A fresh coat of paint can give a drab space new life by adding vibrancy and personality. However, maintaining a painted surface’s pristine look requires effort and care. Whether it’s walls, furniture, or trim, regular cleaning and occasional touch-ups can help prolong the life of your interior paint job and keep your space looking its best. In this blog post, we’ll explore effective cleaning techniques and handy touch-up tips to ensure your painted surfaces remain beautiful for years to come.
Cleaning Techniques for Painted Surfaces:
Gentle Cleaning Solutions:
Gentle is the keyword when it comes to cleaning your painted surfaces. Harsh chemical cleaners can be too abrasive and will likely damage the paint over time. If you use a particularly hard scrubber, this could lead to paint discoloration or even peeling. We suggest using a mild cleaner, like Dawn dish soap and water mixtures. Dish soap is still strong enough to work on dirty areas but won’t strip the paint off your walls or furniture.
Regular Dusting:
Dust is made from tiny particles of dirt, pollen, dust mites, and bacteria, so it is vital to maintain it regularly for health purposes. Still, it’s also an important step to consider for keeping paint jobs looking great. An accumulation of dust over time can stick to the walls or furniture and make it appear duller. Dusting with a dry cloth or duster is really all you need to keep your painted surfaces from dust!
Keep Surfaces Clean with Soft Cloths
Using non-abrasive materials to clean and dust the surfaces in your home is an easy but effective way to keep the paint in your home looking fresh. Certain types of sponges and cloths can cause minuscule tears and erosion to the paint, causing it to strip away over time. We recommend using microfiber cloths because they are very gentle, whether used on furniture or walls.
Avoid Excessive Washing
We understand cleaning is essential to keeping your home looking and fresh, but too much moisture on painted surfaces can cause damage. Avoid saturating the walls or any painted wood. Wood can swell and warp after being exposed to excess moisture. When using liquids to clean these areas of your home, be sure to wring your clothes out so they’re damp and not soaked in water or chemicals.
Touch-Up Tips for Painted Surfaces:
Keep Extra Paint on Hand
As a homeowner, you’ll quickly find that keeping extra paint on hand will come in handy more than you expect! Scuffs and scratches are a natural part of living in a home, and a Magic Eraser doesn’t always make them disappear. Keeping a small amount makes these minor annoyances non-issues. However, don’t forget to label the paint! Writing down the paint color and areas where it was used is crucial because as much as you think you’ll remember, take it from us…you will not.
Repair Damage Correctly
Addressing any damages like cracks, chips, and holes and quickly fixing them will prevent any further damage from deterioration over time. This will help you avoid having to pay for more intensive repairs later down the line. Making sure these repairs have also been repaired properly is another vital step. For example, if a hole in a wall is patched badly, the touch-up will also look bad. Keep an eye out for signs of wear and tear, and take action as soon as possible to maintain the integrity of the paint job.
Protective Coatings
For high-traffic areas or surfaces prone to spills, stains, or general wear and tear, consider applying a clear protective coating, which can provide an extra layer of defense against damage. Make sure you’re looking for protective products specifically designed for painted surfaces, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application.
Blending Your Paint Touch Ups
Piggybacking off our last tip, when you do go to make touch-ups to your interior paint, it doesn’t always blend as seamlessly as you hope for. When the paint is dry, we recommend using fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out the area where you can see the transition of new and old paint.
Small Brushes Only
The key to great touch-up paint is precision. Having a set of small fine-tip paintbrushes will help your touch-up skills reach professional levels. This is a detail-oriented job, so look for brushes designed for detailed work.
Maintenance Considerations
Professional Painting Service
If individuals have larger jobs like intricate exterior painting, it may be in your best interest to hire outside help. Having a professional complete what you are incapable of or willing to do is not some sort of moral failure. Life gets busy, and if you need help performing some regular touch-up work at home, there’s no shame in that! Let the professionals assess the condition of the job and recommend the best options for your home. After all, painting is what they specialize in!
Consider the Surface Material
When deciding whether to DIY your paint projects or hire help, remember to consider the material of the surface you’re working with. Are you working with wood furniture, re-painting a metal railing, or doing stucco repairs to painted walls? You must consider these things because certain materials require different preparations and treatments.
Maintaining the beauty of painted walls and surfaces requires regular cleaning and occasional touch-ups. By incorporating these additional considerations into your regular maintenance routine, you can help prolong the life of your painted surfaces and keep them looking their best for years.