I tried 5 different methods for getting rid of marks and scuffs on my walls —including one my dad swore by — these are the ones that actually worked

The larger surfaces in a house, namely the walls and floors, tend to take the brunt of day-to-day life and are therefore prone to damage, stains, scuffs and smears. As these same surfaces form the backdrop for the rest of your interiors, once they start to show signs of wear-and-tear, they can really let the entire scheme down.

The has definitely happened in my own home. From the once bright white walls in the kitchen, which are now covered in a myriad of sauce stains, grease spots and inexplicable dents, to the pale pink walls in the living room showing soot stains from the open fire – and don't even get me started on the stony grey bathroom walls. As a result of two bathroom-hogging teenagers and their array of sprays, lotions and gadgetry, these too are now something of an eyesore.

While i'm a keen DIYer, I admit that a whole-house repaint is much overdue. But with more significant renovation work on the horizon, I am keen to try to to get the walls looking even just a little bit better in the meantime without stripping the existing paint away – one of those easy DIY jobs that won't eat into my renovation budget. I tried five methods recommended to me – and am here to share the results.

Wall cleaning preparation

Before I tried any techniques for cleaning my dirty walls, Lynsey Crombie, Queen of Clean and ITV This Morning's resident home expert and TV presenter, had the following advice for me.

'Start with dry cleaning before introducing any water or product. Dust and loose dirt act like abrasives when rubbed, so removing them first is essential. A long-handled microfibre mop or a soft microfibre cloth works perfectly for this step, allowing you to reach high areas and corners with ease. Work from top to bottom to prevent dust from settling on areas you’ve already cleaned.

'Once the surface is dust-free, assess the type of paint finish,' continues Lynsey. 'Matte and flat paints are more delicate, while satin and gloss finishes are generally more durable and easier to clean.'

Lynsey Crombie

Lynsey Crombie, aka Queen of Clean, is the ITV This Morning's resident home expert and TV presenter. Lynsey website is packed with cleaning hacks, tips and advice. Lynsey's best-selling book 'The 15 Minute Clean' is available to buy from AMAZON

1. Warm water and washing-up liquid

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Never off the list of stain removal tips, from grease spots on clothes to oil stains on driveways, no household should be without a bubbly bottle of washing up liquid – turns out it could be the product I need to help me get my walls looking shipshape too.

'Painted walls can usually be cleaned without stripping the finish, but the approach matters a lot,' picks up Benjamin Hirst, director and owner at Smart Cleaning. 'In most cases, damage happens because people scrub too hard or use something far too harsh for the surface.

'The best place to start is with the gentlest option,' continues Benjamin. 'A soft microfibre cloth, warm water, and a small amount of mild washing-up liquid will deal with a lot of everyday marks. The cloth should be damp rather than wet, and the area should be wiped lightly rather than worked over aggressively. That alone often solves the problem.'

The verdict: Arguably the simplest method out there given that most of us have access to the products required. Of all the techniques, this is the one that left the least paint residue on the cloth – which I view as a good thing. While it didn't necessarily give the instant results some of the subsequent methods I used did, it was effective at removing light stains – plus, for marks high on the walls, such as the sooty deposits above fireplaces or where we've been burning candles, the route of mopping walls would work well here.

Benjamin Hirst

Benjamin has led Smart Cleaning since its inception a decade ago. He started out as a carpet cleaner and since then reliability trustworthiness and honesty have been the cornerstone of the business to enable it to grow into a multi service company with regular commercial contract cleaning being the largest service within the company.

2. Sugar soap

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Sugar soap is another wonder product around the house, perfect for cleaning walls before painting by removing grease and grime. It can also be used before painting furniture, walls and woodwork.

The name is actually a little misleading as it does not, in fact, contain any sugar. Ingredients include a blend of sodium carbonate, sodium phosphate, and sodium silicate, all of which break down dirt, dissolve oils and break down grease.

'Sugar soap is an excellent option, especially for greasy marks or heavily soiled walls,' explains Lynsey Crombie. 'It’s designed to cut through grime without harming paint, but it should still be diluted according to instructions. Apply it with a sponge, then wipe the area again with clean water to remove any residue.'

The verdict: Readily available from DIY superstores and even supermarkets, sugar soap comes in several different formats, from concentrates, ready to be diluted in water, to ready-mixed sprays – even wipes.

This was such an easy way to clean the walls – I used Tetrion Sugar Soap from Amazon, a pre-mixed spray, which I just needed to apply to the stains, work in with a damp cloth then wipe down. It worked well on the light marks on the walls but really came into its own when it came to the sooty deposits at the tops of walls and the ceilings.

3. White vinegar

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Seriously, is there anything white vinegar can't do around the house? From unblocking drains and freshening up microwaves, to making glass shine and dissolving limescale (not to mention being a great addition to salad dressings), this is one product you don't want to be without.

