Cleaning and Caring for Your Wall Panels
A practical care routine for wood, fluted, PVC, acoustic and marble-look wall panels: what to use, what to avoid, and how often.
A feature wall is something you look at every day, so it pays to keep it looking the way it did when it went up. The good news is that wall panels ask for very little. A damp cloth, a mild soap and a few habits cover almost everything. The details differ slightly between materials, so here is a routine for each one, plus the mistakes worth avoiding.
The basic routine for every panel
Whatever material is on your wall, the same three rules apply.
Dust lightly and often
Dust settles on ridges, flutes and slats before it shows on a flat wall. A soft, dry microfibre cloth or a duster with a soft head lifts it off without pushing it into the grooves. Doing this as part of your normal house cleaning means grime never gets the chance to build up.
Wipe with a damp cloth
For marks and fingerprints, wring a cloth out well so it is damp rather than wet, and wipe along the panel. Follow with a dry cloth so no water is left sitting on the surface or in the joints.
Mild soap once a month
Once a month, add a few drops of mild dish soap to a bowl of warm water for a fuller clean. Wipe, then go over the area again with a cloth dampened in clean water, and dry it off.
What not to use
- Abrasive cleaners, scouring powders or cream cleansers
- Scouring pads, steel wool or the rough side of a kitchen sponge
- Strong solvents or bleach
- Soaking wet cloths that leave water running down the wall
Abrasives dull gloss finishes and can scratch printed wood-grain or marble patterns, and once a surface is scratched, dirt collects in the marks.
Care by material
Wood and fluted panels
Wood-grain planks and fluted panels look warm and natural, and they deserve a little extra attention around moisture. Keep them dry, and wipe spills straight away rather than leaving them to sit.
Cleaning the grooves
Fluted panels have vertical channels that trap dust. Run a soft brush or a cloth wrapped around a finger down each flute from top to bottom. Working with the direction of the flutes avoids pushing dirt sideways into the edges.
PVC panels
PVC is water-resistant and wipes clean, which is why it suits kitchens and other busy walls. Cooking splashes come off with a damp cloth, and the monthly soapy wash handles any greasy film that builds up near the stove.
Kitchen tips
- Wipe oil splashes while they are fresh; they lift far more easily.
- Run your cooker hood while cooking to cut down on grease reaching the wall.
- Dry the panel after cleaning, especially along the bottom edge near the counter.
Acoustic slat panels
Acoustic panels have gaps between the slats and a soft backing behind them. Dust the slats with a dry cloth or a soft brush. Avoid spraying liquid into the gaps, because the backing is there to absorb sound, not water. If a slat gets a mark, wipe that slat with a barely damp cloth and dry it.
Marble-look panels
Our Gold, Silver and Black marble-look panels have a gloss PU surface. Wipe them with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth so the shine stays clear of streaks. Never use scouring products on gloss, because they leave a hazy patch that catches the light.
Living with panels in a humid climate
Malaysian homes deal with humidity all year, and that affects how you look after any interior surface.
Keep air moving
A room that stays closed and damp is harder on every material. Open windows when the weather allows, use a fan, or run the air-conditioning so moisture does not linger on the walls, especially in bedrooms and storerooms.
Watch the problem spots
- Walls next to bathrooms or behind wet kitchen areas
- The bottom edge of panels near a mopped floor
- Areas behind furniture where air does not circulate
When you mop, wring the mop out well so water does not splash onto the lower edge of the panels.
Choosing for the room in the first place
Care is easier when the material suits the room. PVC is the natural pick for a kitchen wall; wood and fluted panels sit comfortably in living rooms and bedrooms. If you are unsure, send us a photo and tell us what the room is used for.
Planning a new wall?
If you are still choosing panels, our wall panel collections show each material and finish. The Standard Wall Panel line (wood, fluted, PVC and acoustic) has a market price from RM50/sqft, our price from RM30/sqft and a promo from RM25/sqft with installation included. The Marble Wall Panel line runs from RM80/sqft market, RM48/sqft ours and RM38/sqft on promo with installation included. Promo installation is subject to site inspection.
Getting a quote
WhatsApp a photo of the wall with its rough width and height. We send a quotation, a small deposit confirms the booking, and we deliver and install. Enquiries are welcome from humid coastal towns such as Kuching, Kuantan and Melaka, and from across the country, with delivery and installation confirmed on WhatsApp.