#MEwx Rainy and wet today and how to clean your walls with chemical free methods

Good morning Augusta

Click here to view weather readings in real time from my own personal wireless weather station.

This morning we have patchy fog  with numerous showers. Isolated thunderstorms, then scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s with light and variable winds.

Tonight we’ll have partly cloudy conditions with scattered showers and  isolated thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight with lows in the upper 50s. Winds will remain light and variable.

The outdoor temperature is 62.1°F, the dewpoint is 61.8°F and it feels like 62.1°F.

We received 9.42 inches of rain here over the past 24 hours.

Today’s sunrise is 5:56 AM, sunset is 7:27 PM and we’ll have 13 hours 31 minutes of daylight today. Moonrise is 10:58 PM and Moonset is 2:29 PM. The moon phase is Waning Crescent and is 49% illuminated. Our next full moon will be on September 3 and our next new moon is on September 3.

The wind velocity is between 2.7 MPH and  5.4 MPH from the North.

The Relative pressure is 29.99, the Absolute pressure is 29.79 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun and clouds.

The Humidity is 99%, the UV index is 0 placing the average person at low risk and the solar radiation reading is 85.8W/m2.

Visibility is 10.0 Miles / 16.1 Kilometers with overcast.

 

Here’s more from the book entitled the Room by Room chemical free cleaning book which is, like the others I’ve posted on this blog, free out there on the web. Enjoy.

 

Walls

 

Did you ever notice the areas around your light switches and around your doorknobs are the dirtiest? No matter how clean your hands are, your skin will

leave oils behind on everything that you touch. When you have children and/or pets in the home, the amount of dirt that accumulates on your walls is even

heavier.

 

You will also find that other types of substances will get on your walls as well, which includes smoke, if you are a smoker, grease in the kitchen or adjoining

kitchen walls, and even smoke or odors from frying can get on to your walls. If you have a coal furnace you might even notice this type of dust throughout

your home as well.

 

Here we are going to discuss the many types of walls that you might have in your home and how to best clean them without having to spend lots of money on expensive

chemical cleaners.

 

Wallpaper

 

When you are cleaning your wallpaper, no matter what room you are cleaning you will need to be careful that you don’t use to much water to make the wallpaper

peel off. As you are cleaning your wallpaper for the first time, you will also need to rub gently, so that you don’t rip the wallpaper. If you are using

a certain cleaner on your wallpaper for the first time, be sure to try it in an area that you do not see out in the ‘open’ because some types of ink on

the wallpaper can run or fade if you are not careful.

 

If you are trying to get over sprayed hairspray off of your wallpaper you can use a about a cup of fabric softener to two cups of cool water to wipe this

film from off your walls.

 

To clean dust and to keep static away from your walls, mix one cup of vinegar to three cups of water and lightly wipe down your wallpaper areas for a great

smelling clean.

 

Cleaning grease from your wallpaper in the kitchen or in the dining room can be a chore but you do have a few options. Using about a half a cup of Ajax

or Dawn dishwashing liquid to a half gallon of water will cut the grease for a deep clean. Drying off the walls with a towel (lightly) will keep your wallpaper

sticking to you walls as well. You can also use about a cup of ammonia and half a gallon of cool water to cut grease on your wallpaper. Again, using a

towel to dry the walls will make sure that the wallpaper will continue to stick to your walls.

 

If you have scuffmarks on your wallpaper you can erase these marks by rolling up a piece of bread and rubbing gently over the area.

 

For glossy wallpaper that has pencil or crayon use an eraser to gently rub the effected areas.

 

If you have found gum stuck to your wallpaper, gently picking off, as much of the gum you can without pulling on the wallpaper will give you a good start.

Then you can use an ice cube to harden the gum area and continue to ‘pick’ at the gum even more. As you are getting down to the last little bits of gum

possibly stuck in your wallpaper (only when it is dry!) using an eraser rubbing gently over the wallpaper area will bring even more of the gum out.

 

For a deep clean on stubborn stains you can use a loaf of bread, soak it in ammonia, and roll up into ball like shape so that you can rub onto the wall

for a grease and dirt cutter. This will also remove smoke and spots while leaving a fresh scent.

 

To clean dust off of your wallpaper and for general cleaning use a hand towel or soft rag and wet your rag in a solution of ammonia and water. A solution

of one-cup ammonia and one gallon of cool water will work fine, but you will have to remember to ring out your rag as tightly as possible to prevent your

wallpaper from peeling after wiping with water.

 

If you are remodeling and you want to strip your old wallpaper from the walls, you can use about four tablespoons of fabric softener in a spray bottle of

very hot water. Spray the wallpaper until the area is saturated, possibly dripping wet and let it sit for a few minutes. You will be able pull or scrape

the wallpaper off much easier. The hotter the water, the more the glue will loosen, which is why when you are cleaning your wallpaper you should always

be using cool water to clean.

 

You can also use this same formula of hot water mixed with vinegar to loosen the glue on the wallpaper and pull it (or the border) down easily.

