Ask Mrs. Clean: House Cleaning, Stain Removal and Organizing Tips

[titanscout]

This weekend, I used alcohol and lighter fluid to remove scuff marks on light blue painted walls in an office. The scuffs are gone, but now there are "white cloud spots" all over the walls where I cleaned the marks. Any suggestions as to how to darken/make these white spots less noticeable?
Thanks

[mrscleannw]

Hello titanscout, Welcome.

Always remember to test new things in an inconspicuous spot first to see how it will react with the surface you are cleaning.

Unfortunately, it sounds as if you will need to repaint the section of wall you cleaned. If the paint is not a flat paint, you should be able to touch up the cloudy spots vs. painting the whole wall.

Here are a few things for future reference:

Magic Eraser/WD40:
If the scuff marks are from furniture, carefully use a Magic Eraser. Additionally if the marks are from crayons try using a little WD40.

TSP:
Other marks on your walls might need a tough cleaner like tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). It is available at most hardware stores. You will need to wear protective gloves when working with TSP. Follow the directions that are listed on the package and dilute with warm water. Wash walls with the solution and a clean, soft sponge and make sure you rinse well. This should remove stains without harming the paint on the wall.

[titanscout]

Thanks for your help.