Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is a powerful degreaser that has been used by professional painters for decades to remove dirt, grease, mildew, and soap scum from both interior and exterior surfaces. When mixed with water, TSP creates an alkaline solution that is highly effective in cleansing, degreasing, and stain removal. It is also used to prep painted surfaces for refinishing or repainting.
TSP works well on various surfaces without damaging them, including brick and stone, concrete, wood, and roofing. If the surface has been previously painted, it can be used to remove effervescence and may harm the lantana planted in the immediate area. Before diving into a painting project, cleaning your walls with TSP can make a big difference in the end result.
Proper timing after using TSP is crucial when painting in the Bay Area, CA, as it leaves behind a residue that needs to be thoroughly rinsed and removed. Use eye protection and mix TSP with water, working from the top of the wall down and rinsing off the residue.
When prepping for a paint job, TSP cleaner is commonly used to clean walls and other surfaces before painting. Mixing TSP with water is essential, and rinsing everything thoroughly after using the cleaner is crucial. Rent a pressure washer to help remove dirt and chalk, and if you have mold, mildew, or stains, use TSP to clean your siding thoroughly. Rinse well afterwards and allow the house to dry before moving on to any repair work.
Using TSP first means chips and dust from scraping and sanding won’t be washed off, so TSP should always be your last choice. By using TSP to clean walls before painting, painting contractors in Alamo know the surfaces are free of dust and dirt, and know paint will adhere properly. Tools needed include a paint scraper, sandpaper, and a stiff brush.
In conclusion, TSP is a highly effective cleanser, degreaser, and stain remover that is also used to prep painted surfaces for refinishing or repainting. The first priority when preparing exterior wood for paint is to sufficiently clean and dry the surface.
📹 Before you paint – TSP cleaning tip that will save you time and money
Every penny you do not have to spend when flipping a property becomes pure profit. Find out in this video why you should use …
Is it necessary to use TSP before painting?
TSP is a cleaning agent that can be used to clean walls before painting, ensuring surfaces are free of dust and dirt. It can also be used to de-gloss surfaces painted with high-sheen paint, such as high-gloss, semi-gloss, and satin finishes. Before using TSP, areas are sanded and prepared before being washed with it. Rinsing with a clean, damp sponge and allowing the surface to dry thoroughly is essential.
If mildew is a problem, TSP can be combined with chlorine bleach to remove existing mildew but is not recommended for permanently removing mold. It is not suitable for general cleaning in the bathroom as it can damage grout and stain metal.
To ensure safety, it is essential to use gloves, long-sleeves, full-length pants, and eye protection. TSP should be kept out of the reach of children and removed promptly if it falls on plants. Painting contractors in Alamo are knowledgeable about proper TSP use and will ensure your family’s safety.
How to clean the exterior before painting?
Power washing your home’s exterior siding is a simple way to prepare it for painting. It removes dirt, dust, pollen, and mildew that can interfere with paint adhesion. Use a gentle setting on the power washer and use a cleaning solution specifically designed for exterior surfaces. For tough spots near baseboards or windows, use warm water and dish soap to scrub gently. Trimming vegetation, such as shrubs, trees, and overgrown bushes, helps prevent plants from touching freshly painted surfaces and enables access to certain areas of your home.
What is a substitute for TSP?
Simple Green is an environmentally friendly, non-irritant liquid cleaner that effectively cleans and cuts grease on various surfaces and materials. It comes in various formulations for different applications and can be diluted with water to reduce sturdiness. Klean Strip TSP alternative is another biodegradable cleaner that functions as a substitute for TSP but lacks phosphate, making it less effective for grease cutting. Although biodegradable, it is an irritant and requires proper eye and skin protection. Both products are independently selected by editors and may earn affiliate commissions.
Do I need to prime before exterior painting?
Primer is a crucial component in the exterior house painting process, creating a strong foundation for paint and ensuring maximum performance. However, it’s not always necessary to use a full prime, as a “spot prime” can be used to cover specific areas, such as repairs, bare wood, or blemishes. Spot primes are ideal for areas like patched wood, rot-replaced siding, or knots that keep bleeding through paint.
What to do before exterior painting?
The exterior painting preparation process is crucial for health and safety reasons, as well as ensuring the new paint job looks good and lasts. To prepare a house for exterior painting, follow these basic steps: remove contaminants, wash the home, make any needed repairs, remove peeling paint, and prime the walls.
