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How to clean smoke off walls
House walls are not resistant to the oily, residue that smoke leaves behind. Cigarettes, fireplaces, candles and cooking can all leave a layer of smoke residue on your walls.
This layer, typically a yellowish or black discolouration, will make your walls appear dull and dingy. Fortunately, you can remove the smoke and restore the look of your walls with a few common household items.
Things you’ll need
5-gallon bucket
1 cup ammonia
1/4 cup liquid dish soap
Sponge mop
Rubber gloves
clean rugs
Instructions
Remove mirrors, pictures, curtains and other wall decorations. Set these items in a safe location during the cleaning process. Wipe the walls clean of dust and cobwebs with a dust mop.
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with three gallons water, one cup ammonia and 1/4 cup liquid dish soap. Mix the contents together with a wooden spoon.
- Dip a sponge mop in the bucket. Hold the sponge mop over the bucket and wring out the excess liquid. Begin at the bottom of the walls and scrub them clean with the sponge mop. Do not let the walls become oversaturated with the mixture.
- Scrub while working upward until you have removed the smoke from the walls. Rinse the mixture off the walls with a clean cloth dampened in cool water. Let the walls air-dry.
- Avoid soaking the wall with too much water. If you get the underlying sheetrock wet, you could damage it to the point where drywall repair is necessary. Also, try not to let water run down between the baseboard and the wall. This could both promote mildew growth and loosen the flooring along the baseboard.
- Rinse the walls thoroughly with clear water, again working from the bottom up. As with the washing, it may take several rinsings to get the wall clean.
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