Is it practical to wash a wall top to bottom?

Question

I'm a house cleaner and sometimes I see a classified ad for someone who wants to have their walls washed in several rooms. I don't think its practical to wash matte/flat surface walls. The glossy trim and semi gloss will wash well but not the matte/flat painted walls.   I think the matte/flat paint can be spot cleaned near wall switches but its not practical to wash a whole matte/flat wall. What do you all think?

ClicketyClack · Accepted Answer

Only if there is a smoker in the house do walls require washing. And wash them gently from top to bottom as the dirty liquid will flow down the walls as you wash it and can be removed as you move lower and lower down the wall. This can be done if the walls were painted with a high quality flat paint but not if the paint was a lesser quality or only one coat was applied. In those cases, priming with Kilz and repainting is the only solution.

If there is no smoke residue on the walls, then spot cleaning around light switches is all you'd need to do, though.

Christin K · Answer

You need to explain to a homeowner that washing a painted wall could result in removing paint before tackling this task. If you do wash any walls, start at the bottom and work your way up--because dripping cleaner and water down a dirty wall could result in streaks that are impossible to remove. If you have to wash an entire wall, it's best to use a very mild cleaner and a soft cloth and test the cleaner first on a spot behind furniture to see if it removes any paint. If it does, I wouldn't do it.

sophieb · Answer

my mom used to wash our walls at home (we had several rooms) and even had the neighbors come in to help her (twice a year), she also used to paint her own rooms.  When she got rid of the wallpaper when I was a tot she realized there was a mess left behind so wanted what was easiest to wash, and chose semi-gloss paint.  I'm sure for a while there we must have had flat paint walls but cleaning those with wallpaper cleaner was a bear.

nikkai · Answer

While I would agree with you on what you have said IF the customer wants all the wall washed and is happy to pay  so long as you make your opinion clear at the start then as the saying goes 
The customer is always right

Rick B · Answer

Walls washed?  That would most likely damage them.  Most paints are not designed to wash.  I personally touch up my walls with paint.

? · Answer

Oh more than likely some old smoker who has never painted...lol
that's old school cleaning 
rubber gloves and Mr clean
honestly unless you are broke I would stay away from that...although you could call and go look

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Is it practical to wash a wall top to bottom?

6 Answers