If you suspect lead paint, don’t try to scrape or sand it off, and don’t do any washing. A certified contractor must handle the removal of the paint before starting. Test the paint before proceeding with any further exterior painting prep.
A common contaminant, especially in humid areas, is mold or mildew. Look for black, green, or brown stains with a fuzzy appearance. If unsure, apply common bleach to the stain. Use bleach or another EPA-registered microbiocide or fungicide to remove mold and mildew. Look for cleaners and degreasers that can remove grime, grease, and oil.
Why was TSP banned?
TSP, a phosphate-based cleaning agent, has been used since the late 1960s due to its potential to cause eutrophication of lakes and rivers. It is commonly used after cleaning surfaces with mineral spirits to remove hydrocarbon residues and can be used with household chlorine bleach without hazardous reactions. This mixture is effective for removing mildew but less effective for mold. TSP is not recommended for cleaning bathrooms due to its potential to stain metal fixtures and damage grout. Despite its use in some toilet bowl-cleaning tablets, its use has declined globally since the late 1960s.
Do you have to pressure wash before painting exterior?
Pressure washing is a crucial step before painting your house, as it helps prolong the lifespan of your exterior paint and prevents issues in the long run. Painting a dirty exterior may shorten the paint’s lifespan, making pressure washing a necessary step. Painting is an expensive and time-consuming task, so it’s essential to get the job done right the first time. Cleaning your house’s exterior can potentially double the paint’s lifespan, making it worth the time, money, and effort.
A clean house exterior can last 7-10 years or longer. Even if the house appears clean, it’s always safer to give it a thorough check. Pressure washing is the best method to clean your house’s exterior, and you can either do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you.
What is needed for exterior painting?
In order to complete the task, it is necessary to have a number of tools at one’s disposal. These include a roller frame, bucket, caulk, drop cloths, ladder, masking paper, painter’s tape, paint tray, extension pole, patching material, putty knife, stir sticks, paint can opener, trash bags, sandpaper, scraper, screwdriver, scrub brush, and sponges.
What do you clean exterior walls with before painting?
After cleaning the surface, remove large dirt deposits and apply a fungicidal masonry cleaner like Emperor Masonry Cleaner to the exterior wall. This cleaner kills fungal growth that could cause peeling and flaking of the paint film. Leave the cleaner on the wall for two hours, as it will be painted over the surface. Protect non-painted surfaces with a dust sheet and masking tape. Before painting, primebare surfaces like brick, stone, or render to prevent paint from absorbing into the wall and provide added adhesion, ensuring long-term paint performance. This will prevent a patchy finish and ensure a smoother finish.
What do professional painters use to clean walls before painting?
The best cleaning solution for preparing walls for painting is a mixture of mild detergent and warm water, which is effective for most walls. For kitchen walls, a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap can remove stubborn greasy spots. Non-chemical cleaning solutions like distilled white vinegar or baking soda can also be used. Safety is crucial, so wear rubber gloves during the cleaning process. The initial sweep involves removing loose dust and debris from the walls, which is a crucial step in prepping for painting.
Before starting, protect floors by covering them with tarps or old blankets. Choose the right dusting tool, such as a soft broom, a brush tied with a microfiber cloth, or a vacuum with brush attachments, and work from the top down the wall to ensure efficient removal of dust and cobwebs.
How do you clean exterior paint before painting?
Before painting, it is crucial to thoroughly clean the exterior surfaces of your walls, removing dirt, grime, and mold. Use a power washer, high-pressure hose, or a wire brush to scrub stains, using a detergent solution or diluted bleach if necessary. Allow the walls to dry completely before applying paint. If painting over previously painted walls, remove old flaking paint with a stiff brush or scrapper, or use a pressure washer if available. Sand the edges around the area to create a smooth transition between the intact paint and the bare areas.
If your old brick wall has cracked or weathered, repair and repoint the damaged areas with an exterior filler or putty. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and drying times, and sand the filler smooth to match the surrounding surface. This will ensure a smooth transition between the intact paint and the bare areas.
