What to Use to Clean Walls Before Painting

Washing walls before painting them will prevent marks, like those from crayon, bleed through. It will also help the paint adhere to the walls. Walls should be washed if they are visibly dirty or greasy, such as in a kitchen. If you skip the step of cleaning walls before painting, you may have to sand and scrape off your paint job and repaint the room.

Cloths or Sponges

Avoid using sponges to clean the walls because they hold too much water and will oversaturate the walls with liquid. Instead, use cotton rags or recycled T-shirts. The exception to the rule is a Magic Eraser-type sponge, which will remove marks and grease from walls. These sponges are meant for spot cleaning.

Gentle Detergents

A gentle household cleaner can also work to clean walls. Mix one-fourth a cup of Pinesol or dish detergent with a bucket of water to wash away grime without using harsh chemicals. For a completely green approach, use vinegar and water.

Commerical Cleaner:

Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) is used by professional painters to clean walls before painting. It is the active ingredient in dishwasher detergent and can be caustic. When using TSP, protect your hands with gloves and wear a face mask so that you don't inhale the fumes. Only use TSP for extremely dirty surfaces, such as to clean up smoke damage or on walls that have years of built-up grime.

References

• Preparing Interior Walls for Painting