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[Ms X]

I've never washed every inch of the walls of a room.  I have washed portions that got dirty.  When I've done that, there was never a line of demarcation where I'd washed/not washed.  I'd imagine this would be absolutely necessary where there are smokers, though I'm sure many of you who do this don't smoke.  I rented an apartment years ago that had been previously occupied by smokers, and a faint layer of soot was on everything.

[alliswell]

Me too!  It's the "spring cleaning ritual" I grew up with and the fragrance of certain cleaning products still spark memories of washing and refreshing not just the walls but everything in the entire house and turning the heat off until the fall.   Of course the daily routine weekly maintenance continues 52 weeks of the year.  Actually, believe it or not, it's kind of like therapy in a way.   

[JeanLouiseFinch]

@Mominohio  - You are awesome!  Can you see me high-fiving you?!? Your guide/plan is excellent!  I'm going to copy it and use it as my own!  Some of your instruction seems like it would be so obvious, but I'm one who always ends up with everything being torn up at once and piles of "undecideds" that create more stress for me.  I'm purposing, in my own mind, to be more decisive about letting things go and not keeping them because I "might" use it one day, "might" fit in it again, or so I won't feel guilty about the money wasted if I do pitch something that had never been opened or used up.  For unopened items, that's simple - donate it.  I just have to be more faithful in getting it done.  DH is much better at parting with things than I am.  I'm not a hoarder, but I do tend to hold onto things longer than I need to.  

In the event that you ever want to change your name/ID, you can always fall back on "Heloise" (the cleaning expert). 

[Sunshine Kate]

I've never used Spic N Span, but I think it comes in powder form or liquid.  

What else is it good for other than walls?

[Pecky]

My mom washed her walls twice a year spring & fall.  I also do it.  The whole house smells so fresh & clean.  We don't smoke it's just something we always did. 

[flickerbulb]

I also use it to mop the floors. It is a multi purpose cleaner,so I suppose you can use it to clean counters, appliances, and more!

The powder is harder to find. Amazon sells it but I can find it at my local Ace Hardware. I don't get there that often so I buy a few boxes at a time.

[Lucky Charm]

I wash walls in 4 houses!

The walls aren't 'drywall', they're all (real) wood beadboard that's been painted with satin finish.

I've done this since we had a house that had a paneled family room years ago.  I could see the dust lay on it just like you do your furniture.

I used to use pledge (which is something I no longer use--ever).

Upholstered furniture also gets dusty just like your bedroom dresser or coffee table---dust doesn't avoid it as a courtesy to you!  Same for your blankets/comforters--they need to be washed regulary---if you don't like dust mites/dead skin etc. Yuck!

I always buy comforters and drapes that can be machine washed--don't care for dry cleaning chemicals or depending on a total stranger from not dragging my clean bedding all over the dirty floor---you can pay big bucks for ---filth! 

My couches and chairs are done in Sunbrella fabrics--which can be spot cleaned, wiped down totally with a clean bucket of dish liquid, warm water and cloth or removed and machine washed.

Back to the OP, yeah, I wash my walls.

[Puzzle Piece]

I just inherited a home where the walls need washing. The walls are Yuck.  We washed our walls growing up at home.  Some folks just paint and paint over the gunk. Yuck.  I've got quite a job in front of me - probably how I will spend my Summer.  Now, I have to find some powdered Spic n Spam.  We used to use TSP but that's not allowed in California since all the terrorist incidents. 

[software]

It comes in both.    it's popular because it doesn't need rinsing.   I use Mrs Meyer's, no rinsing needed there either.   If you use a microfiber mop or cloth, you only need a small amount of cleaning product.

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@Sunshine Kate wrote:

I've never used Spic N Span, but I think it comes in powder form or liquid.  

What else is it good for other than walls?

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[phoenixbrd]

151 and mominOhio....Thank you for your responses and as JLF did, I'm also printing out those instructions.,,,so much energy and motivation.  Your families are really blessed to have such determination to create a loving, fresh environment.  You inspire me to do the same.  Thank you for taking the time to break it down for me.