Practical Tips on How to Maintain a Paint Job

Over time, dust and dirt can accumulate on your walls, making their paint look dull and unwelcoming. If you have children, perhaps fingerprints or crayons might get on your walls. Here are some tips to clean your painted walls to ensure your home or office surfaces retain their pristine look. In addition, it can help reduce costs by lessening the need for applying new paint. Here are some practical tips on how to maintain a paint job.

1. Know your Interior Paint Finish
Not all wall finishes are equal. Some are more resistant to the effects of moisture and abrasion while others can be highly vulnerable. Depending on your paint finish will determine the best method to clean your walls.

Semi-gloss or gloss paints are very cleanable. It is important to use the right cleaning tool for the right sort of paint. Care should be taken on what cleaners are being used when cleaning your walls. Certain detergents and cleaners can contain solvents that are highly corrosive to paint. Rather than a spotless surface, you could end up removing paint. It is best to clean your walls using warm water, a sponge and a mild cleaner, such as a dish detergent mixed in the water. Make sure your sponge is damp and not wet, and wipe away your stains. After you clean the stain, be sure to rinse the area and dry the wall before you move on to another area.

If your wall has flat, matte or eggshell paint, this paint is more vulnerable. The best thing to do is to first try gently rubbing the stain with a damp sponge. Wet your sponge with warm water and wring it out and gently rub the stain to see if this will work. If this doesn’t work, get yourself a magic eraser sponge, and most marks on the wall will come off like magic! Lightly rinse the wall down with a damp sponge and dry with a towel when done.

2. Power Wash the Exterior of your home yearly
Dirt, Mildew and Algae spores can accumulate on your siding and can cause damage to your paint. This can leave your siding vulnerable to the elements and cause damage to your siding, which can be costly to repair. Yearly cleaning of the exterior of your home can keep your paint finish looking new, last longer, and preserve your siding. Hire a recommended knowledgeable company who can do a gentle wash on your home while removing the dirt, mildew and algae spores.

3. Have a Regular Cleaning Schedule
The best way to prevent your paint job from becoming ruined is to clean it regularly, depending on the factors (e.g. whether it is indoors or outdoors, the weather, how often the paint gets touched, etc.). You should clean your interior walls regularly when you see it’s needed, and your home exterior surfaces should be cleaned every 12-18 months. In areas where pollen falls, it is best to wash your home exterior after the pollen is done falling, which is usually in May, or after. Your paint contractor may be best able to guide you on how often your paint job needs cleaning.

4. Address Cracks and Other Paint Issues Early
Cracks, peelings, and other paint issues should be remedied as soon as you take note of them. If left unaddressed, such issues can grow in size and greatly damage your paint job. They can also make your painted surfaces more exposed to the effects of moisture and other harmful elements.

Creative Painting Services is recognized as the best commercial and residential house painters in Raleigh and Wake Forest NC areas. Exterior or interior, commercial or residential, painting or cleaning, our extraordinary team of painters are more than up for the task and provide you with results that go beyond your expectations. To get a free quote on our services, feel free to call us on 919-435-6023 or contact us here.