31 ways to clean a wallpaper from a pen, stains, dirt

Wallpaper - this is one of the most popular finishing materials for walls, which can be used in any room. Some wallpaper even the walls in the bathroom. Not surprisingly, with such widespread applicability, the decorative surface can become dirty. No matter how neat the mistress you are, but small drops of fat on wallpaper in the kitchen, dirty fingerprints on the wallpaper in the hallway will appear sooner or later. And if your family has a little fidget, then surely on the most visible part of the wall his work of art is already flaunting. At the sight of such art, many with horror begin to think about the upcoming repair, but do not rush. Before embarking on drastic measures, let's try to get rid of the defect. In this article we have collected 31 wayswho will tell as clean wallpaper from pens, stains and dirt. We will also offer alternative options, if none of the methods work, and tell you how to prevent the appearance of children's drawings on the walls.

What kind of wallpaper can I clean?

Before you begin to influence the coating in one way or another, you need to make sure that this type of wallpaper can be washed at all. Otherwise, instead of a small stroke from the pen, we get a big white spot. The necessary information is contained on the label that is inside each roll. Make it a rule for the future, after each repair, keep a small piece of new wallpaper, and attach a label to it using a stapler. Pay attention to the icons with wavy stripes, which indicate the degree of resistance of the surface to cleaning:

• One wavy strip means that the surface can be wiped without pressure and without the use of detergents with a soft damp cloth;
• Two wavy lines indicate the surface's resistance to the effects of a soft sponge dipped in soapy water;
• Three stripes imply the possibility of long-term washing with a well-moistened sponge;
• One wavy line, a flat strip and a comb mean that the surface of the wallpaper can withstand wet cleaning with a brush or a washing vacuum cleaner;
• Three wavy lines, one flat and scallop. This marking is applied to the label of the most resistant wallpaper. They can even be rubbed with a brush with soapy water until the formation of foam.

We strongly recommend stick to these recommendations. You also need to understand that even the most resistant surfaces with prolonged friction in the same place can change color or lose their glossy shine.

Clean paper wallpaper

This kind of wallpaper the thinnest and the most tender, therefore the most difficult to care for. The paper surface quickly becomes wet under the influence of a damp sponge or rags, therefore in this case it is permissible to use only dry cleaning. Also, the paper is easily scratched, so the use of hard sponges is also not recommended.

• №1. If the wallpaper showed up dried trace of something, you can try to exfoliate the dirt with an old toothbrush with soft bristles. It is possible that even if a certain amount of dried substance can be wiped off, a spot of distinctive color will remain on the surface.If it is on an invisible part of the wall, you can try to remove the remains with a barely damp soft sponge or a damp cotton pad, simply by wetting the surface. After that, you immediately need to remove the remaining moisture, leaning against a place with a paper towel. We warn that attempts to rub a wet place will inevitably lead to the fact that the paper simply rolls;
• №2. A stain from a simple or colored pencil You can try to eliminate using a clerical eraser. But you need to use only its soft side. In no case do not wet the eraser to increase the effect and do not press too hard, otherwise the paper will begin to roll, and the processed area will eventually be much lighter than the main tone;
• №3. To fight grease stains use an iron. Attach a blank white sheet of paper over the stain and iron the problem area. Steam mode must be turned off. Also, do not use maximum temperatures, otherwise the paper may easily ignite. If the wallpaper is already many years old and when gluing it, low-quality glue, After ironing, the surface may change color. Try first the procedure on an invisible section of the wall;
• №4. Also grease stain can be removed bread crumb. A small piece of bread needs to be heated in the microwave, but at the same time do not let it dry. With a warm crumb you need to roll out a greasy place, slightly pressing. It may be necessary to change the bread several times before the stain disappears completely;
• №5. You can also pour a little crushed chalk or tooth powder on a soft cloth, attach it to greasy place and iron over with a warm iron;
• №6. If there is wallpaper lots of little greasy spots, you can iron the entire surface through a paper towel with a warm iron. At the same time, you should not intentionally linger in one place, it is better to smoothly and leisurely drive an iron;
• №7. Ballpoint pen marks it is very difficult to remove from paper wallpapers. This is the same as erasing a pen from a notebook sheet, only in the latter case the paper is thicker. If the depth of pressure from the pen is small and the spot is quite fresh, it is best to use an eraser. Strongly rubbing, you can not cover a large area. Try to influence the ink trail, otherwise the wallpaper around will quickly brighten, and the stain will remain in place;
• №8. If the eraser does not help, moisten a cotton swab in a small amount of acetone or alcohol and gently blot the problem area. It is likely that the solvent will begin to corrode not only the trace of the pen, but also the pigment of the wallpaper itself, or an ink stain will form as the ink dissolves. Therefore, sometimes, it is better to completely abandon cleaning.

