Cleaning filthy walls?

[AnotherAngryAcademic]

My father has been struggling to manage his cleaning and has finally agreed to have a cleaner come in once a week. Hallelujah.

I have managed to get most things clean as a starting point, with the expectation that the cleaner will help keep on top of “normal” cleaning. But the walls are still grim and I’m trying to work out how to clean them. They are painted walls.

I have a steam cleaner, a sonic scrubbing brush thing on a long handle, and sugar soap. I used sugar soap to clean the walls of my flat when I move in and from memory it did a good job. I would love to get all dad’s stuff out and blitz the place, repaint it, and then put everything back - but there is no way he will agree to that, so I am doing what I can with him and his stuff in situ. (With help, because it’s not a task I can physically do myself!)

Does anyone have any recommendations or tools or products for cleaning walls?!

A mountain of magic erasers

And then the guilt for the environment.

Maybe white bread would work without the guilt?

On Instagram stories the other day Lynne Lambourne was raving about this for cleaning her walls: www.frenchsoaps.co.uk/products/aleppo-silver-stone-multipurpose-cleaner-sponge-300g.

I have ordered but not tested.

www.instagram.com/stories/lynnelambourne/3817927116864398041?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=ZmdwejVld2drM3Ex

Fairy liquid, hot water and a micro fibre and elbow grease (the old fashioned elbow grease not the brand) is what I use on mine but they’re not years of grime so not sure if would do the trick on tougher jobs

This is one of those tasks when simple and elbow grease really is the answer. Frequent changes of hot water with sugar soap, a whole load of cloths, a ladder. Clear stuff from in front of one wall, start at he top and work your way down changing water and cloths as needed. Wait for it to dry, put stuff back and move onto the next wall.

Sugar soap isn't intended for this sort of cleaning ; it's used as preparation for painting, because it's strongly alkaline and etches the surface so new paint can grip.
I've cleaned neglected walls effectively using washing-up liquid and a bit of bleach. Washing up liquid is very good for grease. Rub marks with a scourer sponge but check the paint surface is OK with it; a good quality washable paint will be but not if it was painted with contract emulsion. Magic eraser for things that doesn't shift.
Good luck!