How to Clean Every Type of Wallpaper (Even If It Isn't Washable)

While you may not notice your wallpaper getting as dirty as your mudroom floor or your teenager's bathroom, it can still pick up dust, allergens, scuff marks, and grease stains in areas throughout your home. Many vinyl wallpapers are washable, but delicate coverings—like grasscloth, silk, or textured papers—require a more careful approach.

Here, Katie Dills, senior vice president of The Cleaning Authority, Brett Grauman, owner of Five Star Painting of Woodland Hills, and Steve Leasure, vice president of operations at Rainbow Restoration, offer their best tips for how—and how often—you should clean your wallpaper to keep the colors bright, the pattern vivid, and your home dust-free.

How Often to Clean Wallpaper

As with the other surfaces in your home, wallpaper benefits from regular and frequent light cleaning that removes dust and allergens. "Like painted walls, regular dusting with a long-handled microfiber duster is a must," says Dills. Make sure you tend to the corners where the walls meet the ceiling to catch cobwebs, and to the top of baseboard trim that touches the wallpaper.

How Often to Deep Clean Wallpaper

Experts have different thoughts on how frequently wallpaper needs to be deep cleaned: Dills recommends once a year, while Grauman suggests once every three or four months. "Dust and dirt will settle on vertical surfaces over time, so cleaning seasonally will keep wallpaper looking good and take less time than if you cleaned it once every year or two," says Grauman.

The type of wallcovering you have might also affect your cleaning schedule. "Textured wallpaper, like fabric, will attract more dust than smoother wallpaper, like vinyl," says Grauman.

Cleaning Methods by Wallpaper Type

Wallpaper manufacturers typically have their own directions for proper care, so you should check the labels and instructions before tackling a deeper clean. If your wallpaper is washable, a simple solution of dye-free dish soap and water will lift most dust and dirt—and if it isn't, you'll want to avoid water entirely.

Materials

Depending on your wallpaper type, you'll need some (or all) of the following tools and cleaners:

• Soft sponge
• Microfiber cloth
• Bucket
• Clear, dye-free dish soap
• Warm water
• Vacuum with soft brush attachment

How to Clean Washable Wallpaper

Washable wallpaper is made from more durable materials, like vinyl. Still, you'll need to exercise some caution, say our experts. "The wallpaper will lift if you use too much water, so be sure to squeeze out your sponge or microfiber cloth thoroughly and wipe the walls gently," says Dills. "Additionally, ensure you are extra cautious around the seams to avoid catching them."

Grauman says to avoid spray-on cleaners or abrasive scrubbers, as well. "People typically spray cleaning fluid directly onto wallpaper, or scrub too hard, or use a cloth or sponge that is too rough for delicate wallpaper," he says. "Hard scrubbing should be avoided, since it can damage the wallpaper texture and even impact the color, which would be permanent. Considering that the goal is to remove dust resting on the surface, wiping it away with the same gentleness with which it landed is enough to keep it clean and looking good for a long time."

Dills suggests these steps for mixing the solution and wiping down your washable wallpaper:

1. Fill a 2-quart cleaning bucket halfway with warm water.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of clear, dye-free dish soap.
3. Soak a soft sponge in the soapy water, and wring out until it's only damp.
4. Wipe the paper using up-and-down strokes, which will help prevent you from hooking the sponge on the seam.
5. Dry the paper with a clean microfiber cloth.
   

How to Clean Non-Washable Wallpaper

If your wallpaper is made of a less-hardy, non-vinyl material, the manufacturer may not have approved water-based cleaning techniques. The only cleaning you can safely do, then, is some (gentle) vacuuming. "The delicateness of the wallpaper should be considered, too," says Grauman. "For example, silk wallpaper requires more careful cleaning than vinyl. For wallpaper where it's recommended that water not be used due to its delicate material, using a soft brush attachment hose from a vacuum cleaner will remove the dust when gently passing it over the surface of the paper."

How to Spot Clean Wallpaper

Wallpaper can also be the victim of marks and stains that come from daily wear, including scuff marks, fingerprints, or your toddler's artwork. Here, Leasure suggests a few methods for targeting specific stains—but only after you try them on a hidden part of the wall. "It's always a good idea to test any cleaning agent on an inconspicuous area of the wallpaper first, to be sure that you won’t damage the material or print," he says.

Scuff Marks

"Clean scuff marks with 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 quart water," says Leasure. "Wear rubber gloves and squeeze out as much liquid from your sponge as possible before gently scrubbing the scuff marks away."

Grease Stains

Leasure recommends a paste of water and cornstarch to absorb grease stains. "Apply with your fingers and rub the area to lift out the grease," he says. "Wipe with a slightly damp rag and dry with a clean cloth. Dry Borax also removes grease stains from wallpaper."

Crayon Marks

"Remove crayon marks with a fine-grade steel wool pad filled with soap, but no water," says Leasure. "Rub very gently to remove the crayon marks. If this doesn't work, try using a paper towel dampened with dry-cleaning solvent. Dab the area lightly and blot as you go, to prevent the solvent from streaking across the wallpaper."