How To Get Hairspray Off Walls

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hairspray and toiletries on the bathroom counter

How to Get Hairspray off the Walls in Your Bathroom

If you use hairspray regularly, chances are your bathroom walls, doors, and countertops have fallen victim to its sticky residue.

Over time, that buildup can be tricky to remove. Luckily, with a few simple tools and ingredients you likely already have at home, you can restore your bathroom surfaces to their former glory.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to tackle the job using my favorite method – shampoo!

spraying hairspray on a dark background

What You’ll Need:

  • Empty spray bottle
  • Shampoo
  • Water
  • Sponge
  • Dry cloth

Directions:

  1. Prepare the Cleaning Solution
    Fill an empty spray bottle with a mixture of 1/3 shampoo and 2/3 water. Swirl the bottle gently to mix the solution. Avoid shaking it vigorously as this can create excessive bubbles, making the solution harder to spray.
  2. Apply the Solution
    Spray the shampoo mixture generously onto the affected surfaces. This includes walls, doors, floors, countertops, curling irons, or any other area with hairspray residue. Allow the solution to sit for one to two minutes. This will give the shampoo time to break down the sticky buildup.
  3. Scrub the Surfaces
    Using a sponge, gently scrub the shampoo mixture off the surfaces. When scrubbing painted walls, be cautious not to apply too much pressure to avoid damaging the paint.
  4. Dry the Surfaces
    After scrubbing, use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down the walls, doors, and other surfaces. This step ensures no residue is left behind.
  5. Perform the “Touch Test”
    Run your hand along the cleaned surfaces. If they still feel sticky, it’s a sign that there’s more hairspray residue to remove. Repeat the process as needed. In cases of heavy buildup, it may take a few rounds to completely eliminate the stickiness.

Note: DO NOT use a Magic Eraser. Magic Erasers are great, but not for this task. You have to scrub too hard to get the hairspray off the walls and it will end up taking paint off your walls. …ask me how I know. 😉

By following these steps, your bathroom will feel cleaner and fresher in no time. Say goodbye to sticky walls and hello to a spotless space!

long image of hairspray being sprayed

More Easy Cleaning Tips

Now that you know how to get hairspray off your walls, here are more cleaning tips to try.

23 Comments

  1. Well that makes so much sense. Thanks for the tip! To minimize this problem, I usually step into the shower before I start spraying.

    1. That’s a great idea! I’m too lazy to go outside but I think I could definitely handle stepping into the shower. 🙂

  2. Duh! Man…why didn’t somebody think of this before??? You, my dear, are a genius…thank you!!! And my walls thank you, too…;)

  3. Hi. Just as a tip….if you have white walls or doors, the green scotch bright scrubbers may stain them green…especially if you scrub a little too hard. oops!

  4. Fabulous! Thank you so much for this. With me and my 3 girls in the house we are constantly battling this. I am going to have to share this w/my readers soon since we’re all about hair & anything related to it!

  5. Baking soda and water will do the same thing. If you have a lot of hairspray build up in your hair you can rinse it with a mixture of baking soda and water

  6. Clarifying shampoo might work better than plain shampoo. Only because it’s made to strip hairspray off of the hair. This is a great idea and I’m happy I found it. Never would have thought about this.

  7. This is genius! As a major hairspray addict, I’m constantly, and unsuccessfully, trying to scrub it off of everything in my bathroom. I can’t wait to try this tomorrow. Tomorrow is Saturday and my day off, and I couldn’t be more excited to clean. Haha!

  8. I use rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle on the sink and counter and wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth. It takes hair spray off in a flash and leaves everything sparkly. I have not used it on the walls, however. Shampoo sounds like a great idea!

  9. What a great idea. I am going to give it a try. I have been looking for something to get the hair spray off my bathroom door for quite some time. Thanks for the tip.

  10. I am trying to get away from using ANYTHING store bought. Whether its shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, even food. Is there an all natural solution? Im not too big on all the chemicals. Thank you!

  11. i clean houses for a living and the best way to remove hairspray is windex,only takes a few seconds to work,then wipe it off with a dry rag no rinsing no scubbing .dont be afraid to spray a lot,sometimes heavier build up requires more windex,and for those wanting to get away from chemicals use hot as you can stand it water,it works pretty good too.

  12. BABY WIPES WILL DO A QUICK JOB WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO DO IT AND YOUR MOTHER-IN LAW IS COMING OVER.HA !

  13. Thanks got to try shampoo. I’ve tried windex. I clean houses and one client has a small bathroom with hairspray only the walls and floor.

  14. How do you remove years of built up hairspray from previous homeowner on a solid wood door in my bathroom that has shellac on it. I don’t want to ruin the finish on my door.

    Thank you!!

  15. Get a washcloth and fill it with alcohol and wipe away all the sticky hairspray in the bathroom. My daughter uses too much hairspray and her bathroom gets in a mess. The floors and walls are gummy! The only thing that has worked on it is the alcohol.

  16. Scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner works miracles on hairspray residue! I spray it on the counters, floors, door handles, walls, baseboards, and it has never harmed any of the finishes and it cleans like nobody’s businesses!! Love this stuff!! Foams up, wipe, done!!

  17. Blue Dawn dish detergent does it exceptionally well. Same process…mix with water in a spray bottle and use a clean soft cloth.

  18. Thank you for this great tip! I have found that Windex also works well on my countertop and mirrors in removing hair spray.

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