Post-Painting Care

maintaining the new look

• Most wall paints (like emulsions and washable distempers) can be periodically cleaned with a mild soap water solution. However, stubborn and very old stains are difficult to remove from the film.
• Cleaning can be done 2 weeks after application of finished coat for removing dust collected on the surface. The older the stains the more difficult it is to remove.
• Special care should be taken for the passages, kitchens, and children's rooms where soiling is maximum.
• Every month, keep a day aside to clean walls. Use a sponge and mild soap solution and lightly scrub the areas that have stains. Heavy scrubbing may cause permanent damage to the paint film.
• In case of severe staining (like spilled food), clean the walls immediately before the stain dries up.
• Children's rooms are likely to get dirty quicker than the rest of the house. Apply a single coat of paint every two years or so. Before you start painting, make sure the surface is light sanded with emery paper 400 to prepare it for fresh paint adhesion & dirt removal.
• Check your walls periodically for signs of paint flaking or peeling. These could be the first signs of water leakage or seepage problems. The moment you notice such problems, get a contractor to inspect the damage. If the problem is localised (only occurring in specific areas) and the source of water seepage is detected, have it rectified immediately to save your walls and paint from more damage. This might require repainting one or two walls. Ignoring the problem will aggravate the damage and might be expensive to repair later.
• Enamel paints on doors and windows exposed to sunlight lose their gloss over time. Reapply a single coat every two years to keep them looking fresh. Before you start painting, make sure the surface is light sanded with emery paper 400 to prepare it for fresh paint adhesion & dirt removal.

cleaning paint drips

While painting your home, stay away from the hassle of wiping paint stains from furniture, fans, chandeliers etc. by covering them with old cloth or plastic. Be sure to wipe out the paint drips from the floor immediately.

For water based paints (distempers, wall putty, emulsion paints - interior and exterior including water-based luxury enamel and primers):

Wet condition: wash with cold water immediately and wipe with clean cloth.

Dried film: Soak the drip with water or dilute detergent solution. The film should be scraped off with a suitable scraper. While scratching, ensure not to damage the value and appearance of the substrate, especially in case of wooden, marble or valuable metal articles / substrates.

For solvent based (enamels, interior wall paints (Lustre or Matt), all primers, knifing paste filler, Touchwood):

Wet condition: wash immediately with mineral turpentine oil and wipe with clean cloth.

Dried film: The drip should be soaked with mineral turpentine. If the stain has dried for over two days, soak the stain with Xylene. Then, scratch the film using a suitable scraper. While scratching, ensure not to damage the value and appearance of the substrate, especially in case of wooden, marble or valuable metal articles / substrates. Wipe the area with water or dilute detergent solution and leave it to dry.

For wood finishes (Melamyne or PU)

Wet condition: Clean out the Melamyne drips by soaking with Thinner T -124 and then wiping out with a clean cloth. Similarly, clean the PU stains by soaking with PU Thinner no. 338 and then wiping with a clean cloth.

cleaning articles / substrates

Recoat a painted / polished wood with clear finish: Apply paint remover / stripper on the surface. Scrape the peeled coating from the surface of wood. Clean the surface with NC thinner to remove traces of paint film and residual paint remover / material. Allow sufficient time (overnight) before applying any coating.

Change colour of wood: Remove the colour with paint remover. However, if the stain is directly on the wood, removing it will be difficult. In such cases, you can apply the same stain or a darker one during recoating.

Clean drips of Touchwood, Melamyne and PU on wooden articles, floor, tiles: It is difficult to remove drip marks from wooden surfaces. If the paint has penetrated through the surface then the entire film has to be removed and recoated. It can be done using a scraper or files (available at hardware stores), gently without damaging the wood. Follow it up with sanding using emery paper no. 180 and continue normal application of the wood finish. Drip marks on the floor / tiles can be removed by carefully scraping with a putty knife or scraper. However, mask the area near the coating surface as scraping Melamyne and PU coating can be time consuming.

Clean wax drips: Carefully scrape out as much solid wax as possible. Once the surface is sufficiently clean, place a freezer bag of ice cubes over the affected area for several minutes. The cold makes the wax more brittle. Now you can use a butter knife to scrape off additional residue. Finally, apply the warm-hot method. Use a hair dryer to soften the remaining material and scrape it off.  Or place a very absorbent material like a thick paper towel (or napkin) on the spill and run a hot iron on it. The wax will melt and get absorbed by the material.

cleaning the carpet

Remove water based paint: Scrape off as much paint as possible with an old knife. Using a cloth or sponge dipped in the solution (a cup of warm water and a spoon of dish detergent, no bleach), dab the stain working from the outside in. Soak it for longer if the paint does not start to dissolve in soapy water. When the paint starts to dissolve, use a tissue to absorb the paint-filled fluid that is left as residue. You can also use clean water to clean the surface. Make sure to always blot and not pour water as it may lead to saturation of the carpet and the stain might spread.

Remove oil based paint: Use solvents like mineral turpentine, methylated spirit or a dry cleaning solvent to remove such paints. Just like in water-based coatings, dampen a rag and dab the paint stain from the outside in, without spreading the stain. Use a detergent solution to remove the dissolved paint.

Remove mildew from bathroom: Use an old toothbrush to scrub off mildew from the grout between tiles. For more stubborn stains cover it with a paste of scouring powder that contains bleach and leave it covered for a few hours. Scrub and rinse clean. After using the shower, leave the door or curtain open. Wipe the walls to dry them. Close the shower door or curtain to allow that to dry also.