Today, more and more people opt for non-woven wallpaper. This is due to the fact that they can be used for painting in various colors. Non-woven wallpaper, which is specially created for painting, can be repainted up to six times. This is a great way to maintain the style in the interior or to focus on highlighting certain areas.
Let us further consider what non-woven wallpaper is; can this finishing material be washed?
What is non-woven wallpaper?
In its structure and appearance, non-woven wallpaper is similar to paper. They are made from cellulose and consist of fibers tightly pressed together. Non-woven wallpaper consists of several layers: the first layer is non-woven, the second is usually made on a paper or textile basis, and the third is decorative. In addition to the aesthetic appearance, it has a throughput capacity and is responsible for the possibility of its painting.
The surface of the non-woven wallpaper can be flat or have convex intricate patterns that simulate the application of plaster and create a visual volume.
Non-woven wallpaper is considered safe and environmentally friendly, since the material from which they are made is polymers and cellulose. It does not contain substances harmful or dangerous to human health.
Embossed elements are added to some non-woven wallpapers, which gives them an external elegance. This manufacturing method requires more time and resources, but adds durability and strength.
Main characteristics
Before you find out whether it is possible to wash non-woven wallpaper, consider their characteristics:
- Breathability. This property of the wallpaper guarantees their long life, as it allows the walls on which they are glued to be ventilated.
- They keep their shape well. This feature allows them not to deform immediately after gluing and prevents further shrinkage. It is worth paying attention to this characteristic of non-woven wallpaper when deciding on the choice of wallpaper for gluing walls in new buildings, as new houses often shrink in the early years.
- They can be pasted over any surface: from simply plastered walls to wooden surfaces, as well as on any paper canvas.
- The simplicity of the gluing process itself. No need to pre-coat the inner surface of the wallpaper, just applying glue to the wall, where the gluing will be done. This is very convenient, since it reduces the time of the gluing process itself and allows not to stain the floor surface.
Non-woven wallpaper is perfect for pasting in the kitchen.
disadvantages
There are some disadvantages of non-woven wallpaper:
- Since the wallpaper has a porous structure, dust particles constantly penetrate and settle in them.
- Some types of non-woven wallpaper have a complex design surface. In order not to damage the drawings and artistic stains, you need to avoid wet cleaning, and use a conventional vacuum cleaner.
- When wet cleaning, washing non-woven wallpaper must be washed carefully to avoid damage to the surface. Do not use excessive force, and smear the dirt on the surface.
Marking
Before washing non-woven wallpaper, you need to pay attention to their marking. It is present on all rolls. It says how to properly clean such products. To do this, it is worthwhile to save the label when buying, which provides accurate information on their proper operation and how to wash vinyl wallpaper on a non-woven basis.
The label on the non-woven wallpaper shows a small square with a wave drawn in it:
- If there is only one wave, then this type of wallpaper cannot be washed directly with water, but you need to gently wipe it with a damp sponge without adding additional detergents.
- If there are two waves, then a small amount of ordinary liquid soap can be added to the aqueous solution, but cleaning should be done carefully.
- If there are three waves, then such wallpapers are washed without fear with a solution with the addition of any detergents that are used constantly in daily cleaning.
- If, in addition to the waves, a brush is also shown in the square, then such wallpaper can be not only washed with an aqueous solution of detergents, but also cleaned with a vacuum cleaner and ordinary brushes with soft bristles.
Many are interested in the question - what kind of wallpaper can be washed: vinyl or non-woven? In principle, you can wash both those and others, but you need to carefully read the label.
How to wash non-woven wallpaper from dirt?
In order to prepare a washing solution, you need to observe a proportion that is measured by eye. Water at room temperature is collected in a basin or bucket and a detergent is added. If it is liquid, like a dishwashing liquid or liquid soap, then you need to add a small cap. If it is a detergent for delicate fabrics, then a tablespoon will be quite enough. Everything is thoroughly mixed so that the detergents dissolve well.
You can also use more accurate recommendations with more accurate proportions:
- Preparation of a solution with baking soda: 20 grams of soda are used per liter of water.
- For a soap solution used to remove small stains, a ratio of 1 to 10 is suitable.
How to wash non-woven wallpaper?
Before you start directly washing the wallpaper on a non-woven basis, it is worth trying to wash first a small area, which is in an inconspicuous place. This must be done in order to find out whether it is possible to wash non-woven wallpaper and avoid damage to the visually visible part of the interior. First you need to moisten the selected area with plain water with the addition of detergent and let it dry. If nothing happened with the non-woven wallpaper, then in this case it is safe to continue cleaning with the same detergents that were used before. But you need to remember that you need to wash carefully so as not to damage the surface of the wallpaper.
The choice of detergent for non-woven wallpaper should be approached carefully, although the surface of the wallpaper is quite durable and resistant to common cleaning agents, since it has a water-repellent layer. Therefore, water when washing wallpaper does not penetrate deeper than the decorative layer.
