exhaust fan in the bathroom does help. The mould is due to moisture created in the house or from under the house.
​- Contributed by John, Turramurra, October 17th 2006

​Crayon on Painted Walls

Try rubbing with toothpaste or an ammonia-soaked cloth. Rinse and Dry. Or sometimes hot water and dish soap will work.

​Getting Hairspray Off

​Hairspray can be difficult to remove from mirrors, walls and tiles. Use a citrus-based solvent, there are a number of different brands in the hardware shops. It's best to let it soak in for a few minutes before giving it a good rub. Be careful of walls - watch that you don't get carried away and rub off the paint!

​Clean Ceilings

​Spray acoustical ceilings with hydrogen peroxide to remove stains without repainting. Works on flat ceilings, too! Be careful not to get it in your eyes or on items below that could be damaged, like carpet.