When was the last time you really looked at your office walls? Not a quick glance – but a proper, deep stare. Maybe you found yourself looking at a patch of the wall while you crunched some numbers in your head? Or you needed a minute to just… stare into the abyss instead of a spreadsheet?
Either way, you’d almost certainly have spotted a constellation of mystery marks. A rogue scuff from a wheelie chair, a faint tea splash from last Monday’s standup meeting, and what appears to be a handprint from a colleague (or the office ghost!).
Office walls quietly accumulate grime like this, until one day the whole room just feels a bit tired. And then, it’s either time to paint, or time to clean.
Cleaning your office walls doesn’t have to sap your will to live – and it makes such a big difference that you can often put off having to redecorate for a year or two. Whether your office walls are painted, wallpapered, or made up of fabric-covered cubicle partitions, this guide will go through everything you need to brighten up your workspace.
Learn how to clean light-coloured walls, banish those annoying scuff marks, and maybe even enjoy the process! Roll up your sleeves, put on your workout playlist – and let’s get those office walls clean.
The golden rules of wall washing
Washing walls sounds like absolute silliness to most outside of the cleaning world, but it’s common enough that we’ve got processes for it. So, before you charge in with a bucket and a sense of purpose, let’s share what we’ve learned over the years.
First, choose your moment. A dry, mild day is perfect because you can open the windows to speed up the drying process, and prevent any musty smells from settling in. Spring, summer, or early autumn are ideal, but any day that isn’t a rain-soaked washout will do just fine!
Next, you need to test your chosen cleaning solution on a small, hidden patch of the wall – maybe a spot behind a filing cabinet or a picture frame. Different paints and wallpapers react differently to moisture and cleaning agents. A patch test will save you from accidentally creating a bigger problem than the one you started with.
Finally, gather your supplies. You will need a few soft, lint-free cloths or sponges, a couple of buckets, a sturdy step ladder (not a spinny office chair, please), and a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment for dust and cobwebs.
How to clean painted walls
Painted walls are the most common office wall surfaces, but how you clean them depends on the paint finish. Gloss paints, like those on kitchen walls, can handle a bit of muscle – while a matt paint finish on the walls in a meeting room needs the gentlest of touches.
For glossy or semi-gloss walls, often found in office kitchens or loos, you can use a stronger solution. Mix a few drops of mild washing up liquid or a small splash of white vinegar into a bucket of warm water. Dip your cloth or sponge, wring it out until it is barely damp, and then wipe using gentle circular motions, starting from the top corner and working your way down. This method wipes up the drips as you go, saving you doubling up the work.
For stubborn grease or splatters, let the soapy solution sit on the mark for a minute or two before you gently scrub.
Rinse your sponge in clean, plain water and do a final pass over the wall to remove any soapy residue – then dry with a soft cloth.
For flat, matt, or eggshell finishes, you need to be extra careful. These paints are beautiful because they don’t reflect light, but they are also less durable and can rub away if you are too vigorous.
The trick here is to use the gentlest cleaner possible. A simple solution of warm water with just a tablespoon of white vinegar is usually perfect. Avoid any degreasers, general cleaning sprays, or anything abrasive – and remember to do a patch test first.
Dampen your cloth, wring it out until it is almost dry, and then lightly dab the wall. Do not scrub – unless you want a shiny, polished patch in the middle of your lovely matt wall!
Light-coloured walls – dealing with scuff marks
Light-coloured walls make a small office feel airy and spacious. But they show every single scuff, bump, and fingerprint. The key with light walls is to clean them more often, so marks don’t have a chance to settle in, but even if you feel it’s too far gone, don’t worry: those scuff marks aren’t always permanent. A simple paste of baking soda with a tiny drop of water can work wonders.
Try mixing bicarb and water into a thick, toothpaste-like consistency. Dab the paste onto the scuff mark and let it sit for a few minutes.
Then, using a barely damp, soft cloth, gently rub the paste in a circular motion. Bicarb is highly absorbent, and lifts out marks and scuffs. It is mildly abrasive, so don’t push it too hard or you’ll lose a layer of paint.
For stubborn marks (inks and dyes) on glossier light-coloured walls, a cloth dampened with a little rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) can be dabbed onto the mark – but do not pour it directly on the wall, and avoid using it on flat or matt paint.
How to clean wallpapered walls
Wallpaper? In an office? Yep, we’ve seen it – and it actually adds loads of character, especially for the quirkier (or older) buildings and businesses that have it up. But it’s also the most fragile wall covering out there, and water is public enemy number one.
Never, ever soak wallpaper. Even a little moisture left too long can cause peeling edges, bubbling paper, and a very sad looking wall. If you can, avoid moisture altogether – and try dry cleaning first.
Use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to gently go over the entire wall, removing dust, cobwebs, and loose dirt. For marks or smudges, reach for a specialised dry cleaning sponge like the Magic Eraser (which you can find in most DIY shops or on Amazon and the likes). These sponges are rubbery, and like a pencil rubber, you can use them to lift marks from your wallpaper without any water at all.
For a slightly more stubborn spot, you can try to very lightly dab the area with a barely wet cloth. Make sure you dip the cloth in a solution of warm water and a drop of washing up liquid, then wring it out until it is almost completely dry. After dabbing, immediately blot the area with a dry, clean towel – don’t rub or scrub, or you risk ruining the paper. Do not let any moisture sit on the wallpaper either.
How to clean fabric cubicle walls and partitions
Ah, the trusty (and dusty) cubicle partition. You know, far from being the “wage cage” they’re often described as, office cubicles are actually pretty good for focus and quiet work in busy environments. Some people love them, and prefer having a little private space to work in than an open plan office.
But they don’t just absorb sound. They absorb everything: dust, sneezes, coffee splashes, and pencil shavings. They’re made of fabric, so when cleaning them, you need to treat them less like your office walls and more like soft furnishings.
Read more: How to Clean Communal Soft Furnishings in the Office
Start by removing everything pinned or stuck to the partition. Then, using the soft brush head attachment on your vacuum cleaner, thoroughly clean the entire surface. If the partitions are old, this will likely lift a shocking amount of dust out – so you might want to mask up!
For spot cleaning stains or spills, whip up a bucket of warm water with a good squeeze of washing up liquid, until you get loads of bubbles (like in a bubble bath). You’re going to clean with the bubbles, not the liquid, to prevent the fabric getting too wet.
Dip a clean, soft cloth or sponge into the foam, being careful not to get it wet in the liquid below, then gently work the sudsy cloth into the stained area in a circular motion. Don’t let it get too wet – if it doesn’t seem to be working, then let it dry out and try again later.
After cleaning, use a clean, dry cloth to blot away the suds – then let it dry completely.
To freshen partitions between spot cleans, you can sprinkle a light dusting of bicarb over the fabric, leave it for an hour, and then vacuum it off thoroughly. This neutralises odours without any moisture at all!
Get Regular Office Cleaning that Doesn’t Skip the Walls
Hire professional office cleaners in Cardiff, from The Abbey Cleaning Service. We’ll give your walls a new lease of life – as well as everything else. Call 029 2067 9323 today for a clean that’ll keep your office looking better for longer.
