Washing Walls Before Painting Guide (DIY)

Introduction

When repainting, most of the walls in your home will not require washing according to professional painter, Eric Regan, of Mission Painting & Home Improvements in Overland Park, Kansas. For the walls that should be washed, however, it is a critical part of the process.

In kitchens (maybe hallways if you have children) where a fine layer of grease often coats the walls, bathrooms where hair spray may settle and in homes regularly exposed to cigarette smoke (nicotine can be seen as a streaky, yellow veneer), failure to wash these residues off the walls as your first step leads to major problems down the line. A cracked and curled topcoat requires the skill of a professional painter to repair, and Regan says it will likely cost you three times more than what you would have paid for the original job.

As a last consideration, sanding creates dust that can travel throughout a home, and for a small project, washing may be preferable to dust control for a DIYer.

Wash the Walls First

Plan to wash your walls before any other prep work. When considering the potential success of your painting project, grimy substances can affect adhesion of wall-repair materials as well as paint. So start with the washing step, then fix the nicks and dings. Don’t forget to check out these tips for painting plaster walls.