Power washer a house exterior walls for a successful painting project

Walls aren’t something we think about washing very often, but if you are in the process of painting your home, you may want to consider giving your walls a little TLC to prepare them for their makeover. 

Although we don’t really use our walls for much besides hanging photos and making trips to the bathroom feel a little less awkward, they do get their fair share of wear and tear over time. Dust in the air can settle on the surface, cobwebs pop up here and there, and fingerprints and smudges make occasional appearances. Your walls likely aren’t filthy, but they’re not entirely sparkling clean either. 

The professionals at Spectra Painting Contractors recommend always having your walls cleaned before any big painting project. In this post, we will explain why you should clean your walls and how to do it.

Why it’s important to  power wash your walls before painting 

Cleaning your walls ensures that new paint goes on smoothly and lasts a long time. If there are dirt and debris on the surface, it can cause the new paint to look uneven and flake off once it’s dry.  

Even if the walls are mostly clean, there could be dust and cobwebs built up in small areas. As you move around the room and paint, you may be smearing that dust around the surface and getting it into your clean bucket of paint. 

Luckily, prepping your walls so they’re ready for a fresh coat of paint is pretty simple. 

Here’s how to wash walls before painting

1. Gather some cleaning supplier

You’ll need some lukewarm water, a little mild soap, a soft rag, and an absorbent sponge. Add some soap to a bucket of lukewarm water and soak the rag in the soapy water. Try to keep the sponge as dry as possible. If you are washing an area of your home or office that gets a lot of use or has grease and dirt on the walls, you may want to pick up some trisodium phosphate (TSP). You can add a bit of TSP powder to a bucket with warm water and use it in dirty areas. 

2. Lay down some drop cloths

Use waterproof drop cloths to protect hardwood floors and carpeting from moisture. You can leave them on the floor for the painting process as well. 

3. Wash in a circular motion

Wring out any excess water in the soapy rag and begin lightly wiping the walls with the damp rag in a circular motion. Once you wash a section of the wall, use the dry sponge to soak up the excess water. If you’re using a TSP solution, let the solution sit on the wall for a couple of minutes before using the dry sponge to wipe it off. Your walls shouldn’t be soaking wet but wet enough to pick up any dirt on the surface. The soap will help remove any oil and grease on the walls, which is particularly important in kitchens and high-traffic areas. 

4. Watch out for mildew

If you notice spots of mold or mildew, you’ll want to wash those areas with bleach. You can clean mildew with a solution that is three parts water and one part bleach. Use a soft brush to scrub the wall area with the solution and rinse with clean water. Don’t try to paint over the mildew spots because they will grow through the new paint. 

5. Pay attention to corners and uneven wall surfaces

Dirt and grime love to build up in dark corners of rooms and along the wood trim and baseboards. Be sure you look in those little spots for any dirt and dust while you’re washing. You may be surprised at how much you find. You can prevent buildup by regularly vacuuming your trim and baseboards using a bristle attachment. 

6. Allow the walls to air dry

Have a long lunch and give your walls a few hours to dry completely before starting to paint. Covering a wet surface with paint may cause bubbling and cracks because the moisture will get trapped and will not be able to evaporate. 

In conclusion

A professional team of house painters can quickly get your walls prepared and ready to paint, saving you the time and hassle of doing it yourself. Washing your walls can be an easy step to overlook, but it is an important process to complete before investing your time and money into quality paint. Not all professional painters include this in their services, so be sure to ask beforehand if you want them to wash the walls before they get started painting. 

If you forget to wash your walls before you paint, you may be OK. Rooms that do not get used frequently, or walls that recently got painted, probably will not need to get washed. 

Spectra Painting Contractors is based in the greater Boston area. We proudly serve both residential and commercial clients. Visit our website where you can learn more about our services and read more blog posts about painting and home improvement.