2 days ago
Tennis balls and other hacks to get rid of ugly scuff marks on walls
Q: What is the best way to clean scuff marks made from rubber wheelchair wheels off painted drywall and enamel-painted doors?
A: Scuff marks, by definition, are superficial — they sit on a surface without affecting whatever's underneath. Scuffs are different from scratches, which dig into the underlying surface. But, of course, what appear to be scuff marks often also involve scratches. And even if you start out dealing only with scuffs, you can wind up adding scratches if you aren't careful.
Some scuffs, like those from wheelchair tires or certain kinds of shoes, are smears left when a relatively soft material like rubber rubs off on a different surface. (Is that why it's called rubber?) Other scuffs involve paint transfer, such as when you move a painted chest of drawers against a wall or you scrape a car against a painted post. And there are scuffs that just seem to happen for no obvious reason, especially in a house with kids who love to roughhouse.
To remove a scuff, you need to lift it from the surface without damaging the finish underneath. Often, that means softening or liquefying the smudge enough to wipe it away. Suitable solvents can range from plain water to slightly soapy water to heavier-duty degreasers to paint thinner, acetone and other chemicals. But liquefying the smear is just half the problem. You also need to avoid scratching or overly polishing the underlying surface, or the area will wind up with a different sheen, which can be very noticeable. Although it may seem counterintuitive, shiny surfaces are often easier to clean without leaving a trace than matte surfaces. Matte paints and clear coatings have a slightly uneven surface that keeps light from reflecting back uniformly; rubbing an area can burnish it and create a shiny spot. Always spot-test in an inconspicuous place.
When wheelchair tires and black-sole shoes scuff a floor, Imperial Dade, a nationwide supplier of commercial cleaning supplies and janitorial products, recommends rubbing the marks away with the fuzzy cover on a clean tennis ball. Rotate the ball frequently as it picks up the marks.
Or you can try to wash away the marks. Asia Branch, a customer-care representative for Sherwin-Williams, recommends moistening a clean microfiber cloth with warm water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid. Quality paints are tested to make sure they are washable, even in matte finishes, she says. If the scuffs come off, rinse off the residue by wiping the wall again with a clean cloth moistened in clear water. Then dry with another clean cloth. Don't rub aggressively, though, or you may burnish the paint.
If the scuffs don't come off, Branch says it should be fine to use a mild abrasive: A paste of baking soda and warm water. Avoid washing the paint with vinegar or a mixture of vinegar and water, though, even though you'll find advice for doing that online. Acidic cleaners can remove some of the paint, Branch says, so they aren't suitable unless you're planning to repaint. Strong degreasers are in the same category.
Some YouTube videos recommend scrubbing with a toothbrush and white toothpaste and hot water. This might work, but toothpaste also contains abrasive ingredients, such as calcium carbonate, which is harder — and thus a more aggressive scrubbing agent — than baking soda. (The 10-point Mohs scale ranks minerals from soft to hard, with talc at 1 and diamonds at 10. Sodium bicarbonate, the chemist's name for baking soda, is 2.5; calcium carbonate is 3.)
On some surfaces, such as vinyl floors and ceramic tiles, you can use a Magic Eraser or other brand of melamine sponge to remove scuffs. But always moisten the sponge first and test whether rubbing it over a small, inconspicuous area leaves scratches. Eraser sponges aren't suitable for many surfaces, including ones that are glossy, polished, finished with a brushed or satin texture, or coated with a faux treatment.
When car paint gets scuffed, auto detailers often turn to clay bars such as Mother's California Clay Bar System. The bars are a synthetic material that grabs contaminants and lifts them from the paint. This material might also work on glossy door enamel, but be sure to test it first in a small area to make sure it doesn't lift or become embedded in the paint. Even on a car, though, the clay bar can only remove scuffs; if the paint is slightly scratched, that needs to be buffed out with a buffer and buffing compound.
If shoes or other leather items get scuffed, you might want a specialty cleaner, such as Fiebing's Scuff Remover. Also suitable for removing scuffs on vinyl, it is a water-based cleaner that contains a couple of solvents used in paints plus a surfactant, which loosens dirt from a surface and keeps it from reattaching. The remover takes off scuffs but won't restore a shine, a customer-service representative said. For that, you'd need to use a leather polish.
With especially tenacious scuffs on a variety of materials, if all else fails, you might need to resort to chemical solvents, such as acetone, which is sold in quarts at paint stores or, in smaller containers, as original-style nail polish remover. Apply it as sparingly as possible, with a cotton swab, because it will remove paint and other finishes if it stays on too long before it evaporates.
If scuffs on painted surfaces are extensive, or if you damage the paint while you are removing them, the best solution might be touching up the paint or even completely repainting. If only tiny areas are damaged and you have leftover paint, try applying the paint just to those spots. If you used a solvent on a cotton swab to remove a scuff mark, a clean swab might be the perfect application tool. If you have a larger area with numerous scuffs, applying a stain-blocking primer first can help ensure that the paint covers well. If you don't have leftover paint, get samples from a paint store and take them home to find the best match. Paint the whole wall, if possible. Light bounces off walls differently depending on the angle and direction of the light, so a slightly different color on one wall probably won't be noticeable.
Once the scuff marks are gone, you might be able to keep them from coming back. Maybe discard the shoes that leave black marks on floors, or use them only in the garage or garden. Cover wheelchair tires when the chair is indoors with a product such as Wheelchair Tyre Covers. Switching to non-marking tires is another way to prevent scuffs, though the tires can still track in mud and other debris.
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