How Do You Clean Polished Plaster?

Your Venetian plaster has got dirty over time or an accidental spillage has stained your beautiful Venetian plaster. Not sure how to clean it? Its a commonly asked question, how do you clean polished plaster? In this blog post we will talk through the safest methods to clean your Venetian plaster finish with out damaging it.

Venetian Polished plaster is a strong, durable finish and easy to maintain when you know how but over time dirt and grime may build up in high traffic areas or around touch points such as switches, sockets etc. so it's a good idea to know how to clean your polished plaster finish safely and effectively.

When we carry out a project we supply our Cleaning & maintenance document to all of our clients to ensure they are well equipped to deal with any future cleaning requirements that may arrise. If you would like a copy of this document, please email info@marmoplastering.co.uk

It is important to note: Under NO circumstances use acid-based cleaners for this process, as they may cause permanent damage to the polished plaster finish.

Below we have listed the 4 most effective ways to clean dirt and grime from your Venetian plaster finish. When cleaning polished plaster its important to follow these points, step by step. The last resort is to start sanding away at you beautiful walls as you could damage them beyond repair. The first method to try is,

1. Masking tape:

One of most effective ways to reduce any marks or scuffs prior to trying the next cleaning step is to use high tack masking tape. Tear off a small piece of masking tape and repeatidly press onto the scuff/mark and remove. Press firmly onto the affected area then remove it straight away. Repeat this process until the scuff has been removed or reduced significantly.

2. Pencil Eraser: 

The quickest and simplest way to remove small or even large areas of surface grime such as finger marks, small scuffs etc. is by rubbing the affected area with a pencil eraser until the mark or soiling is reduced or removed completely. A good tip is to purchase a good sized eraser (don't use the one on the end of a pencil as you could slip and scratch the wall). The eraser will remove most marks without affecting the surface of your plaster in any way. Occassionally excessive rubbing or aggressive rubbing can remove the layer of protective wax applied to your finish, if this happens it may need to be re-waxed.

3. Soapy Water:

This method is used for larger areas of Venetian plaster that require cleaning. It is important not to saturate the affected areas with water. First wet the affected area with clean water and soft cloth, use a dabbing motion as opposed to rubbing to aoid agitating the dirt to much. Once the area is wet then clean it with a mixture of mild detergent and water until the dirt is removed.

Once the surface of polished plaster has been cleaned, leave the area to dry thoroughly before re applying any wax that will have been removed during the cleaning process.

4. Sanding:

This step is the last resort and should be undertaken by a professional polished plaster contractor. If none of the above steps have worked it is possible to lightly sand the surface depending on which venetian plaster finish you are trying to clean. Lightly sand the plaster with 600grit sandpaper to remove the mark/dirt. Once removed lightly sand the surface again with 1000grit sand paper to bring back the shine. It is important not to apply too much pressure when sanding, too much pressure and you could break through the surface of the polished plaster exposing marble grain and affecting the pattern.

Once complete re-wax the surface of your polished plaster to bring it back to its former glory.

Damaged Areas:

Repairs to damaged areas should only be undetaken by a professional polished plaster contractor. Occassionaly damage can be irrepairable and the entire area may require re-application. For more technical advise on repairs to polished plaster check out our blog post Can Venetian Plaster Be Repaired?