How to care for your wallcoverings
Extend the life of your wallpaper with tips for maintenance and cleaning.
Image of Selva by Arte
Just as your sofa upholstery adds visual and tactile interest to interiors, wallcoverings do the same for walls and ceilings. They can be large-scale pieces of art or a way of expressing the unique style of a homeowner.
“Wallcovering are also becoming popular in contemporary office design to showcase a brand story or create an experience for visitors and employees.”
It does often happen that wallcoverings are installed in a space and its occupants are then too afraid to touch the wallpaper again. With so many different types of wallcoverings, some with textile qualities, there’s a fear that attempting to clean the wall might damage the wallpaper. Life happens and there may be an incident of spilt coffee splashing against the wall or just a case of many hands touching because the wallcovering has an inviting texture so, it’s important to maintain it.
Never fear - our passion for fabrics includes our extensive variety of sought after wallcoverings and we’ve got tips on how to keep those walls looking gorgeous and clean for years to come.
Check your wallpaper symbol
Wallpapers have different compositions for different applications. Some wallpapers are great for bathrooms and kitchens while others are only suitable for low traffic areas. It’s important when selecting your wallpaper that you choose the right one for the area where it will live. When this selection is made, check the wallpaper symbol that indicates if it is one of these classifications:
Spongeable: Wallpaper can be lightly cleaned with a dry sponge.
Washable: Clean with a lightly damp sponge but avoid using chemicals.
Extra-washable: This wallpaper can tolerate a wet cloth and soapy water.
Scrubbable: Can be gently scrubbed clean with a cloth, sponge or soft brush and mild detergent.
Dust it off
Dust can dull or damage wallcoverings so, it must be dusted at least every two months with a lambswool duster or use a microfibre cloth wrapped around the head of a broom. Another way to get rid of dust is to vacuum the wallpaper but be careful; the vacuum head shouldn’t have hard bristles as this could damage the wallpaper. The idea is to suck the dust off so, start at the ceiling and gently bring the vacuum head down along the wall in a smooth motion following straight lines.
Getting it clean
For most wallpapers, a dry sponge will do the job of removing dirt without the addition of moisture. Gently wipe across the wallpaper in long strokes.
An artist’s gum eraser is a great tool for removing fingerprints and smudges on delicate wallpapers. Gently rub the eraser over the marks until they’re gone.
Got a greasy stain? Apply talcum powder directly to the stain to absorb the oil. Use a microfiber cloth or dry sponge to remove the powder.
For vinyl or fibreglass wallpaper, grease stains can be cleaned with a mix of half a cup of vinegar to one cup of warm water. Dip a microfiber cloth or natural sponge into the mix, wring out thoroughly and clean the stain. Follow with a towel dry. If there’s uncertainty about using the mix, test a small amount on an area of the wall close to the floor that is concealed by furniture.
Communicate cleaning instructions
It is vital that the cleaning instructions for any wallcovering is clearly communicated. Home Fabrics provides the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines for all our wallcovering products and, if it’s been a while and a refresher is needed, we can assist in retrieving those instructions.
Enjoy your wallpaper!
Maintaining gorgeous wallcoverings means they can be enjoyed for decades and potentially don’t have to be replaced for a generation or more. The outstanding quality of our wallcovering selections from some of the world’s leading brands creates exciting design opportunities with wallpaper used everywhere from kitchens to bathrooms and, one of our favourites, on ceilings.
