Cleaning Wood Trim Before Painting

If you start at the top the cleaner can run down the wood and create hard to remove.

Cleaning wood trim before painting.

Here are his recommendations for cleaning woodwork properly. Wipe the solution away with a rag to clear the dirt. Clean and sand surface image zoom clean varnished surfaces with a soft cloth and odorless mineral spirits. Be sure to rinse off the solution then dry thoroughly.

Shield the door surface around the lock with a cloth as you turn the key both ways to remove any excess lubricant. Wash the trim clean and rinse one section before moving onto the next section. It is a powder though can. Wash wood from the bottom upward with slow easy up and down strokes so the solution has time to soften the grime.

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. Before painting new wood sand all surfaces and edges lightly to smooth the grain. You ll likely remove a thin layer of varnish or shellac too because the grime has melded. How to prepare stained and varnished trim step 1.

Don t use paper towels as this will leave behind paper particles that may affect the staining of the wood in the future. Apply wood patch image zoom apply stainable wood patch whose color matches the surface closely. Use a long handled scrubber brush and a mild detergent to gently scrub away accumulated dirt grime mold and other residue. A stiff bristle hand.

Step 3 rub the damp cloth over the unfinished wood rubbing with the direction of the wood grain to prevent splintering. To prepare previously painted wood strip off cracking flaking or chipping paint sand the surface with 180 grit sandpaper remove the dust and wipe with a damp sponge. Tri sodium phosphate is one of those great little secrets hiding in your hardware store. Sometimes a good cleaning is all it takes to bring it back to life says wood finisher john thomas.

Then remove the sanding dust and apply a suitable primer. Give the surface a full day to dry before moving on. Scrub with soap and warm water. 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.

Mist a lint free cleaning rag with the spray. Note that if the baseboards in the room you are cleaning are. If the trim is rough and worn start by sanding with coarse 80 grit sandpaper. Clean the wood surface thoroughly.

These are the supplies you ll need. Mix up equal parts of paint thinner and a mild soap such as murphy oil soap and apply with a sponge or paintbrush. If the trim is new or already smooth lightly sand using 120 grit sandpaper until all shine disappears from the trim.