How to clean non-woven and vinyl wallpapers

The surface of these types of wallpaper can be cleaned much easier, because in this case, you can use a damp sponge.

• №9. Often surface vinyl wallpaperspecially designed for use in the kitchen is washable. But this does not mean that you can generously wet the surface. First, try to work on any spot a soft sponge dipped in clean warm water and well wrung out;
• №10. You can also use highly carbonated water to clean such wallpapers. The high oxygen content in it will help dissolve greasy contaminants;
• №11. If around switch or socket formed greasy greasy spots, you can dilute a liquid dishwashing detergent in a small amount of water, foam it well and foam it on a sponge, slightly rub the traces;
• №12. For removing traces of felt-tip pens First of all, it is necessary to determine their composition. Water-based felt-tip pens dissolve with ordinary warm water, alcohol dyes will not be able to resist the accurate exposure to alcohol. The main thing is not to rub;
• №13. Ink traces can be removed with melamine sponge. But the sponge must be new, and the stain is not very old;
• №14. Delete pen marks from non-woven surface possible with lemon juice. But in no case do not replace it with citric acid, since its concentration is much higher. With this effect, the stain will go away along with the decorative surface area. A cotton pad soaked in juice should be applied to the stain and held for 5 minutes. Then remove the remaining juice with warm water. If the method did not help, we do not recommend resorting to it again. Wallpaper can change its color.

Textile wallpaper or wallpaper for painting

Textile wallpaper in no case can not be wet and especially rub. Their decorative layer is very delicate and requires similar treatment.

• №15. Remove from fabric wallpaper only dried, not greasy stain. It must be carefully cleaned with a soft toothbrush. In all other cases, it is better to refuse cleaning. Metallic inserts are especially delicate;
• №16. Choosing ways to remove stains from stained wallpaper, Be sure to consider which coloring composition was used. In apartments, water-based paints are most often used. In no case should such surfaces be rubbed with wet sponges, otherwise the paint will dissolve;
• №17. If paint was used on a different basis, then to remove any spot It is best to use ordinary soapy water, but not very concentrated.

Doubtful methods

On the Internet there are many more ways that housewives recommend using. However, in various forums there are both negative reviews after using such tips, and references to the fact that they do not have the desired effect. Before using the methods listed below, we recommend that you try them on the remains of the wallpaper, if any, or on invisible sections of the wall. Almost all methods relate to remove ballpoint or gel pen marks and recommended only for vinyl wallpaper. Be sure to wear rubber gloves before work.

