How to Clean Walls in Singapore: Remove Stains Without Damaging Paint

Last updated: 10 October 2026 · By the Sureclean cleaning team

Short answer: To clean walls in Singapore without damaging the paint, dust them first. Then wipe with a soft microfibre cloth dampened in warm water with a little dishwashing liquid, working from the bottom up and drying as you go. Treat each stain with the mildest product that works: a baking soda paste for crayon and scuffs, diluted degreaser for kitchen grease, a mould cleaner for black spots. Always test on a hidden patch first, because matt HDB paint marks easily.

Why do walls in Singapore homes get dirty so quickly?

Most wall marks in Singapore homes come from a few everyday sources. Children draw on walls and bump them with toys. Furniture and bags leave scuffs. Kitchen grease drifts across open-concept HDB and condo layouts, and hands leave a grey band around light switches and door frames. On top of that, the humidity is high all year, so dust sticks to walls and mould has an easy time in bathrooms, behind wardrobes and on walls that face the weather.

Many flats now have open kitchens, especially newer BTOs and condos. Cooking oil settles as a thin, tacky film on nearby walls and ceilings, then holds on to dust until the paint looks dingy. Homes where people smoke get a yellow-brown nicotine layer that spreads across every surface.

Most of these marks can be cleaned off without repainting if you match the method to the stain. If walls are one of many jobs in a whole-home refresh, a professional spring clean covers them along with everything else. The rest of this guide shows how to do it yourself first.

Which paint is on your HDB, BTO or condo walls, and why does it matter?

Most HDB flats, BTOs and condo units are painted with water-based emulsion in a matt or low-sheen finish. Matt paint hides wall flaws well, but it is porous and soft. If you scrub it hard, it ‘burnishes’: the rubbed area turns shinier than the wall around it, and that patch shows in daylight. Many owners repaint after collecting their keys or after a renovation, so your walls may not have the finish the developer used.

• Matt or flat: the most delicate finish. Dab and wipe it, never scrub, and avoid abrasive pads.
• Eggshell or satin: a slight sheen. It handles gentle washing well and is common in kitchens and children’s rooms.
• Semi-gloss or gloss: the most washable. You usually find it on doors, skirting and trims.
• Anti-mould or bathroom paint: resists moisture, but strong bleach can still fade the colour.

If you are not sure which finish you have, look at the wall from the side under a light. A flat, chalky look means matt. You can also check renovation records or ask your contractor. Whatever the finish, test any cleaner on a hidden spot, such as behind a door, before you use it on an open wall.

How do you clean a painted wall step by step?

Use this checklist for general wall washing in any HDB, condo or landed home:

• 1. Prepare the room. Move furniture away from the wall and lay a towel along the skirting. Switch off power at any socket you will be working near.
• 2. Dust first. Use a dry microfibre mop or a vacuum brush attachment. If you wet a dusty wall, you get muddy streaks.
• 3. Mix a mild solution. Use warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a pail. Keep a second pail of clean rinse water.
• 4. Test a hidden patch. Wipe it, let it dry, and check for shine or colour change.
• 5. Work bottom to top. Drips running onto a dirty area leave streaks that are hard to shift. Drips on a clean area wipe away easily.
• 6. Use a damp cloth, not a wet one. Wring the cloth well. Too much water can soak through matt paint and lift it.
• 7. Rinse and dry. Wipe with clean water, then pat dry with a dry cloth so marks do not form in the humidity.
• 8. Ventilate. Open windows or run a fan until the wall is fully dry.

How do you remove crayon, scuffs, grease and nicotine stains?

Treat one stain type at a time, and always try the gentlest method first.

• Crayon: Rub lightly with a paste of baking soda and water on a soft cloth, following the line of the drawing. Waxy crayon softens if you warm it briefly with a hairdryer, so it wipes off more easily. On matt paint, use as little pressure as you can.
• Scuffs and shoe marks: Many come off with a pencil eraser. A melamine sponge works too, but it is mildly abrasive, so test it first and use light pressure on matt walls.
• Kitchen grease: Wipe with warm water and dishwashing liquid. For built-up film, use a diluted kitchen degreaser, leave it for a minute, wipe it off and rinse. Never use undiluted degreaser on emulsion paint.
• Nicotine: Wash with a solution of warm water and white vinegar, working in small sections and rinsing often. Heavy yellowing usually needs a stain-blocking primer and a fresh coat of paint, because the residue soaks into the paint.
• Fingerprints around switches: Use a damp cloth with a drop of soap. Keep the cloth well wrung out and away from the switch openings.

What should you do about mould on walls in a humid climate?

Black or grey speckles on walls are usually mould. In Singapore, it tends to grow in bathrooms, behind wardrobes set against outer walls, in corners of rooms that are closed up for long periods, and where there is a slow leak. Cleaning off the mould only helps if you also deal with the moisture behind it.

