How to Clean & Care for Wallpaper
Good wallpaper looks beautiful for many years with very little effort. Here's how to keep yours looking new.
First, know your wallpaper type
How you clean depends on the finish. Your product page lists this, and these terms appear on the roll label:
- Spongeable — wipe gently with a barely-damp sponge. Light cleaning only.
- Washable — handles a damp cloth and mild soapy water.
- Scrubbable — the toughest; can take gentle scrubbing. Usually vinyl.
When in doubt, treat it as delicate and test any method on a hidden patch first.
Everyday care
- Dust regularly. A soft, dry microfibre cloth or a vacuum with a soft brush head along the top edges and skirting keeps dust from building up.
- Wipe marks promptly. The sooner you deal with a mark, the easier it lifts.
Cleaning a mark or splash
- Start with the gentlest approach: a barely-damp cloth, no soap.
- Still there? On washable or scrubbable papers, add a little mild soapy water.
- Blot and wipe gently — never soak the paper or scrub a delicate finish.
- Pat dry with a clean cloth.
Always test on an out-of-sight area first.
What to avoid
- Harsh chemicals and abrasive scourers — they can strip colour and finish.
- Soaking the paper or the seams — water getting behind the edges is what lifts wallpaper.
- Scrubbing a non-washable paper — check the type first.
Little habits that protect it
- Keep rooms ventilated so moisture doesn't sit on the surface.
- Wipe kitchen and bathroom walls down now and then before grime builds up.
- Keep a small offcut from your original batch — perfect for a future repair that matches exactly.
Not sure how washable your specific wallpaper is? Email mary@wallpapertrader.com with the design name and we'll tell you exactly how to care for it.