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*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Grease stains remain on the wallpaper for various reasons. For example, in the kitchen they appear due to fumes during cooking, and in the living room or hallway – due to touching the walls with unwashed hands. However, such stains can be removed. And in this article we will tell you exactly how to do it.
How to choose the type of cleaning based on the type of wallpaper
There are several types of wallpapers. Some of them can withstand wet cleaning and washing, while others need only dry cleaning.
Paper ones. The classic and most inexpensive option. It is strictly forbidden to get wet! Due to contact with moisture, paper wallpapers may peel off. In addition, they can transfer the liquid to the primer, from where it does not evaporate – and causes the spread of various fungi, mold, bacteria and other unpleasant microorganisms. One way to clean such wallpaper is with a melamine sponge. But if the greasy stain is old and deeply absorbed into the material, then it remains only to re-paste.
Non-woven. Become more and more popular in recent years, because they combine an adequate price and attractive appearance. Withstand gentle wet cleaning – can be wiped with soaked napkins or sponges. However, such a procedure is recommended to be carried out no more than 2 times a year, so as not to damage the structure of the wallpaper. When cleaning, do not use cleaning products and detergents, only clean water;
Vinyl. The strongest, most stable and durable. You can wash using a variety of cleaning products – universal household chemicals, specialized, solutions of ammonia or vinegar.
If you are just planning a renovation, then it is advisable to stick vinyl wallpapers in the kitchen, and non-woven or paper ones in other places. This, of course, if we proceed from practical considerations.
Now let’s figure out what to do if a greasy spot has already appeared.
Paper wallpaper cleaning
Try folk remedies:
Take a piece of black or white bread, depending on the color of the wall covering. You will only need a crumb, which will need to be heated and applied to the wallpaper. Repeat the process until the stains disappear.
If you are ready to sacrifice part of the drawing, then take an eraser and rub the stain. It will be erased along with a small layer of paper.
Another fairly practical option is a melamine sponge. It can be purchased at home improvement stores, household chemicals or online stores. The principle of operation is simple:
Cut off a small piece of eraser from the melamine sponge. You can use it completely, but then after cleaning the wallpaper it will have to be thrown away;
Dampen an eraser or sponge with water and wring it out thoroughly;
Carefully, without much pressure, run the melamine sponge over the stain several times. Try to move in one direction – from top to bottom or from the center to the edge;
After processing, dry the wallpaper thoroughly. Blot the stain with a paper towel or a dry, lint-free cloth (viscose, microfiber).
You can also try drying the traces of liquid with a hair dryer. Direct the flow of hot air at an angle to the surface of the wallpaper – this will help evaporate the water, and not “drive” it into the thickness of the primer. But be careful – some types of wallpaper adhesives can be destroyed by moisture and high temperatures.
If the greasy stain is fresh, then you can use tooth powder or starch. There are two options for using these tools – dangerous (for wallpaper, of course) and safe. First:
Dilute tooth powder or starch with a little water to a creamy state;
Apply the resulting paste to the surface of the wallpaper;
Leave for a day;
Clean off, remove residues with a vacuum cleaner or brush.
Some types of wallpaper during this treatment may peel off due to moisture or – more offensively – lose their color. This method is especially dangerous for dark or multi-color coatings. But if the wallpaper is white (or this is the prevailing tone), then you can safely use it.
The second option is safe for color and glue, but more laborious and suitable for removing only fresh greasy stains (if you just spilled borscht):
Pour tooth powder or starch on a paper towel and spread it over it with the thinnest layer;
Attach a napkin to the wall and fix it in place for 1-2 hours;
After 1-2 hours, remove the napkin and replace it with a new one, with a new layer of tooth powder;
Repeat until the stain is gone or discolored.
Starch or tooth powder can also be replaced with talc (baby powder). It also works well on greasy marks.
Also, a fresh greasy stain can be removed with an iron. You should be very careful – some types of wallpaper may peel off or lose color. In addition, it is worth remembering that the paper begins to char already at 250 degrees Celsius, so the iron must be set to an average temperature, the so-called “two points”:
Apply a clean paper towel to the grease stain. You can also use a towel or an old newspaper;
Swipe it several times with an iron;
As it heats up, the greasy stain will move away from the wallpaper and “move” to the napkin.
Finally, you can use chalk. This method is also well suited for fresh stains and light wallpaper, but with old traces of fat it will not be so successful:
Chalk grind to a state of powder;
Rub into pollution;
Leave for 24 hours;
Pick up with a soft brush.
You can also collect the powder with a soft cloth. Just wipe the stain with it, the chalk will fall on the floor, where it can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.
Cleaning non-woven wallpaper
Non-woven wallpaper can be washed, but without cleaning products. Therefore, the option with starch, soda or tooth powder is suitable:
Prepare your pasta. Add a little water to starch, soda or tooth powder – so that you get a creamy consistency;
Apply the resulting paste on the stain and leave for several hours;
Wipe off the residue with a soft brush, cloth or napkin.
After that, non-woven wallpaper can be washed with warm water. This will not remove not only the remnants of the product, but also dust.
Vinyl Wallpaper Cleaning
Vinyl wallpaper will withstand any cleaning. Therefore, you can use the most action and effective options:
Dampen a cloth with refined gasoline and gently wipe the dirt. To remove old stains, add tooth powder to gasoline;
Dilute the tooth powder with water until you get a creamy consistency. Apply to the contaminated area, leave for a day. After drying, collect traces and wipe the wallpaper with warm water;
Sprinkle starch or chalk on paper or a thick cloth. Gently apply to the stain and iron. The powder will absorb fat;
Dilute the salt with water in a ratio of 1: 3 to the state of gruel. Apply the mixture to a soft cloth and wipe off the stain. Remove the residue with a clean cloth;
Heat up the iron. Apply a paper towel to the stain, then go over it with a hot iron. Iron the surface until the traces disappear completely;
Make a soap solution. With a soft sponge, gently wipe the mark from the stain so as not to damage the base.
If vinyl wallpapers have a glossy surface, then after all these procedures it is also advisable to rinse them with ammonia. Mix it with water – for 0,5 liters of liquid 20 ml of ammonia. Apply with a spray bottle to the walls and wipe them with a soft cloth.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.