• Protect yourself: wear gloves and a mask, and open the windows before you start.
• Clean gently: use a mould cleaner meant for painted surfaces, or diluted white vinegar. Spray it on, wait a few minutes, then wipe. Do not scrub hard.
• Avoid mixing products: never combine bleach with vinegar or ammonia-based cleaners. Bleach can also lighten coloured paint.
• Dry the area: run a fan or dehumidifier, and leave wardrobes a few centimetres away from the wall.

If mould keeps coming back in the same spot, or you see bubbling paint or water stains on the ceiling, there may be a leak. In an HDB flat, raise it with HDB. In a condo, contact your MCST. Get the cause fixed before you clean or repaint the wall.

How much does it cost to get walls cleaned in Singapore?

Sureclean does not publish a separate price for wall cleaning. In practice, walls are usually handled as part of a larger clean, so the useful figure is the cost of the service that includes them. Our published starting prices are below. All are before GST.

• Spring cleaning or deep cleaning (one-time): from $600*, with most jobs between $700* and $800*. This is the usual choice for a whole-home refresh that includes walls, doors and frames.
• Move-in, move-out or end-of-tenancy cleaning: from $370*, with most jobs $475–$525*. Useful if a landlord expects marks gone before handover.
• Post-renovation cleaning: from $350*. A 4-room HDB flat is $525*. This covers paint splatter and construction dust after works.
• Weekly or fortnightly home cleaning: as low as $22/hour*, from $72* per 3-hour session. Good for keeping switch areas and kitchen walls from building up.

First-time customers get a 10% discount. If walls are your main concern, say so when you book so the crew can plan its time.

When should you call a professional to clean your walls?

Doing it yourself makes sense for a few marks. A professional clean is worth considering when:

• The whole home needs it: walls, ceilings, doors, frames and skirting across several rooms take a lot of time with a ladder and two pails.
• Kitchen grease has built up: years of film on walls and ceilings need the right dilution and steady work to avoid streaks.
• You are moving out: marks on walls are a common sticking point at end-of-tenancy inspections.
• Walls are high or awkward: stairwells in landed homes and double-volume condo units need proper access equipment.
• You have tried and failed: if marks remain after gentle cleaning, more scrubbing usually damages the paint.

Sureclean’s spring cleaning service uses our own trained crews, who bring their own equipment. We are NEA-licensed (NEA240120/6509C/C3/N01), have been cleaning homes since 2013, and carry S$1,000,000 public liability insurance. We hold a 4.9-star Google rating across 1,500+ reviews. If you are not satisfied with an area, we return to re-clean it. WhatsApp +65 6983 9523 with photos of the walls for advice.

Which Sureclean services cover wall cleaning, and what do they cost?

Walls are cleaned as part of these services. Prices are published starting rates, before GST.

Frequently asked questions

What is the safest way to clean painted walls in an HDB flat?

Use warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid and a well-wrung microfibre cloth. Most HDB walls have matt emulsion paint, which turns shiny if you scrub it, so dab and wipe rather than rub. Test a hidden spot first, then dry the wall afterwards. If the whole flat needs attention, spring cleaning starts from $600*.

How do I remove crayon from walls without damaging the paint?

Rub lightly with a baking soda and water paste on a soft cloth, or warm the crayon with a hairdryer first and then wipe. Use very little pressure on matt paint, and wipe with clean water afterwards. If crayon marks are one of many jobs in the home, a one-time spring clean starts from $600*, with most jobs $700–$800*.

Why does mould keep coming back on my walls in Singapore?

Mould returns because the moisture causing it is still there. High humidity, poor ventilation, wardrobes pushed against walls and slow leaks keep the surface damp. Clean it gently, dry the area with a fan or dehumidifier, and report suspected leaks to HDB or your MCST. For sanitising after illness, our disinfection service starts from $265*.

Does Sureclean clean walls as part of spring cleaning?

Yes. Walls are best handled as part of a spring or deep clean, which starts from $600* before GST, with most jobs between $700* and $800*. Tell us which walls or stains concern you when you book so the crew can plan its time. First-time customers get a 10% discount, and our own trained crews bring their own equipment.

Should I clean walls before moving out of a rental flat?

Yes. Marks on walls are a common point raised at end-of-tenancy inspections, so remove scuffs and fingerprints before handover. Heavy marks or large areas may be quicker with professional help. Sureclean’s move-in and move-out cleaning starts from $370*, with most jobs between $475* and $525*, before GST.

Related guides

• Spring Cleaning Singapore
• Cleaning prices in Singapore
• Professional spring cleaning

Main service page: Spring Cleaning Singapore — from $600*

*All prices shown are “from” prices for guidance only and are subject to change without notice. Final pricing depends on unit size, condition and site access — we confirm an exact written quote on WhatsApp (+65 6983 9523) before any booking is confirmed.

Alvin Tan

Founder & Managing Director, Sureclean

Alvin founded Sureclean in 2013 to bring reliable, professional cleaning standards to homes and businesses across Singapore. Today, Sureclean is NEA Class 3-licensed (NEA240120/6509C/C3/N01), rated 4.9★ across 1,553+ Google reviews, and has served over 50,000 homes across Singapore — backed by S$1,000,000 in public liability insurance and a 400-hour training standard for every crew member.