Off the Wall

An empty house really highlights every scuff and mark on the walls. What looked spotless during the showings now may look worn and dingy.

Try washing the walls thoroughly to see if you can make them look fresher before you decide to paint. Here are some useful tips:

• Before washing the walls, wrap a strip of cloth around your wrists and secure it with rubber bands to keep drips from running down your arms.
• Move furniture to the center of the room.
• Cover picture hooks and nails with a piece of sponge. This will protect your knuckles and all you need to do is rehang the pictures when finished.
• Cover the floor with a drop cloth.
• combine 1/4 cup washing soda (laundry additive), 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup of ammonia to a gallon of water to create a wall-cleaning solution.
• Crayon markings can be easily removed with lubricating oil and a paper towel. Just spray on the oil and wipe. Use a toothbrush and lubricating oil on textured walls. Work the brush into the grain. Finish by wiping the wall down with a dollop of undiluted dishwashing liquid on a damp cloth (work the liquid into the cloth before wiping the wall).
• Scuff marks can usually be cleaned with a dry gum eraser. But for stubborn scuff marks, try non-gel toothpaste and a damp cloth. Add toothpaste to the cloth and then wipe the marks away. For really tough marks, add some baking soda to the damp cloth, work it in and then wipe the marks away.
• Use a natural sponge (hardware store) to wash the walls. Work from the bottom up, making sure to keep the solution clean and dunk the sponge frequently. Be sure to clean the entire wall or you could leave wash marks.

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