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NBC News
19-05-2025
- General
- NBC News
How to clean walls properly, according to experts
Even on my best Sunday, when I have it in me to do a deep clean of my apartment, I always feel like I forgot about an area. A few places I'd bet a lot of people, myself included, forget to clean (or perhaps didn't even know they should clean) are the walls. Yes, whether paint-coated, scuff-covered or veiled in dust, walls (including baseboards) require a good cleaning every now and then, according to Robin Murphy, the president of Maid Brigade and author of the blog Who Likes It Dirty?. The first and most important step (and one I think a lot of people may skip) is dusting, according to Kadi Dulude, the owner of the cleaning company Wizard of Homes. To learn more about the proper order for cleaning walls, I spoke with Murphy and Dulude for advice and product recommendations. The best products for cleaning walls All of the cleaning products below are either direct recommendations from our experts, NBC Select staff, or are from brands we've covered in the past. Additionally, some of the products are highly rated with at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon. A common step that a lot of people, myself included, probably forget when it comes to cleaning walls (or really cleaning in general) is dusting. Both Murphy and Dulude recommend dusting first and foremost when cleaning walls. While it's tempting to go in with a spray simply, dusting prevents particles from being pushed around and into the air — the texture of dusters makes them great at acting like a magnet for dust particles. This extendable duster from Swiffer is three feet long, and the end bends perpendicularly, so you don't have to bend down to reach baseboards. You can also use it to clean dust on your electronics, shelves and tables. Bona Spray Mop After dusting, you should use a mop with a microfiber pad to clean walls, such as this one from Bona, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 18,355 reviews on Amazon, and which we featured in our guide on how to clean hardwood floors. This set includes a spare microfiber pad, a bottled cleaning solution that attaches to the length of the mop and a spraying mechanism at the bottom. For cleaning walls, dampen the microfiber pad and use an up-and-down motion to clean. Avoid using too much soap or going in many different directions to prevent streaks. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable Dulude recommends using a Magic Eraser to help remove stains on particularly tough walls. This extra-durable option works similarly to the regular one, except it has grooves on the surface to make scrubbing away stains and scuff marks easier. To use it, follow the usual directions: Saturate the sponge in water, squeeze out a lot of the excess and then use it to clean stains on the walls. Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloths NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown loves using reusable Swedish dish cloths for cleaning different surfaces in her home, and says they're particularly great at cleaning up dust. A more sustainable alternative to microfiber, Swedish dishcloths are plastic-free, biodegradable and dishwasher safe for up to 30 uses, according to the brand. You can also use them as compost materials when you're done with them. How to clean walls: A step-by-step guide How to clean painted walls Start by using a handheld or full-length duster to clean walls, including the baseboards. This is an important first step that both Murphy and Dulude recommend. Dusting first before introducing moisture or soap prevents simply moving around solid particles. Glide the duster along the side of the baseboards and walls. Dust often settles the most on top of the baseboards and in corners, and a duster clings to it as you move it. You can also use a microfiber or Swedish dish towel to pick up dust by hand. Use a thin mop with a microfiber pad with a small amount of water and soap. Like cleaning floors, Murphy recommends against using a lot of water or soap to prevent damaging painted walls and/or leaving visible streaks behind. Dampen the mop pad with a small amount of mild plant-based soap like Mrs. Meyers, and use it to gently clean the surface of the walls, using an up-and-down motion. Use a hard-surface cleaning sponge to clean scuff marks and tough stains on the walls. If you're dealing with particularly stuck-on stains, Dulude recommends using a lightly damp Magic Eraser to scrub away stains on walls. How to clean walls with wallpaper Follow steps 1 and 2 described above. It's best to avoid getting wallpaper wet as much as possible to avoid damaging it. Instead, it's best to start with a microfiber cloth or mop and use it to wipe down the surface of the walls and remove dust. If there are visible stains on walls with wallpaper, use a very small amount of water to dampen the microfiber cloth and repeat the step above. How to clean textured walls Follow steps 1 and 2 described above. Murphy recommends using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment (sometimes called an upholstery attachment) to thoroughly review the walls. Be sure to clean the baseboards with the vacuum as well. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select where I cover home and kitchen topics, including cooking appliances, cleaning gadgets, product reviews and deals and sale events from home and kitchen brands. I spoke to two cleaning experts and gathered recommendations from staff for this story.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘We need meaningful action now': RI lawmakers urged to pass health care reforms
