Painting a room can be a lengthy, sometimes arduous process, one that can often expose the chinks in your home’s walls. If you want to avoid this issue and maintain peace of mind throughout the process, try to clean those walls before you start painting. Every step of the way will help ensure your interior creates a more positive first impression come showtime. Cleaning your walls will help you finish the job in a fraction of the time, and you’ll have a much smoother workflow throughout. This will not only save you time but will also help avoid unwanted color, odor, and marks over the years. The improved appearance of your walls will have you feeling confident with complete happiness that you chose the right course of action for your interior paint job. Here are some tips on how to clean interior walls before painting.
Wipe Dust and Cobwebs Off
Dust and cobwebs can ruin your painting job every time. For loose dust and cobwebs, you can use a broom or a soft brush. A dusting mitt also helps because you can use it over and over again. Remember to take off all the cobwebs, especially in crevices and corners. You need to do this before you begin painting so that there is no residue left behind for the paint to stick onto when it dries. The broom or brush should not be too stiff as it will likely damage the smoothness of your walls. A soft-bristled broom or a brush is ideal for this purpose. This will also allow the paint to adhere to the walls better and prevent paint from bleeding through or brush strokes from showing.
Remove Wallpaper and Sticky Residue
Before starting, make sure all wallpaper has been completely removed, both on walls and ceilings. Use a scraper that is specifically designed for the job if the wallpaper still sticks even after you have tried to pry it off with a flathead screwdriver. If you are unsure about your abilities, hire a professional to take care of this step, especially if you have not done anything like this in the past.
The result will be a much smoother surface to apply paint onto, which is essential to getting a good-looking finish. When the wallpaper is off, the surface should be scraped down to make sure that no paper fibers are left behind. You need to look at the surface of the walls and see if there is any residue stuck on them or not. Do not ignore this step or else you will regret it when your walls start to peel again.
Another way to remove wallpapers is by using a steamer. The steam will loosen the glue and allow the paper to be removed much easier. Do not forget to test it first on an inconspicuous section of your wall to ensure that it does not damage your walls. The advantage of using this method is that it steams the adhesive as well, which helps with removing the wallpaper.
Clean with Soap and Water
Now that all the loose dust and dander have been removed from your walls, clean the walls with soap and water. The idea is to use a sponge or cloth that is soft enough to not scratch or damage the surface but firm enough to scrub away the dirt and excess grime. You can also use regular hot water and add a mild detergent if you wish to do so. The purpose of using soap is not only to clean but also to get rid of any oily residue on the walls which could cause painting problems later on. In addition, it will help reduce fade marks too by removing any oil or grease buildup throughout the years.
You should avoid using too hot water when scrubbing your walls because it may cause the wall to crack. The temperature does not have to be too low as well, just be smart about it. Let the water run for a while and adjust the temperature until you find a balance between heat and cold that works best for you. This is also where using a microfiber cloth will do wonders as it will absorb plenty of water without feeling soggy or wet.
Mildew Removal
According to langspainting.com, it is essential to remove mildew once it appears because it can cause stains which is permanent. Use a mild detergent that is safe for painting and use a sponge or a cloth. In most cases, you can simply wipe it off with a damp cloth. If the mildew is on the ceiling, you will have to figure out how to remove it first. This can be done by using an approved paint stripper that is specially meant for such purposes.
Some people opt to use bleach but this may damage the walls in the long run so it is not recommended unless you have extensive experience with cleaning and have found some success with bleach in the past. If you do decide to try this method, make sure you follow all safety precautions before trying it out on your walls. It is also a good idea to test the surface beforehand as it will go through a process of ridding the mildew. The test should be done on a small patch, at least one square foot, to ensure that you are getting rid of mildew and not damaging the walls in any way.
Remove Odor
Odors that build up in your home have been known to reduce the appeal of your home and cause allergies. To get rid of odors, you should turn on your ventilation system and let some fresh air flow through it for about ten minutes, or until all odors have dissipated. The top of your head will thank you for taking the time to do this because it will improve the way your home smells. Once all odors are gone, take some odor eliminator, preferably one that is recommended by professionals as they tend to be more effective than those you can purchase at a regular store, and spray all over the room. The area should be thoroughly covered and there should be no odor or trace of an odor left behind.
