THE FUSE

In preparation for hosting family this holiday season, I’ve kicked my regular cleaning routine up a notch. I’m not doing a full-on deep cleaning as I would in the spring, but with my mother and my mother-in-law coming for dinner, I will certainly be scrubbing surfaces with a bit more gusto.

I’ll give dust credit: It has a way of getting everywhere. It sticks to the kitchen’s oil sputters and sauce splatters, and the cabinets and walls are also fair game for grime. While I’m constantly cleaning and tidying countertops, I’ll admit that I only clean my cabinets occasionally. And the walls? They typically don’t even make my to-do list.

But I’ve been noticing that there are some spots on my kitchen walls that need some TLC. I tried using a Magic Eraser once or twice, but I scrubbed too hard once and some of the paint rubbed off, so I never did that again. Normally, I’d be all about mixing a natural DIY cleanser with baking soda or vinegar, but being that I had neglected my walls for so long, I wanted something I knew would work quickly, no prep required.

It’s not too difficult to use Zep. Just shake the bottle and spray a bit of the foam on the wall, then wipe. Actually, the bottle says wipe immediately, which I took to heart, because I didn’t want another paint-be-gone fiasco.

My kitchen walls weren’t horribly dirty, but I was happy to see that the Zep did clean up some of the more high-traffic spots, including the wall behind the coffee maker and recycling bin. I noticed that the bin had scratched the wall a bit; this was something Zep couldn’t fix, but it did quite well removing some dirt, smudges, and stains I spotted without much elbow grease. I was especially happy to see how easily and incredibly it cleaned the wall right by my kitchen door — a convenience I love, but it brings so much dust and grime into my kitchen.

I like Zep’s clinging foam formula because it offers better coverage than a regular spray and doesn’t drip. The foam does dissipate rather quickly, but it doesn’t matter since you’re supposed to wipe it right away. The entire thing only took a few seconds.

The walls looked so much brighter and cleaner after I sprayed them with Zep, and I can see why it’s often used to prep walls before repainting. My mother-in-law is moving in the spring, so I’ll be stocking up on a couple of bottles to help her clean the walls in preparation for the open house — at under $6 for an 18-ounce can, it’s a no-brainer. It’s safe to use on painted surfaces, wall coverings, doors, trim, and even baseboards.

Will my holiday guests notice that I’ve cleaned my walls? Maybe not, but I’ll definitely feel better about it. If my walls had been super greasy or had a thicker layer of soot and fingerprints, this 3-second trick would’ve made my entire kitchen look so much cleaner in a snap. Sure, it’s one more thing to do before company arrives, but it was so fast and easy, I’ll be giving them a wipe-down more frequently from now on.

Buy: Zep Foaming Wall Cleaner, $5.47