Hardly anyone thinks of it before the first coat, but after the last one, it's constantly in your hand: a cloth. That's why exactly one product sits in this category — the washable Mikrofasertuch 40x42 cm. It removes dust from the wall before paint goes on, catches splashes while they're still fresh, and keeps the painted surface looking its best afterwards.
Buy a microfibre cloth for cleaning and care
The cloth measures 40 x 42 cm, is washable and can be used again and again — you buy it once and simply put it back in the washing machine after every project. In preparation, it replaces the cloth that leaves lint behind, and in aftercare, the sponge that's too rough.
You'll need it for everything that goes on the wall with re-box: for the matte re-box base one (matt), the silk-matte re-box silk matte WEISS (seidenmatt), the pure white paint re-box prime WEISS (matt), and lacquered surfaces from re-box protect. The wall paint comes in 2,5 L, 5 L and 10 L, in matt or silk-matte finish, and every shade is mixed individually after you order.
Before you paint: dust costs you adhesion
Paint adheres to whatever's on the wall — and if that's dust, it adheres to dust. The surfaces most affected are the ones you rarely think about: the strip above the door, the top edge of the skirting board, the recess behind the radiator, the wall behind the wardrobe.
Wipe these areas down until lightly damp and let them dry completely before you start. The surface must be clean, dry, stable and free of any loose material — this applies equally to plaster, wallpaper and existing old coats of paint. For a step-by-step guide to preparing a wall from scratch, see Wände richtig vorbereiten.
What each finish can handle
Silk-matte walls
Silk-matte is the finish for surfaces that get touched. re-box silk matte is especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean — here, you can genuinely go over a mark with the damp cloth. Work from the outside in and dry it off afterwards, so no ring is left behind.
Matte walls
Matte surfaces made with re-box base one look calmer, but need gentler treatment. Dab rather than rub, use as little water as possible, and work across the whole surface up to the next edge, instead of scrubbing one spot. This keeps the sheen level consistent throughout.
White ceilings and surfaces sensitive to raking light
re-box prime is dead matt and highly opaque, giving you an even finish and a calm surface, even where raking light shows up every imperfection. On ceilings, dry dusting is almost always the better choice over wiping.
Painted doors, furniture and stairs
The furniture and multi-surface lacquer re-box protect stands up to mechanical wear, everyday grime and outside influences. That's why you can simply wipe door handle areas, staircase strings and kitchen fronts with a damp cloth — no abrasive cleaners, which would dull the silky sheen of the surface.
Look after your tools instead of buying new ones
The second reason for the cloth sits in the bucket, not on the wall. If you rinse out brushes and rollers right after you finish and dry them off with the cloth, they'll stay usable across several projects.
- ✔️ Brush out brushes from the Brushes category in the direction of the bristles and let them dry lying flat.
- ✔️ Squeeze out covers from the Paint Rollers until the water runs clear.
- ✔️ Wipe bucket rims and lids while the paint is still fresh — once the edges have dried, you won't get them clean again.
- ✔️ Mop up splashes on the floor, windowsill and skirting board right away instead of waiting until evening.
Where things build up in everyday life
Kitchen
Grease and steam settle above the stove and on wall cabinets. This is where a silk matt finish on the wall really pays off — along with a cloth kept within reach. You'll find the whole process from prep to lacquer in Painting a kitchen: guide, costs, colour.
Hallway
The hallway collects handprints next to light switches, shoe scuffs above the skirting board and marks from jackets and bags. It's the room where a wipeable surface makes the biggest difference.
Living room
Here it's less about dirt and more about dust: behind sofa backs, on shelf edges, along the top of the door frame. Dusting it off dry once every six months is usually enough.
Bedroom
Fabric dust is the main issue, especially on walls behind the bed and in wardrobe recesses. This is also dry work — it only calls for a damp cloth if there's an actual mark.
Matt or silk matt: the decision happens before you paint
How easily a wall cleans later is decided at purchase, not at cleaning time. Both finishes cost the same, because the price depends on quantity, not on the finish. They're both water-based, low-emission and made in Germany either way.
Work out the quantity beforehand: one litre covers approx. 6–8 m² per coat. With two coats, that's approx. 8–10 m² from 2.5 L, approx. 15–20 m² from 5 L and approx. 30–40 m² from 10 L. If you cut it too fine, you'll end up mixing more later — and since every shade is mixed individually, that takes time.
You'll find all the shades in Wall Paints and, for furniture and doors, in Lacquer Colours. To see honestly which shade works in your light, the Colour Sample Box, 65 pcs is your best bet, with all 65 shades included as samples.
When wiping isn't enough anymore
Some marks won't come back with a cloth: a dent from a door handle, a crack above the frame, a drill hole from the last shelf. That's what the Filling & Repairs category is for, with Filler – repair filler, 1 kg and the fine Sanding block – grit 220 for smoothing things out.
After that, all you need is paint in the right shade. If you know what's on the wall, reorder through Custom colour – mixed to order. As for why the repaired spot can still show through if you only touch up that one area, Painting walls without streaks explains it: it's better to paint the whole surface up to the next edge.
Common questions about cleaning and care
Can I wash a painted wall?
Silk matt surfaces made with re-box silk matte are especially hard-wearing and very easy to clean, so wiping them with a damp cloth is no problem at all. With matt walls, take a gentler approach: dab rather than rub, use little water, and work up to the next edge.
When can I wipe a freshly painted wall for the first time?
Wait until the surface has dried through completely before wiping it for the first time. The room itself is usually back to normal use after around 24 hours.
How do I clean the microfibre cloth?
The cloth is washable and reusable, so you can simply put it in the washing machine. Skip the fabric softener, as it clogs the fibres and reduces absorbency.
Do I really need to wipe the wall before painting?
Yes, otherwise the paint will stick to dust instead of the surface underneath. The surface needs to be clean, dry, stable and free of loose particles — wiping it down until lightly damp and letting it dry is enough in most rooms.
How do you get paint splatters off again?
Wipe fresh splatters away immediately with a damp cloth, and nothing will be left behind. Dried wall paint can often still be softened, while with lacquer, carefully lifting it off with an edge is usually the only thing that helps.
Which paint is right for the kitchen?
For kitchens and hallways, satin matt is the more practical choice, because the surface is more hard-wearing and easier to clean. Matt looks calmer and suits areas that are touched less often.
How quickly does the cloth arrive?
Delivery takes 3–5 working days from receipt of payment, shipped within Germany by parcel. It's best to order it together with your paint right away, so everything arrives in one delivery.