Remove Dust from the Ceiling
Dust on your ceiling can drop down onto the wall surfaces and may ruin the paint job you are about to do. To remove dust from the ceiling, you will need an anti-static duster, which can be purchased at most hardware stores and paint stores. Make sure that it is meant for use on ceilings or else you will spoil your paint job with all the little dust particles that fall down after. You do not have to worry about breathing in any mist if you use such a product as it will only have a slight smell of lavender, which will evaporate away in no time at all.
To use the duster, make sure to turn your ceiling fans off first and then hover over a section of your ceiling for ten seconds or so. This will allow the dust to collect inside the duster, which can then be removed by simply blowing it off into a trash can. This method is not just for removing dust but is also used with paint rollers with an extension pole. The method is still the same, you just have to make sure that your ceiling fans are off when using this tool because it will not work if they are turned on.
Clean Floors
You should also clean your floors before painting as this will remove any small dirt particles or stains that could mar your paint job. You should take a soft brush and use distilled white vinegar with it. Vinegar is the key ingredient that helps with removing stains. The soft brush will help to spread the stain-removing solution evenly throughout the surface of your floor, which will make sure that it is covered nicely. These are not just cleaning solutions but also whitening agents which will help to remove spots and stains as they dry.
Dry the Walls
Once you have cleaned the walls are clean, you should dry them quickly before painting can begin. You can use a clothesline or put up a portable rack. Before using either of these options, make sure that your roof is not going to leak and that there are no construction workers on the roof. The time-saving alternative is to use a portable electric dryer which you can purchase at most electrical stores. You can also purchase a portable dehumidifier which will work just as effectively if you do not have the power to run an electric dryer.
Benefits of Cleaning the Walls in Your Home
Painting dirty walls will cause a lot of problems which will not just ruin your painting job but could also damage the walls permanently. It is therefore important that you take the time needed to clean the walls before painting them so that you do not have to worry about any damages later on. There are other benefits of keeping your walls clean too, such as:
The Walls Will Not Rust
Since the paint job on the wall is what helps to prevent rust, it is a good idea to clean your walls before painting them if you want them to protect against rust for as long as possible. To ensure that rust does not form on the wall, make sure to keep them clean as much as possible. Make sure that they do not get dirty or rusty. It is also a good idea to paint the walls before there is any rust present so that it will be protected.
Long Lasting Paint Job
Another benefit of keeping your walls clean is that it will help to make sure that your paint job does not wear out, even if you live in a humid or damp area. Keeping the walls clean will ensure that they are made of materials that are durable enough to withstand harsh weather conditions and exposure to the elements. This will also protect the paint job from being ruined by watermarks, which can form on the wall if you leave it wet and exposed for a long time.
Saves You Money
Painting on dirty walls can be very expensive because you have to repaint it every few years. If you do not clean the walls properly, you could end up paying more money than you would if you had just taken the time to clean them before as well as cleaning them in between each coat of paint.
Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning the Wall Before Painting
Using Harsh Chemicals
It is a good idea to use gentle cleaning solutions if you want to keep your walls clean and without any discoloration or any other damage. If you use poisonous chemicals, they will speed up the process of getting rid of mildew and mold as well as bacteria. This could also make it difficult for stains to be removed from the walls and also ruin paint jobs that are already on the wall.
Not Drying the Wall
You should always try to dry the wall before painting as this will make sure that water does not damage the paint job. You should also make sure that you are not painting on a wet or humid wall as well because it will cause the paint to natter and peel off very quickly which will lead to a lot of waste in addition to causing water stains on your walls.
You should keep your walls clean before painting them so that you can ensure that your paint job will last for a good amount of time. It is a good idea to clean the walls about once every month, which will enable them to stay longer and protect them from any damage. It is also a good idea to clean the walls before painting so that you can ensure that they do not have any mildew or mold on the wall and that it gives off an even coat over all surfaces.
