Tip of the week: How to keep walls clean
Favorite tip: Peel away the memories; Least favorite: Remove the evidence
Remove the evidence. “Light switches, door frames, and stairways are all magnets” for fingerprints and hand smudges. “Your favorite all-purpose cleaner” should be fine to remove them. But to assure that washed areas blend with the unwashed, “go over the once-dirty spot again with a water-dampened sponge.”
Tackle trouble spots. A soft cloth and “citrus-based cleaner like Goo Gone” are what you need if your child has been inspired by Harold and the Purple Crayon and left a trail along your walls. Once the “waxy artwork” has dissolved, rinse the spot with soap and water.
Peel away the memories. Has your kid stuck decals all over his bedroom walls? Soften the adhesives with “heat from a blow-dryer (for 10 seconds or so), then peel.” Gently loosen any remaining gunk with a cotton swab and laundry-stain remover. Then “carefully scrape it off with a credit card or spatula.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Source: Good Housekeeping
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why does the U.S. need China's rare earth metals?
Today's Big Question Beijing has a 'near monopoly' on tech's raw materials
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
When did divorce begin?
The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
By David Faris
-
What are your retirement savings account options?
The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US