According to Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO at Cleaning Express, cleaning with white vinegar could also help with my grubby walls. 'To remove grease spots from a wall, try some watered down white vinegar. Mix one-part vinegar to two-parts water and spray on the area. Wipe it away and repeat until the grease spot has reduced. There’s no guarantee this will completely remove the stain, though, as grease can easily pull through porous paint into the wall below. If this happens, you’ll need to paint over it.'

The verdict: I love the idea of natural cleaning hacks so this one really appealed. However, I'd say this was the least effective of all the methods I tried. That said, it did remove one particularly dark mark that I thought was here to stay.

Michael Bogoyavlenskiy

Michael is CEO of Cleaning Express, a domestic cleaning cleaning company and a professional facilities management provider servicing luxury offices, business centres, retail companies, schools, entertainment venues, private and NHS clinics.

4. A mildly-abrasive cream cleaner

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An important and upfront disclaimer here from me before we get into this one – this is not a method recommended to me by any of the experts, but one that was favoured by my late Dad, who reported brilliant results when using it on our walls at home, as well as when cleaning the bathroom.

Those mildly abrasive cream cleaners, with their ever-so-slightly gritty texture, can really come in handy for removing a range of marks and stains (including, I might add, for the black rings on my wooden worktops) but they can be harsh and take off the top surface layer, making it important to try this out on an area that is usually hidden from sight first.

The verdict: I feel a little cautious about recommending this one to you. It worked like a charm (thank you Dad) but it definitely stripped the very top layer of paint away as I could see the white residue on the cloth I was using. That said, on something more scrubbable, it may not have done – and it really did erase those scuffs and stains remarkably well.

5. Magic eraser

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And, finally, a magic eraser, also known as a magic sponge, and available from many different brands, sold as a method of cleaning without the need for additional chemicals or products – just water.

Made from high-density melamine, they can be cut to the size and shape you require, and positive reviews rave about their effectiveness when it comes to anything from removing yellow stains from toilets seats and getting white trainers gleaming again to, you guessed it, walls free from marks – including pen and crayon. But would this sponge take the paint away with the stain?

'For more stubborn areas, such as around light switches or door frames where fingerprints build up, spot cleaning is key,' picks up Lynsey Crombie. 'A magic eraser can be very effective, but use it lightly as these work like very fine sandpaper and can dull the finish if overused. Test on an inconspicuous area first, then gently rub only the marked spot'.

Benjamin Hirst also advised me to proceed with caution. 'Anything rough can leave dull patches or lift colour. Magic erasers are a good example. They can be useful in some situations, but they are abrasive, so it is easy to take the sheen off the paint if you are not careful.'

The verdict: Given that a repaint is on the horizon I decided to bite the bullet and give this one a go. I plumped for this very affordable 6 Pack Magic Eraser Sponge for Walls from Amazon. They were honestly brilliant at getting rid of all the marks, scuffs and scrapes on the wall next to the doorway hall, where school bags knock, the dog waits wagging for people to enter and visitors linger on, leaning up against the wall chatting. The only thing I would say is that they were so effective at removing the grime it meant where I hadn't cleaned was left looking decidedly grubby – if you take this route, you need to commit to cleaning the whole wall, not just patches of it.

FAQs

Are some paint finishes easier to clean than others?

One of the main kitchen mistakes I made was to opt for the cheapest paint I could get my hands on rather than looking one suitable for areas of high humidity as well as something that was easy to wipe down. Had I have done my research into the best kitchen paint, things might have been different. As it is, next time around, I will have learnt my lesson.

'Paint finish makes a big difference. Gloss and satin are generally much easier to wash down because they are more durable,' reveals Benjamin Hirst. 'Eggshell sits somewhere in the middle. Standard matt emulsion tends to be the most awkward because it can mark quite easily, and some finishes do not respond well to repeated wiping. In practical terms, the more durable the coating, the easier ongoing maintenance becomes.

'From a cleaning point of view, the easiest walls to maintain are usually the ones painted with a scrubbable, higher-durability finish in the first place,' adds Benjamin. 'That is often the real long-term answer, especially in busy buildings.'

How to remove marks from furniture

If you have noticed scuffs and marks ruining your beautifully painted furniture – perhaps where you're artistic toddler has got a little too creative with their colouring pencils – fear not. Lynsey Crombie has some good news.

'For scuff marks from furniture, try this simple trick: a clean pencil eraser or a dry microfibre cloth can sometimes lift the mark without any liquid at all. If that doesn’t work, a slightly damp cloth with a touch of bicarbonate of soda can provide a mild abrasive effect, but once again, use gently.'

Definitely a couple of products to add to your spring cleaning essentials kit.

With your walls looking pristine once more, you may well be keen to get the rest of your house looking shipshape. Along with walls, floors can soon become pretty grubby surfaces so be sure to look into how to clean carpet – you may well not need to call in the pros to get the job done.