Cleaning a wall?

[ErinM]

Hi gang!

I discovered that the baseboard heater in my living room has left black marks on my walls (and also my couch, but that's not as noticeable as the walls!) Any ideas on how to clean them?

I rent, so if I could take care of this myself, it'll prevent me from having to come up with a story of some kind...

Thanks!

[whocares]

You might want to try the Mr Clean Magic Eraser. I have used it on the walls to remove marks and it has worked well.

[Beth]

If a cleaner like 409 or whatever doesn't remove it, my suggestions are a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Barkeeper's Friend (powder in the aisle with things like Comet). Go lightly with them in case the paint on your wall comes off too easily, but I have had those two take off things nothing else would and kept me from having to paint a stairwell and entry after the movers were finished.

[imloulou]

If a cleaner like 409 or whatever doesn't remove it, my suggestions are a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I 3rd the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser...works GREAT! (I rolled my eyes when I first heard of it...now I always have one in the cabinet!). We saved ourselves a paint job when I gave an eraser to each one of the kids and told them to go to town...the trim was white when they were done and all spots on the wall were clean!!

[ErinM]

Thanks!

I think I do have Mr. Clean Eraser around here somewhere...I considered it, but am glad to get real testimonials before trying it out on my walls!

Now, any ideas for the couch? It was scotchguarded when I got it, so I'm thinking it shouldn't take much, but what do I know? It won't be the end of the world if I can't get the marks off the couch, I don't ever forsee the couch NOT being up against a wall, so nobody will ever see them.

[Peweh]

Hi gang!

I discovered that the baseboard heater in my living room has left black marks on my walls (and also my couch, but that's not as noticeable as the walls!) Any ideas on how to clean them?

I rent, so if I could take care of this myself, it'll prevent me from having to come up with a story of some kind...

Thanks!

Erin, good luck with the Mr. Clean Eraser. You might want to consider calling the landlord to have the heating system checked out; there might be something wrong behind the scenes that is causing the black marks. I don't have baseboards though so maybe this isn't a big deal? Just seems like if it's doing that to your wall it's doing something to the air you're breathing too. Sorry to sound paranoid, like I said I don't know baseboards...

[Beth]

NOt knowing what kind of fabric your sofa is covered with, I would suggest using a dry brush or vacuum to see what you can remove before you do anything else. After that, I would take a clean washcloth and distilled water and blot the area. I found that on our microfiber sofa, the minerals in tap water can leave a spot, but they said distilled water should be fine. SO far, that has taken out everything we have had. That may be enough with the Scothguard.

[JackieO]

I found a tip in some magazine a few months back that suggested using baking soda on a damp sponge to "erase" pencil and crayon marks from painted walls. Worked like a charm here...but I was only going after marks on off-white paint. Not sure what it would do on darker surfaces. FWIW.

I've had good luck with the Mr. Clean erasers, too. But again, light-colored paint.