Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should break out the mop to clean your walls?
If you're a frequent visitor of CleanTok, a community on TikTok dedicated to all things cleaning, you might have stumbled upon a fascinating trend—viral videos everywhere show users mopping their walls. Users are revealing an astonishing amount of dirt that's been lurking on their walls by simply mopping them clean. In one video, which has gained over 23,000 views, user @momthatlovestoclean shows viewers just how much dirt is hiding in her walls by mopping it up and showing off the murky water in the bucket afterward. It is, without a doubt, pretty disgusting.
There can be quite a bit of dirt hiding on our walls, a surface that's often overlooked in our cleaning routines. We tend to prioritize floors and countertops while the walls quietly accumulate dust, grime, and stains—especially in high-traffic areas. This neglect has led many cleaning enthusiasts on TikTok to take matters into their own hands, treating their walls to the same meticulous cleaning approach they take to their floors. But introducing a mop to the walls may not always be the best advice.
Walls with different paint types and finishes require special care when scrubbing, so using the TikTok cleaning trend of mopping your walls with a flathead mop, spinning mop, or even a paint roller could cause a lot of damage to your paint—especially if your paint has a flat or matte finish. Some TikTok creators, despite their best intentions, even advocate for a monthly wall-mopping routine, unknowingly exposing followers to potential risks like paint loss, or even the growth of mold or mildew.
Thankfully, there are some brilliant (and a bit more sensible) ways to maintain clean walls without compromising the integrity of your paint. The general recommendation is to clean painted walls gently. Instead of subjecting your walls to the ordeal of mopping, many paint types respond well to a soft, soapy sponge or cloth that effectively wipes away dirt without overwhelming the surface. Choosing this route ensures that your walls remain immaculate, with their pristine appearance preserved. To avoid any confusion about the right way to clean your walls based on the specific paint type you have, check out our comprehensive guide.
The next time you find yourself tempted to hop on the CleanTok wall-mopping trend, take a moment to consider the best approach to keeping your walls spotless without compromising their longevity.