I just moved into this brand new apartment a few months ago. Like most apartments, the walls are painted with white flat paint. I have no idea how I got so many scuff marks on the walls, but I want them gone! Suggestions? Hopefully they don’t involve me painting.
Those “magic eraser” sponges work really well for a lot of oopsies. Cheap and worth a try.
They tend not to work so well on flat paint though. Most rentals are painted with a satin or semi-gloss paint (perhaps Chicago is different though.)
I’m not an expert on paint, it’s certainly not a glossy type paint. It is an expensive rental, so maybe they used something besides the absolute cheapest paint.
Seconding the magic erasers.
Magic Erasers, but don’t use them too often. They will eventually wear the paint off to reveal the drywall (or plaster, since you’re in Chicago that’s a possibility) underneath. They’re awesome for a move in and move out wall cleaning, but not so much for a toddler with a penchant for wall art.
Before the Magic Eraser, I’d try a towel/sponge with some 409 or soap and water. If nothing works, go to the rental office and see if they have some touch up paint. The last apartment I had always had some around because they knew you’d bang up the walls moving in or would probably move pictures around through out the year and since they painted after you moved out, they really didn’t care if you touched up while you were there.
Rags made from woven sheets are highly effective for cleaning. I suppose it’s because of the threads being at right angles. They do tend to take more paint off the wall than a sponge, for example, so…easy does it.
That’s because you have flat white paint. There’s nothing more scuff-prone as far as paint is concerned.
Magic erasers work well, although I think I’d just try something like water on a paper towel first, followed by something like 409.