📹 (TSP)- PAINTING TIP OF THE DAY
TRI-SODIUM-PHOSPHATE= CONCENTRATED INGREDIENT FOUND IN MOST OF ALL household cleaning supplies, GREAT …
Alot of professional painters use this for wall prep. Sometimes it’s hard to find but I’ve been told you can get it online. I have also heard (my dad is a retired painter) …It’s the best to use for cigarette smoke and nicotine wall damage. I will be using it for these purposes in the coming weeks. Will give an update when done.
It feels slippery because it’s on the basic end of the Ph acid/basic scale, and it will give you chemical burns. The itching is the beginning of a mild chemical burn, so that’s why you want to wear protection and don’t leave it on your skin very long. Chemical burns are something that sneaks up on you and can get really bad before you notice.
Hey I have loads to add to that.. But Tile Setting is my stock and trade these days.. And YES, this stuff is amazing at cleaning outdoor decks, fences and patio tiles.. But this is the main ingredient in GROUT dissolvers.. it will deglaze aka High end gloss tile surfaces.. Thank goodness I was just a NOOBIE on the job when my boss, the customer and sales guy showed up the next morning… I will for ever remember Grout that turned to SOUP.. Multiple areas had to be regrouted more than 3 times, because that TSP was still in the grout joint. But hey I was 3 months on the job. My learning rate went up exponentially FASTER after that job. Good day yall, that just my 2 bits from 15 years ago.
This is the best cleaner to get the chalk off of old paint, or to de-gloss old oil based paint which makes the new paint adhere so much better. Especially with hard to sand surfaces like bead board or older novelty siding. We use a combination of semi-stiff scrub brushes, or even old paint brushes that will get it well into surface irregularities or even brush texture that is on brush painted surfaces.
Great looking painted walls buddy! I was sure that the Government banned TSP. I was in the hardware today trying to find something to clean the carbonized black stuff off my electric stove drip pans. Oven cleaner didn’t BUDGE it at all. LOL So right now I’m trying TSP as a paste on top of it. IOW, TSP with just a little water. The drip pans are from an ANCIENT stove, and I can’t find replacements. I think it’ll come down to a drill & wire brush! Any ideas that you have.
i make a bath out of 2 x 4’s, and polyethylene sheeting, and use to soak woodwork in strong TSP solution to remove multiple layers of old paint downtothebare wood. no vigorous scraping needed. paint comes off as a sludge that can be disposed of. no dust at all. no wood gouging with scrapers. neutralize with vinegar solution. sand raised wood with 150 grit. process offers huge labor reduction. solution can be reused multiple times. it does not “wear out”. PF tsp is useless for this process.
I freaking HATE TSP. The stuff leaves a nasty powdery residue that WON’T come out. cleaned my stucco outside with it (basic dilution. 1/4 cup per gallon of water) and it even after I rinsed off the outside stucco for 10-15 minutes with the hose it left a chalky powder that WILL NOT come off easy. it’s like chalk dust all over the wall. And when you try and rinse off the chaulky residue the next day when you notice the initial rinse didn’t work, the water just flows over the residue and the residue stays put. took 16 hours with a wet towel and a hose rinsing/scrubbing/rinsing/scrubbing to get most of the residue off to paint one 22 x 12 foot wall. no wonder my painting buddy laughed at me for using it saying that most painters got away from this shit 20+ years ago
I have what looks like yellow stains on my wall it is sticky from when I touched it. It is in my bedroom. Idk what the hell it is been there for a long time. The roof to my knowledge is not leaking into my walls. I was wondering if this stuff would get rid of it? And hopefully it will never reappear again. Do you know of any safe cleaners to use on drywall? Would this be ok to use on the wall and hopefully get rid of the yellow stuff drips on my wall?
We had a badly stained ceiling. It was made of the kind of tiles we had in classrooms with a thousand tiny holes. Out of boredom, kids would try to calculate how many holes in the entire ceiling. Anyway, I did not use TSP to clean it. Instead, I painted it with a special primer designed to block any bleed-through. Then I painted on top of that. I think the primer was called Stainz. Well, it had a ‘z’ in it. Not sure about the rest of it.
The pH of this product is high…greatly above that of 7; hence it’s an alkaline substance that through simple hydrolysis reactions, will rid the walls, decks, or any surface of grease, oil and other S^&*. Also, by being very alkaline,…if you paint over “old paint”…using this to clean with a little bleach will “open the pores” of latex paint,…allowing better subsequent adherence. Forget the chemistry and crap….just use a little when prepping before painting…let everything dry..paint.