Cleaning Wood Trim Before Painting

Here are his recommendations for cleaning woodwork properly.

Cleaning wood trim before painting.

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. Mist a lint free cleaning rag with the spray. 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 and sand surface image zoom clean varnished surfaces with a soft cloth and odorless mineral spirits. A stiff bristle hand. Give the surface a full day to dry before moving on.

Scrub with soap and warm water. Tri sodium phosphate is one of those great little secrets hiding in your hardware store. Be sure to rinse off the solution then dry thoroughly. If your house has mildew you can speed up the cleaning process with a dedicated mildewcide.

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. If the trim is new or already smooth lightly sand using 120 grit sandpaper until all shine disappears from the trim. 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.

When you re satisfied with the wood s appearance rinse the exterior from top to bottom with a garden hose. Then move to less coarse sandpaper such as 100 or 120 grit to smooth the surface. Use a long handled scrubber brush and a mild detergent to gently scrub away accumulated dirt grime mold and other residue. These are the supplies you ll need.

Wipe the solution away with a rag to clear the dirt. Then remove the sanding dust and apply a suitable primer. How to prepare stained and varnished trim step 1. You ll likely remove a thin layer of varnish or shellac too because the grime has melded.

Mix up equal parts of paint thinner and a mild soap such as murphy oil soap and apply with a sponge or paintbrush. If you start at the top the cleaner can run down the wood and create hard to remove. 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. If the trim is rough and worn start by sanding with coarse 80 grit sandpaper.

Shield the door surface around the lock with a cloth as you turn the key both ways to remove any excess lubricant. 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. Sometimes a good cleaning is all it takes to bring it back to life says wood finisher john thomas.