Keep Your Wood Paneled Walls Clean with Natural Cleansers

Wood-paneled walls are a natural ‘sponge’ for dust, dirt, and odors. With a few natural ingredients, you can safely clean your walls with no worries of toxic fumes. Regular cleaning will keep your paneled room looking and smelling fresh.

Step 1 - Daily Cleaning

Generally, natural wood-paneled walls can be kept clean by keeping them free of dust and debris. Wiping your paneling weekly with a clean, dry rag will help keep dust under control. With a vacuum cleaner and brush attachment, clean the paneling once a month.

Step 2 - Wash and Renew Paneling

In a bucket, mix a solution of 1/2 cup olive oil; 1/2 cup white vinegar; 2 cups warm water. With a scrub brush, clean the panels thoroughly. Replace the solution when it gets dirty. Tip: for extremely dirty walls, use small quantities at a time to reduce wasted solution. Use a clean rag and warm water to rinse the walls. Change rinse water as it gets dirty, continue rinsing walls until the water stays clear.

Step 3 - Remove Nicotine Stains

If there are smokers in your home, wood will absorb both the residual tar (causing a brown haze) and the odor. Make a solution of 1/2 gallon of warm water, 1 cup of white vinegar, and 1/2 cup baking soda. With a scrub brush, clean the nicotine off walls (scrub in direction of wood grain), replacing the solution when it gets dirty. Continue scrubbing the walls until the solution remains clean. Rinse the wood-paneled walls with a clean rag and clear water (wring the rag out well before wiping the wall).