The washing solution can be prepared by yourself. To do this, you need to mix water in a special bowl with ordinary liquid soap, soda, or with a dishwashing liquid, that is, means that are used in everyday life.
If only a small dirty stain has formed on the wallpaper, then it is well removed with ordinary wet wipes.
Some features
When washing non-woven wallpaper, you need to adhere to the following simple rules:
- If the labeling of the wallpaper allows the use of a vacuum cleaner, then if they are contaminated with dust, it should be used. It is not always worth resorting to wet cleaning. It is better to turn on the vacuum cleaner at low power to avoid peeling off a whole layer of the surface of the wallpaper from the wall. Another feature of vacuum cleaning is that sometimes a lot of dust accumulates in textured wallpaper and during washing, it simply spreads, leaving stains behind.
- When wiping the wallpaper with a rag, washcloth or sponge, you must first squeeze it well and when passing through the wallpaper do not rub their surface for a long time in order to avoid absorption of excess moisture.
- Wallpaper should be washed smoothly, without applying excessive force, so as not to damage the surface by mechanical movements.
- If the non-woven wallpaper is embossed or with a complex convex pattern, you must first use a vacuum cleaner to clean it and only then wipe it with a slightly damp cloth.
After washing, always wipe the surface with a dry absorbent cloth. In no case should you use a hair dryer, so as not to break the upper protective layer. And also do not open windows and doors so as not to create drafts. Otherwise, the wallpaper may peel off. After wet cleaning, non-woven wallpaper dries on its own quite quickly. In general, this takes no more than an hour.
Also, the process of cleaning non-woven wallpaper depends on the texture of the material.
Wallpaper with a pattern
The pattern is a good accumulator of dust that settles between its elements. Can I wash non-woven wallpaper? To clean them, you will first need a vacuum cleaner with a set suction power at a minimum, then wet cleaning with a solution with the addition of washing powder for delicate fabrics or dishwashing detergent. A kitchen sponge or soft cloth is carefully wrung out, quickly wiping the surface of the wallpaper, trying to avoid smudges and without smearing dirt, and then wiped with a dry clean rag.
Plain wallpaper
It is very easy to wash such washing non-woven vinyl wallpapers with a soap solution. The surface can be sprayed out of the spray gun, and then thoroughly wiped first with a rag or sponge, and then dry with a clean rag.
Painted coating
Non-woven wallpaper with a painted surface should be washed very carefully. The rag should be kept at least damp, no detergents used. Such care must be taken so that the paint does not peel off or fade, and the appearance of the wallpaper remains the same.
How to clean oily stains?
To clean greasy stains on non-woven wallpaper, which can often appear, as a rule, in the kitchen, use talcum powder. To do this, take an ordinary sponge, moisturize it in water and pour a small amount of talc. Then the surface of the sponge with talcum powder should be thoroughly wiped with a grease stain and left for further exposure for several minutes. After that, gently rinse the talcum powder from the work surface and carefully wipe it with another clean rag.
You can also use an iron to remove oily stains. A blank sheet of plain paper rests on a greasy stain on the non-woven wallpaper and is then ironed with a hot iron. Under the influence of temperature, the stain is absorbed into a sheet of paper. When using this method, the paper is periodically changed until the entire stain disappears.
You can also use a steam cleaner with caution. After its use, the treated surface is wiped with a dry, clean cloth. But the steam cleaner can be used for a very short time so as not to damage the wallpaper.
Some small greasy spots or fingerprints can be removed using an ordinary stationery eraser. You need to gently rub the contaminated place, and the stain should be erased.
Often, after repairs, small traces of glue or paint may remain on the non-woven wallpaper. To remove them, you will need a detergent and washing powder. Water-based paint, if it has not yet dried up, is cleaned with ordinary water or a damp cloth, and the glue is removed with a solution of washing powder. In case of contact with the wallpaper with oil or acrylic paint, they use a regular solvent to clean it.
How to clean a stain from a felt-tip pen?
If there are small children in the house, then sometimes they can draw something on the wallpaper with felt-tip pens. To remove a stain from a felt-tip pen, it is necessary to determine on the basis of what it is made. Felt-tip pens are water-based and alcohol-based. The trace from the water marker is removed using a normal soap solution, and from the alcohol - with a solution of alcohol, citric acid or table vinegar. You need to apply a small amount of cleaning agent to a cotton pad or a new rag and gently rub the painted surface until the picture completely comes off.
Conclusion
So, we examined whether it is possible to wash non-woven wallpaper and how to do it correctly. With the right process of care for them, you can achieve cleanliness in the room, to avoid the accumulation of dust. This atmosphere in the house favorably affects the people living in it, contributing to the freshness of the air. Also, non-woven wallpaper will always have a clean surface, since, following simple recommendations, you can get rid of dirty spots that have fallen on their surface.