Just as the rat-a-tat-tat of size one patent leather shoes under the Thanksgiving table got me to thinking about tiny hand prints all over my freshly painted walls, I was reminded that making the house look merry and bright will also have its effects. Most notably, every painted surface is made just a little less perfect than it was before, after the garlands, wreaths and do-dads are hung, albeit with care. Since touching-up the walls after the onslaught of cup-hooks, push pins, staples and thumb tacks is inevitable after the holidays, here’s the advance copy of my top ten Dos & Don’ts for cleaning and caring for beautifully painted surfaces. Continue reading →