Washing walls

I don't wash walls
Quick dust over then repainted-it's worked for the last 40 years so see no reason to change!

Hmmm. I guess, you can get some advice on cohomag.com website. There are some nice articles on cleaning and housekeeping. They helped me a lot with my messy kitchen last week :D

I wash walls down with sugar soap before painting them. It avoids patchy walls.
Also I rub marks off was with make-up removal wet wipes. They work for marks on carets, upholstery etc too.

Something you'll wish you'd never started if you do!

Washing walls - what is this activity?!

It'll be worth it in the end.

Think i will have to bring in the decorator , next step will be finding a paint without fumes , feel like withdrawing my application for house move , seemed a good idea two weeks ago

I know, it's always been a bit of a problem for me, too. I just hang on to the stepladder, but if I can use a radiator roller I can keep the paint tin on the top shelf of the stepladder. A roller tray is too big.

I have a very sturdy stepladder so should be all right - thanks for the tip about the radiator roller janer.

I was thinking about Anniebach with her balance problem being able to reach the tops of the walls.

Yes you can. I use a radiator roller to paint higher up. It does mean you have to stand on something though, but you do need to see what you are doing when you are painting. You can get a radiator roller into the tin. I go around the edges first with a brush, then just fill it all in with the roller.

Looks like we'll both be getting the painting equipment out then, Anniebach!

How will you manage to paint the upper walls? I think you can buy paint rollers on long extension poles but not sure how easy they'd be to use.

You should be fine painting over the walls without washing them, as long as they aren't greasy so that the paint can 'stick'. I've never washed walls before painting them. Good luck!

loopylou, she is off to Dubai on Wednesday for a holiday !

Ariadne , I am giving the brush a swirl today

It does! Had to do it a couple of times when some of my DC had drawn on them in a married quarter.

Paint over after just brushing down? Please tell me this works, pleeeeaasse

Whenever we've repainted walls I've always just rubbed them down well with a dry cloth to remove any dust and cobwebs. I don't go to the trouble of washing them.
At work, they have repainted the staff dining room with white matt emulsion. It is my job to keep the walls free of coffee stains, splashes etc. I dread to think what will happen the first time I have to wash off any marks. I believe the paint will come off along with the marks. It will look terrible!

Can you just paint over dirty-ish emulsioned walls? I have tried washing one wall in the living room, but as has been said it ended up patchy and uneven (gets a lot of sunlight in the summer).

I could cope with repainting, but the thought of having to wash the walls first...

You could try handing younger daughter a paint brush and can of emulsion Anniebach!

I haven't washed a wall since Theseus left the army and we had to "March out" of quarters.

I just get them painted again! I know, I know, I am lucky to be able to afford it....

Aldi do their own brand of magic erasers, which are very cheap. Most pound shops have them too.

Those magic erasers aren't cheap, but they are surprisingly good. I used them to clean my shower glass and my kitchen cupboards, which are painted so I can't use chemicals. They fall to bits as you use them so I would buy a few for stubborn areas. I bet they are good on oven doors.

Wow, thank you all. Shopping list - squeegy mop, mop with cloth bits, lambs wool feather duster , magic erasers , like the sound of those thinking of a few scuff marks on the floor - and when they arrive if I feel exhausted unpacking them then I will ring the local painter and decorator , sorted thanks to you lovely people

no, not filthy shysal but definately not sparkling either , let's say overdue for a spring clean and I am very short sighted - my explanation when younger daughter spots a cobweb on her visits

I agree that washing painted walls doesn't leave a good look. A case of washing and then a fresh coat of paint.
Not much help to you Anniebach

I've never had much success with washing walls - they always seem to end up streaky or patchy and it takes such a long time to do that I've decided it's quicker to flash them over with a quick coat of emulsion.

Not necessarily for high level, but have you tried magic erasers ? Fantastic for stubborn marks and scuffs, using water only. I used some for DD's filthy new rental house with surprising success! I am not suggesting that your house is filthy, but inspectors can be picky!