Cleaning Wood Trim Before Painting

Give the surface a full day to dry before moving on.

Cleaning wood trim before painting.

Be sure to rinse off the solution then dry thoroughly. If the trim is new or already smooth lightly sand using 120 grit sandpaper until all shine disappears from the trim. An annual clean with water and a mild liquid detergent is good enough for most doors including those wood doors that have been stained or painted. Then remove the sanding dust and apply a suitable primer.

Tri sodium phosphate is one of those great little secrets hiding in your hardware store. If the trim is rough and worn start by sanding with coarse 80 grit sandpaper. When you re satisfied with the wood s appearance rinse the exterior from top to bottom with a garden hose. If you start at the top the cleaner can run down the wood and create hard to remove.

Sometimes a good cleaning is all it takes to bring it back to life says wood finisher john thomas. Mix up equal parts of paint thinner and a mild soap such as murphy oil soap and apply with a sponge or paintbrush. Here are his recommendations for cleaning woodwork properly. How to prepare stained and varnished trim step 1.

Mist a lint free cleaning rag with the spray. These are the supplies you ll need. You ll likely remove a thin layer of varnish or shellac too because the grime has melded. Then move to less coarse sandpaper such as 100 or 120 grit to smooth the surface.

Clean and sand surface image zoom clean varnished surfaces with a soft cloth and odorless mineral spirits. Dip a sponge into a mixture of warm water and dish soap vinegar works well too then go about scrubbing any marks that you can find. Wipe the solution away with a rag to clear the dirt. Use a long handled scrubber brush and a mild detergent to gently scrub away accumulated dirt grime mold and other residue.

Wash the trim clean and rinse one section before moving onto the next section. Before painting new wood sand all surfaces and edges lightly to smooth the grain. Apply wood patch image zoom apply stainable wood patch whose color matches the surface closely. Clean the wood surface thoroughly.

Don t use paper towels as this will leave behind paper particles that may affect the staining of the wood in the future. Shield the door surface around the lock with a cloth as you turn the key both ways to remove any excess lubricant. Step 3 rub the damp cloth over the unfinished wood rubbing with the direction of the wood grain to prevent splintering. Wash wood from the bottom upward with slow easy up and down strokes so the solution has time to soften the grime.

Note that if the baseboards in the room you are cleaning are. A stiff bristle hand. It is a powder though can.