Soap and Water

• Combine one part dish washing soap to four parts water. Lightly dip a sponge into the mixture and rub onto the walls, moving from the bottom of the walls to the top. This creates a smooth surface for your paint.
  
  

Specialty Cleaners

• A degreaser product that removes grease is appropriate for kitchens and areas with greasy residue on the walls. Always test the product first, to ensure it does not damage the walls. Multi-purpose or household cleaners will also work to clean your walls.
  
  

Warning

• If you need to fill in holes or other damaged spots in your walls, do this after cleaning the walls and after the walls dry completely. Some of the fill-in products are water soluble, meaning you might damage the products if you clean later.