• №18. Potassium permanganate + vinegar. In a small amount of 7% vinegar, add potassium permanganate, so that the solution turns out to be a saturated violet color. Dampen a cotton pad or cotton swab and treat the area. After that, wipe the surface with a clean disc dipped in hydrogen peroxide. If the strokes from the handle are thin and single, then it is better to use a brush to reduce the area of ​​exposure of the solution to a clean surface;
• №19. Dissolve 10 g of oxalic acid in 100 ml of pure water. Moisten a sponge or cotton pad in the solution and wipe the marked area;
• №20. Dissolve 1 tsp in 200 ml of water. table salt and 1 tablespoon of hydrochloric acid. Using a cotton swab, apply the product on the stain, and then wash off the residue with a damp soft cloth;
• №21. Dissolve 2 tsp in 100 ml of water. any detergent. Process the area with the resulting soap solution until the ink disappears completely. To wash off marks or stains, wipe the surface with a damp, clean cloth;
• №22. Dissolve 20 ml of whiteness in 100 ml of warm water. This method applies only to white or very light wallpapers. Moisten the sponge in the solution and treat the stain;
• №23. It is also recommended to remove dirt on white surfaces with a whitening toothpaste. A small amount of paste is applied to a soft toothbrush and the handle trace is treated. After that, allow the paste to dry and wash the residue with a dry cloth;
• №24. Dip a cotton pad in acetone-free nail polish remover and rub the ink. This method can only remove fresh marks from a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen or marker;
• №25. To clean the surface of waterproof wallpaper you can use a special ready-made tool "Arenas exet 2". They are treated with pollution and left to act for 10 minutes, after which they are wiped with a dry cloth;
• №26. From 550 ml of warm water and 50 g of starch, a slurry is prepared, which is applied to the ink and left to dry completely. Then remove the residues with a dry cloth;
• №27. A regular shaving foam is applied in small amounts to the stain and allowed to dry, after which they wipe the surface with a dry cloth;
• №28. The yolk of the boiled chicken egg is applied to the trace of a ballpoint pen and wait until the product absorbs ink;
• №29. With a brush dipped in warm milk, it is necessary to treat the stain, let the milk dry completely. The spots should brighten, and then completely disappear;
• №30. Grate a small amount of laundry soap and make gruel from it. Apply it to the surface of the wallpaper and wait until it dries completely. Repeat as necessary;
• №31. Using wet wipes, you can try to wipe not only the trace of the pen, but also other stains.

What if nothing helps or gets worse?

It is possible that none of the above methods will help to eliminate pollution without a trace or leave a characteristic imprint after its exposure. And in some cases, you will have to refuse cleaning altogether. How, then, to eliminate the stain? Have to resort to tricks:

• If the defect is at an acceptable height, you can decorate the placeby hanging a beautiful picture, a clock, wall regimenty etc. Of course, this method is not suitable if the stain is located near the floor or somewhere in the corner;
• Perhaps in the corner you can install a beautiful flower stand or hide the defect with another low piece of furniture;
• If we are talking about wallpaper for painting, then the defect can always be eliminated by re-painting. It is not necessary to paint the entire wall completely;
• Paper or fabric wallpaper can be partially replaced. Depending on the scale of the disaster, you can re-stick both the entire strip and half of it. Or do a fragment of 10 × 10 cm at all. Therefore, you should never rush to throw away the remains of wallpaper - they can come in handy;
• If none of the methods suits you, think about it, maybe you should not try to mask traces of felt-tip pens or pencils at all? Select a small fragment on the wall, shape its contours with a beautiful decorative baguette, and let your child use it as a canvas. After all, it will be a real memory.

How to avoid the outlined walls?

Most often, many still find traces of it from pens, pencils, paints and felt-tip pens on the walls. And, of course, all this happens while you are busy with household chores. We will not talk about educational work. We offer an unusual way:

• On sale there are special wallpapers on which the contours of frames of different sizes are drawn. Such wallpapers can be white or black. Within this framework, your child can leave his drawings. At the same time, the higher it grows, the higher it can move along the wall, because the frames reach the very ceiling. Stick such wallpapers in the children's room;
• Also, many wallpaper manufacturers have developed a special type of coating on which you can draw and wash art with a damp cloth many times. This is the so-called smart wallpaper. They look like an ordinary white canvas;
• Replace all felt-tip pens in the house with water-based felt-tip pens that can be easily erased and no longer worry about your new wallpapers.