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI) urged lawmakers Thursday afternoon to pass key legislation aimed at stabilizing health care statewide. Specifically, HARI wants the General Assembly to approve a so-called 'Health Care Action Package,' which includes the following: Family Health Care Act: Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for physicians and advance practice providers in the community Medicaid Reinvestment Act: Improves the hospital payment structure by increasing Medicaid payments at no additional cost to taxpayers by leveraging the hospital provider tax Health Insurance Fairness Act: Makes Rhode Island's commercial reimbursement rates more competitive with Massachusetts and Connecticut Defending Affordable Prescription Drug Costs Act: Preserves the 340B drug pricing program to stabilize care and keep clinics open 'Rhode Island's health care crisis did not happen overnight — it's a systemic problem that is the result of years of underinvestment and lack of strategy,' said Howard Dulude, HARI's interim president. 'We are at a critical point in addressing this crisis, and the cost of inaction affects every corner of the health care system and will be felt by every single Rhode Islander.' 'The path forward must include sustainable solutions that address the root causes of instability within the health care system: insufficient reimbursement rates across all payers, workforce shortages and burnout, and financial instability,' he continued. RELATED: Lawmakers urge Butler Hospital to settle contract dispute with union Dulude urged state lawmakers to 'recognize the gravity of Rhode Island's health care crisis and act quickly.' 'The decisions made today will determine whether Rhode Islanders can access care tomorrow,' he said. Dr. Michael Migliori, chairman of the Rhode Island Medical Society Public Laws Committee, said that while primary care is at the center of the state's health care crisis, it extends to every corner of the system. 'We need meaningful action now to rebuild the workforce and ensure that care remains close to home,' Migliori David Tikoian, who's sponsoring the Medicaid Reinvestment Act, stressed that this piece of legislation will have a tremendous impact. 'Our hospitals have been expected to deliver high-quality care on budgets that simply don't reflect the true cost of doing so,' Tikoian said, adding that his bill will allow hospitals to 'plan for the future, protect critical services and avoid the painful decisions that come with chronic underfunding.' Gov. Dan McKee told 12 News earlier this week that the state requested a rate study last year that was never approved. He said he's hopeful the rate study will go through this year. 'You really need the data to make sure that you're responding properly,' McKee explained. 'Reimbursement rate increases could potentially have an impact on insurance rates and could have an impact on taxes.' SEE ALSO: Women & Infants lays off 12 workers as union pickets But Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha disagrees. He told 12 News that he doesn't think a rate study is necessary. 'We certainly don't need to study the problem anymore,' Neronha said. 'We know what the problem is. We don't have enough revenue in the system. Our reimbursement rates are too low and we need to raise them, especially Medicaid.' Most of the legislation included in the Health Care Action Package was introduced in various House and Senate committees and held for further study. Tikoian told 12 News he hopes his proposal, which was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, will make it to the floor later this month. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital Association of RI raises concerns over proposed budget cuts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Amid significant uncertainty about future federal funding for Medicaid, leaders of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island argue state leaders need to address reimbursements in the upcoming state budget. The budget blueprint approved by the U.S. House this week could lead to hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the government program. RELATED: McKee proposes $14B state budget that closes deficit with spending cuts, tax changes As part of his plan to balance the next state budget, Gov. Dan McKee is asking lawmakers to limit increases in the rates the state Medicaid program pays providers. Hospital Association of Rhode Island interim President Howard Dulude told Target 12 on Thursday that the proposed cuts are disappointing and could worsen a shortage of primary care doctors. RELATED: Hundreds more physicians needed to address RI primary care shortage, experts say 'We're finding that — and very clear on the primary care side — that payments are less than the cost of providing care,' Dulude said. 'So, it makes it difficult.' Dulude added that payments by commercial insurance companies are also coming up short, compared to neighboring states like Massachusetts and Connecticut. McKee has said he had to close a budget deficit estimated at roughly $250 million dollars, which required 'difficult decisions.' 'I think that we've pretty much expanded everything that we can do in the health care area in this budget that's proposed,' McKee told Target 12 on Wednesday. Mckee's office said the hospitals are still poised to get a net increase of $11 million under his budget plan. RELATED: RI lawmakers, health care advocates share legislative priorities Dulude said the Hospital Association is working with state lawmakers on proposals that could generate close to $400 million in additional payments. 'Obviously the state has some budget difficulties to deal with,' Dulude said. 'I think the question is, can you afford not to do something like this?' On Wednesday, the governor highlighted a proposal that could help add to the state's supply of primary care physicians. McKee wants to invest more money into the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, which offers loan repayment assistance for licensed primary care providers, dental workers and mental health clinicians who agree to practice in a medically underserved area of the state for at least two years. McKee's proposal calls for using $200,000 in general revenue to bolster the program, which would be matched in federal funds. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
