Quick answer
Dust all wallpaper regularly with a soft brush or vacuum attachment. Only washable and scrubbable papers (usually vinyl and vinyl-coated) should be wiped with a damp cloth and mild soap. Traditional paper, grasscloth and silk should never be wet-cleaned — blot spills with a dry cloth instead.
Key points
- Check the cleaning symbol on the label or product page.
- Always test cleaning in a hidden spot first.
- Never scrub natural or uncoated papers.
- Wipe from the bottom up to avoid streaks running down.
Find out what your wallpaper can handle
Wallpaper labels use standard symbols for cleaning. In plain terms:
- Spongeable: blot with a damp sponge, no rubbing.
- Washable: gentle wiping with a soft cloth and mild soapy water.
- Scrubbable: can take a soft brush and mild cleaner.
- No symbol: dust only.
Cleaning by type
Vinyl and vinyl-coated
Wipe with a soft cloth dampened in warm water with a drop of dish soap. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh solvents.
Nonwoven
Many nonwovens are washable — check the label. Use a barely damp cloth and work gently; do not soak seams.
Traditional paper
Dust with a soft brush. Remove marks with a dry art eraser or wallpaper dough, testing first.
Grasscloth, silk and naturals
Vacuum with a brush attachment. Blot spills immediately with a dry white cloth. Water can leave permanent marks.
Peel-and-stick
Most are vinyl and can be wiped gently. Avoid lifting edges while cleaning.
Common stains
- Fingerprints: dry eraser first, then a damp cloth on washable papers.
- Crayon: on vinyl, gentle wiping with mild soap often works; test first.
- Grease (kitchens): on washable papers, a mild dish soap solution; on uncoated papers, blot only.
- Water marks: usually permanent on naturals; on other papers, find the source first.
Prevent wear in the first place
Choose durable papers for busy areas — see wallpaper for high-traffic hallways — and keep a spare roll for repairs, explained in repairing damaged wallpaper.
A simple cleaning routine
- Dust first. Use a soft brush attachment on a vacuum or a clean, dry microfiber cloth, working from top to bottom.
- Test. Try any wet cleaning on a hidden spot — behind a door or furniture — and let it dry before judging.
- Use the mildest method that works. Dry eraser before damp cloth, damp cloth before soap.
- Work from the bottom up when wiping, so drips do not streak down dirty paper.
- Rinse and dry. Wipe with clean water and pat dry; do not leave seams wet.
What to avoid
- Bleach and strong solvents, which can discolor inks.
- Abrasive pads and powders, except on papers rated scrubbable — and even then, gently.
- Soaking seams or edges, which can loosen the paste.
- Steam cleaners near wallpaper.
- Any water on grasscloth, silk, cork or flocked papers.
Smoke, grease and stains that will not budge
Some stains go into the paper itself: smoke in older homes, grease absorbed by uncoated papers, ink, and water stains. When cleaning does not work, a section can be replaced with paper from a spare roll — see repairing damaged wallpaper. If there is no spare, it may be time to consider new paper.
Keeping wallpaper clean longer
Good ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms, a durable paper in busy areas, and furniture kept an inch or two off the wall go a long way. In kids rooms, a scrubbable nonwoven or vinyl makes the inevitable crayon incident much less stressful.
FAQ
Can you use a magic eraser on wallpaper?
Melamine sponges are abrasive and can remove the finish or print. Use them only on scrubbable vinyl, and test in a hidden spot first.
How often should wallpaper be cleaned?
Dust a few times a year and spot clean as needed. Kitchens and kids rooms may need more frequent wiping on washable papers.
Can grasscloth be spot cleaned?
Only by dry methods: vacuum with a soft brush and blot spills immediately with a dry white cloth. Water usually leaves a mark.