 

Drywall and Plaster

 

When you are cleaning the drywall and plaster in your home, you may need to be careful not to pull on loose pieces or you can end up with a large hole in

the wall. Always keep in mind to limit the amount of water you are using to clean drywall that is not painted, as the drywall will soak up large amounts

of water and then crack and split as it dries.

 

The very best way, but not the only way to clean a drywall or plaster wall, is to use a cellulose sponge and using your cleaning solution clean from the

top to the bottom of the wall so any streaks or drips will be wiped as you work your way down a wall. A cellulose sponge is a rubbery type sponge that

will still absorb liquids and can be rung out but it will ‘hold up’ a little longer than a paper towel or a regular sponge would. If you can’t find a cellulose

sponge through your home center, the next best answer for cleaning your walls is a large regular sponge that fits your hand but you may have to pick off

a few little pieces if your sponge gets caught on textured walls.

 

The first tip here is for general maintenance and up keep: if you have a hole in you drywall or plaster and you need a quick fix, use a ¾ cup of baking

soda and ¼ cup of glue to make a thick paste that will fill that hole easily.

 

For deep cleaning on drywall or plaster that is not yet painted, using a solution of one cup of vinegar with one gallon of water you can dust off the area

and prep it for painting.

 

To clean simple dust and dirt from drywall or plaster that is not painted, using a few drops of your dish liquid and warm water, making sure you ring out

your rag or sponge completely will give you a good clean.

 

If you are prepping your unpainted drywall or plaster in the kitchen or in the dining room and you need to cut grease, use one cup of ammonia and a half-gallon

of water. Using a sponge and a towel, wiping off grease and grime and then drying the area with a towel you will be ready to paint the next day. Leaving

the walls to dry over night will make sure you are not sealing in any moisture in to the drywall or plaster which would make mold or mildew grow.

 

Cleaning Painted Drywall or Lath and Plaster Walls

 

If you know what type of paint was used on your walls you will be better prepared for how hard you can scrub or rub, latex will actually wear off if you

scrub too hard or if you use too much water over time, but oil based paints last longer and are a more durable object to clean. No matter which type of

paint you have in your home a matt paint is going to be harder to clean than a semi gloss or gloss paint. A semi gloss paint finish or a gloss paint finish

will be easier to wipe but a gloss paint also reveal all of the imperfections in your walls so usually a semi gloss or a matt will be used throughout the

home to hide drywall or plaster blemishes. So keeping this in mind let’s get started.

 

To cut grease odors and smoke odors from your walls, using a cup of vinegar to a half gallon of water you can use a sponge to clean your walls completely

while leaving behind a fresh scent.

To cut grease stains and smoke stains, a mixture of one-cup ammonia and a half-gallon of warm water will work wonders for cleaning your painted walls.

 

Using three tablespoons of trisodium phosphate and a gallon of warm water you can clean your walls in the kitchen with ease. Trisodium phosphate can be

bought at any local home center.

 

If you found crayon marks on your wall, wiping it down with a rag wet with vinegar will remove this mark.

 

You should not use scrub brushes or scratchy pads on your painted walls or you will be left with a ‘torn up’ finish on the walls. If you should happen to

or someone else does this to your wall, simply sand with a piece of fine grit sand paper over the effected area, and repaint the surrounding area with

matching paint for a quick fix and a finished look. Don’t forget to wipe down the wall before painting it so that your paint has a smoother look and finish

to it.

 

You can use three tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with one gallon of hot water for a everyday dusting and cleaning of your walls. Starting from top to

bottom wiping away dust, cobwebs and dirt will help cut down on the heavy cleaning you might have to do later on.

 

Scuffmarks on your painted walls are easily removed with an eraser.

 

Milk and food stains on the wall will wash off with a warm water and ammonia solution rubbed over the area. Repeat as needed for stains that have set a

little longer.

 

Spaghetti sauce is messy, sometimes children carrying their plates will make messes on the walls. So if you have found spaghetti sauce on your painted walls

a mixture of warm water and vinegar will remove this stain in no time at all.

 

Using a broom, attach a few dryer sheets to the end you can dust and de-static that lower portions of your walls at the same time.

 

To clean painted walls that are near the floor, you can use a soft toothbrush, and a mixture of vinegar and water to clean the cracks between the wall and

the floor for a deep clean.

 

If you are remodeling your home and using drywall to patch the walls or cracks you can add a teaspoon of vinegar to your drywall mixture to keep the drywall

from drying out too fast while you are still working with it.

 

Have you found ink on your painted walls spray on a little bit of hairspray and have wet warm towel ready to wipe it up at the same time.

 

Children are so well known for putting their stickers and their decals on walls and if you have found some stuck in your home, even if it appears they have

been there a long time, you can use a cup of vinegar to two cups of warm water to spray over this area, then continue to spray on the decal to loosen the

glue as you are pulling it off. Using an eraser you can get the left over gummy stuff off your walls by rubbing gently.

