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Sharon asked: How do I remove steam marks? We have a brand new house, and it has special paint in the bathroom that was recommended by the paint supplier. Before we even used our bathroom, our relatives put their kids in the bath and steamed up the whole room by not using the ventilation available. The steam has run down the walls and seems to have stained them. How can I remove these stains?
Marks
left by water running down the walls can be extremely difficult to remove. In fact, you may find that repainting with a semi-gloss, gloss or bathroom paint may be the only way to completely fix this problem. Before you take that step, however, give this one a try.
You Will Need:
- Bucket
- Clean sponges
- 1 gallon warm water
- ½ cup borax
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 tbsp household ammonia
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- Combine the liquid ingredients in the bucket.
- Before you begin, spot test the mixture on a hidden area. Wipe the wall then dry it to test for colorfastness.
- Use one of the sponges to wipe the walls with the solution. Start at the bottom and work your way up to prevent additional streaks/drips from appearing.
- After cleaning, use the second sponge to rinse the walls with clean water.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Before washing walls, make sure that baseboards are properly sealed with caulk at the top and on the floor so water does not infiltrate the wall system. A towel or sheet against the base of the wall can help catch excess moisture. (Be sure to remove it when you’re finished cleaning).
- Streaks still there? Try Awesome – it works on almost anything and is available at dollar stores. Just as any cleaning product, test a small area first to ensure that it does not remove the paint or cause discoloration.
- To avoid excess moisture on walls in the future, make sure the room is well ventilated. Use fans, if necessary, to prevent the build-up of humidity.
I would either reduce the amount of borax or increase the water; with this ratio I’ll be rinsing for hours as it has left a soapy residue.
This past winter, the temperatures dipped to -30 degrees, which created a lot of condensation on my walls and ceilings. I found several recommendations for cleaning solutions that all involved copious amounts of bleach. Bleach didn’t seem to be the answer for water stains. Glad I found this; it worked well for me.
I agree with a previous post. The amount of Borax needs to be reduced or increase your water. There is a LOT of soapy residue left to rinse off.
I just used half water plus half vinegar. Cleaned my bathroom walls. Steam marks came right off and the bathroom smells fresh.
Does anyone know which Awesome product they are referring to? There are several cleaners and dish detergents to choose from.
It’s a yellow-colored liquid spray cleaner actually called “Awesome “. It’s used for just about anything.
Vinegar, borax, etc. will not work!!! What you have to do is use an oil-based primer and then paint!! I tried everything and was finally told this at a paint store and it worked! I was ready to pound out the wall after washing, and four coats of paint!!!
Most commercial paint stores and some big box stores carry wall cleaners that professionals use to prep prior to painting. One such product is called “TSP-PF”. It’s a powder that’s mixed with water according to instructions. You might be able to rinse afterwards and not paint, but I have never tried this. In addition, you can also find several paint primers that are specifically for walls with stains. One called “Kilz” can even cover mold. Finally, a neat trick that a friend who paints professionally turned me on to is to use a water-based matte finish polyurethane to cover over impossible stains like graffiti on concrete or stucco prior to painting with water-based exterior paint or alternatively oil-based polyurethane for oil-based exterior paint. I have tried all these products/tricks with success. I imagine the polyurethane trick may also work on interiors, but I have never tried it.