How to clean wood walls and paneling

The important thing to remember when cleaning wood walls and paneling is you are cleaning wood. Cleaning wood is totally different than cleaning painted walls. It can be tough work but following these simple steps will help preserve the beauty of your wood walls and paneling.

Use a product that is safe and only for wood. A good choice would be ‘Pledge’ in liquid form that you add to warm water. Another product that works well is ‘Super Shine All’; it can be used in a spray form. These products won't strip the finish of your wood and they won't leave any residue or buildup on the wood.

Now that you have the cleaning product you will be using. You have to dry clean your wood walls and paneling. This means get rid of all cobwebs and dust with a dry mop. You may also remove any nails or tacks. I suggest using a ladder or get an extending dry mop for hard to reach areas.

Do not use wet mops to clean wood walls or paneling. It allows excess water to drip. The best way to clean your wood walls is to use the spray form or a bucket with the solution in it. Always use soft cloths and nothing abrasive. Start at the top and in small sections. After cleaning a section, dry thoroughly with another soft cloth. If some areas are harder to clean because of fingerprints or grease you can use a product like Goo Gone or other citrus based cleaners. These cleaners are safe for wood walls and they remove grease, crayon, scuff marks, tape, etc.

Once your walls are clean and dry you can apply a light coat of polish like Liquid Gold in spray form or Pledge with a dry soft cloth. Newer walls may require polish but I suggest using polish on older walls because they get dry and lose their luster so a product like Liquid Gold or Lemon Oil will add shine and help preserve the wood. When polishing wood always remember to spray product on the cloth or use a drop cloth. This will prevent slip and fall accidents. For older wood walls the polish may be absorbed quickly so you can apply a second coat.

Some products such as Endust is great for dusting your walls in between cleanings and it will help to prevent dust from accumulating. Another nice thing about Endust is it doesn't cause the wax buildup that you can get from polishing over and over again. For heavy duty dirt on older walls, I've used Spic and Span and it worked very well. However, I don't recommend using it on all walls. When in doubt about what to use for cleaning your wood walls, try to contact the manufacturer or look up the type of wood your cleaning on the Internet. There should be suggestions on how to care for your type of wood walls. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Another cleaning tip for wood walls is using plastic scrapers that you can purchase at the hardware store to remove candle wax, tape and food. It won't scratch the wood and it can be used on other non scratch resistant items in your home. To maintain the beauty of your wood walls and paneling, I suggest cleaning them every 6 months. Hopefully these steps and tips will help you clean your wood walls and paneling.