 

Wood walls

 

For all types of wood walls you will find that you have different needs. If you have a true wood wall that is varnished or natural finished, like your hardwood

floor. you can use the wood flooring section for cleaning and waxing tips and ideas. If you have wood paneling, barn siding wood walls or other types of

cedar shingle wood walls you can use the cleaning tips here for a great deep clean.

 

As always, because of the different stains, finishes and types of wood that are used throughout different parts of the world, you should experiment in a

not so obvious section of your wall to test any cleaner before using it on a wood surface for best results.

 

Do you have wood paneling that never seems to come shiny? Wood paneling may be cleaned with a mixture of one cup of olive oil and two cups of vinegar in

one quart of warm water. Moisten a soft cloth or rag with the mixture and then simply wipe the paneling from top to bottom. The yellowing and dirt is then

removed from your finish by wiping with a soft, dry cloth for a fresh clean and shine.

 

If your wood paneling is looking old and a little dried out, use a lemon oil and wipe down the walls completely. Doing this once a week for about a month

will give you the finish you like.

 

If have wood or paneling near your stove that got a little too hot looking or dried out you can remove the white marks by making a paste out of salt and

olive oil. Rubbing this paste over the area will bring back the natural wood finish.

 

If you have wood paneling or a wood wall near your sinks or tubs you can also use the salt and olive oil paste to take out water stains and water drops

that landed on the wall leaving white marks.

 

Maybe you have bought a new home that has wood walls but they are looking a little old and worn out you can perk up your old wood walls by using a mixture

of half vinegar and half olive oil to add color and shine to a clean wood wall.

 

To dust off wood trim make a mixture of one cup vinegar, two tablespoons of olive oil and one cup of water in a spray bottle Spray onto your wood trim and

wipe away dust. This method adds shine as well as giving it your surface a little moisture at the same time.

 

Is your trim, doors, or other woodwork in your home stained and varnished? If your

varnish is looking a little old and cloudy, softly rub with a solution

of one tablespoon of vinegar with a quart of warm water. After washing, dry with a lint free cloth for the perfect shine.

 

If you have food stains on your paneling using a mixture of vinegar and warm water will clean up the paneling while disinfecting at the same time.

 

If you have barn wood siding or cedar shakes in your home as a wall finish you can use a solution of one cup of vinegar to one gallon of warm water to dust

lightly with a warm rag.

 

If you have pen marks on paneling you can use an eraser lightly to remove the majority of the ink, and then you can use straight vinegar or ammonia on a

soft cloth to bring out the remainder. You won’t be able to rub this area too hard or you can pull off the finish of the paneling as well.

 

Moving furniture can sometimes leave scratches in your wood walls and in your paneling. There are a few solutions here. You can use a marker or crayon that

matches the color of the wood to fill in the scratch, or you can use a very strong solution of coffee or tea to dab over the scratch and cover it nicely.

If your paneling has a high gloss finish to it you can use clean nail polish after using the tea or coffee to seal in the ‘stain’ and then to add the high

gloss look. Make sure that the tea or coffee treatment has dried thoroughly before applying the nail polish.

 

Ceramic walls

 

You have invested quite a bit of money in finishing your walls with ceramic tile and cleaning your ceramic carefully will ensure that your walls will remain

beautiful for years to come. Using the same care that you take in cleaning your ceramic floors you can use the same ideas and tips in the ceramic floor

section to clean your walls throughout the home.

 

Always remember not to use harsh sandy or gritty cleaning products on your ceramic walls or floors or you will be leaving scratches behind after you are

finished cleaning. Using soft cloths without buttons or harsh trimming will be the best type of cloth to clean your ceramic walls with.

 

To clean hard water stains or residue in your home, use a soft cloth with a straight

solution of vinegar to clean. Wipe off the walls with a dry clean towel

immediately so that the vinegar will not affect your grout.

 

Using ammonia and water to clean your home on a regular basis will keep the grease and grime to a minimum for long periods.

 

To cut static on your ceramic walls, wash lightly with a half and half mixture of fabric softener and vinegar.

 

Dusting and cleaning around the bottoms of ceramic walls is made easy with a toothbrush and an ammonia and water mixture while adding a fresh clean to your

home.

 

For everyday cleaning you can use two tablespoons of dish soap and a gallon of warm water to wipe your walls down from dust, dirt, and oils left behind

from your skin.

 

If you have found dried on stuck on foods or liquids on your ceramic walls, use hot water and a soft cloth. Rewetting the food until it softens and wiping

with your soft cloth will give you a great clean.

 

If you have found crayon or pencil on your ceramic walls use straight vinegar on a cloth and rub the area to watch these marks simply disappear.

 

Scuffmarks on ceramic walls will be gone with a gently rub of an eraser.

 

To leave your ceramic walls clean and shiny use one third cup of vinegar and one third cup of water mixed with one third cup of rubbing alcohol. Mixing

this in a spray bottle and wiping as you go will give you a clean shine.

 

Smoke and grease stains will wipe right off of your ceramic walls when you use ammonia and water (in a half and half mixture) and drying as you go. This

works for both fire damages and smoke residue from a smoker.