Over time, dirty spots appear on the ceiling and walls painted with water-based paint. This is especially noticeable in the kitchen, where food is often prepared. Many housewives are interested in how to wash a ceiling painted with water-based paint in the kitchen so that this process goes quickly and efficiently.
Washing a ceiling painted with water-based paint.
Surface preparation
Before you start cleaning, you should make sure that the moistened walls dry quickly: there is no excessive humidity inside the apartment or house, and it is warm enough. Otherwise, stains may subsequently form, dampness and mold may appear. Preparatory work should be carried out in the following sequence:
- Prepare your workspace. It is necessary to remove photographs, pictures, and other decorative elements from the walls. The released hooks must be marked with pieces of bright material so that during the process of washing the base you do not get hurt on them. It is advisable to move the furniture to the central part of the room: there it will not interfere with free movement.
- Protect the flooring from moisture. It is necessary to lay film or thick fabric around the perimeter of the room (along the baseboards). They will prevent dirty water from getting onto the floor. In addition, you can cover furniture items.
- Remove dust from the walls. Dry cleaning is best done with a vacuum cleaner (at low speed) using a flat attachment.
You can quickly remove dust from the surface of the walls using a mop with a clean rag on it Source images.squarespace-cdn.com
General recommendations
Before you start washing painted walls, it is worth studying the general recommendations on how to do it correctly:
- Prepare thoroughly for the procedure (remove everything that can somehow come into contact with water - parquet, carpets, furniture, etc.). You can cover flooring and furniture using old newspapers and magazines.
- You need to start washing by removing dust and drops of water (for example, near the shower or kitchen stove). This can be done using a vacuum cleaner, broom or regular brush for household needs. The space around the switches should also not be ignored. So, a small amount of dust can be removed with a dry cloth.
- You need to start the procedure from the bottom, gradually moving upward.
- Cleaning is carried out in 2 stages - first, the surfaces are washed with a soapy solution, and then with clean water. If the walls are very dirty, it is recommended to change the water more often.
- To remove excess moisture, wipe the walls with a clean cotton towel.
Advice! To keep your walls not only clean, but also fragrant, you can add a little lavender oil to a spray bottle with water. This is especially true if there are greasy stains (for example, near a kitchen stove).
How to clean various painted surfaces
At first, it is important to find out exactly what composition the surface was painted with, so as not to damage it during washing. Among the most popular coloring agents it is worth noting the following.
Water-based paint
It is produced on the basis of water, so the finish is sensitive to the influence of moisture. It is advisable to clean walls painted with this composition using a dry method, since there is a high risk of damaging the paint layer. Otherwise, it is necessary to strictly follow the recommendations for wet cleaning of surfaces painted with water-based emulsion.
For processing, only a soft sponge is used; increased friction is unacceptable. The best detergent under such circumstances is soapy water. Any concentrate is diluted in warm water, whisked thoroughly until a stable foam forms. Another option: dilute baking soda (3 tablespoons) in 10 liters of water.
Attention! Water-based wall coverings should be washed very carefully, using a small amount of liquid.
If the wall is painted with water-based paint, then it is advisable to wet clean such a surface with a soft sponge Source xn--90aibchjc2ankc9k.xn--p1ai
When emulsion and emulsion are different
For the production of water-based paints, several polymers with different properties are used. The most popular among them are:
- Silicate - forms a coating that allows the walls to “breathe”, but is not moisture-proof. Only wiping with a well-wrung out sponge or cloth is allowed.
- Latex has excellent steam permeability while retaining water. It can be washed without fear of disturbing the structure of the paint.
- Acrylic has better properties than silicate, but is in many ways inferior to latex. If exposure to moisture is short, it is quite capable of withstanding washing.
- Silicone is the best polymer today, which is not at all afraid of contact with water and is suitable for frequent washing.
How to remove stains
When washing painted walls, it is important to properly remove any stains. The latter arise for many reasons, but often as a result of the adhesion of grease along with dust. Such contaminants can be cleaned in several ways, using different compositions. Before treating any stain, you need to make sure the product is safe. To do this, it is tested on an inconspicuous area. Otherwise, there is a risk of ruining the finish and leaving streaks.
If there are children in the house, then traces of small, dirty hands often remain on the walls. Source domovei.com
Dish gel
Dishwashing detergent diluted in warm water will help get rid of even heavy dirt on a painted wall. To remove old greasy marks, it is recommended to use undiluted products. Fairy, Aos and Frosch are great choices. They are applied to the problem area (in concentrated form) and left to dissolve residual fat. After using most of the gels there are no traces left.
After a while, the product and dirt are wiped off with a rag. Moreover, intensive wiping of the base is not required: the rag is only moved up and down. If excessive soap is produced, it must be washed off carefully. Then it is important to dry the wall with a paper towel.
Fairy dishwashing gel does an excellent job even with old greasy stains; it should be used in concentrated form Source r-ulybka.ru
Starch or talc
Perfectly removes fresh stains: oil splashes, traces of food residues. First, press a napkin tightly onto the contaminated surface so that it absorbs as much moisture as possible. Then the spot must be sprinkled with dry starch or talcum powder and left for a couple of hours. After the specified time, the base must be thoroughly cleaned with a broom. If there is still any mark left on the wall, you can use the dish soap method.
Dry products are often used to remove greasy stains on painted walls: they absorb moisture and grease and are then easily removed Source domovei.com
Ethanol
An alcohol-containing composition will help get rid of rust, ink and grease stains. First, a piece of cloth is generously moistened with liquid, then the smeared area is thoroughly wiped. If necessary, the wall can be washed later. It is also possible to use an alcohol wipe: carefully remove dirt from the surface without damaging the base.
Shaving foam
Perfectly dissolves various contaminants, including greasy ones. A small amount of foam is squeezed onto the coated surface, rubbed a little, and left for three hours. As soon as the stain has dissolved, the remaining product along with the dirt should be removed with a soft cloth. If necessary, it can be slightly moistened.
Shaving foam copes well even with complex stains on the surface of a painted wall Source domovei.com
Removing stains
Most often, stains form on the walls - next to the switches. The fat that is on every person’s fingers dries to the paint layer by layer, forming an unsightly, greasy “edge.” It is extremely difficult to get rid of this pollution. If the surface is white and matte, professional cleaners recommend lightly rubbing it with a light-colored eraser. In all other cases, it is better to wash off the old paint and apply a fresh layer of emulsion.
You can remove children's drawings from the walls if they are made with a simple pencil and occupy a small area. Here again the eraser will come to the rescue. But traces from an alcohol felt-tip pen will disappear only after repairs are carried out.
Grease that gets on kitchen walls and ceilings is first softened. To do this, apply a solution to the contaminated area with a sponge, which consists of 4 tablespoons of soda or table salt and a liter of water. This method is effective for fresh stains; old ones cannot be removed.
We recommend: How to close the gap between the wall and the washing machine so that nothing falls into it
How to wash walls without streaks
It is recommended to begin wet cleaning of any surfaces with testing (safety check) of the selected detergent. Use it to wipe an inconspicuous area on the wall. If over time the surface layer on the treated area has not lost its original color, then the entire surface can be washed with this composition.
For wet cleaning you should prepare:
- food vinegar;
- detergent;
- sponge;
- a piece of fabric that absorbs moisture well;
- two buckets.
Procedure:
- Dilute detergent concentrate in one container with water.
- Add a glass of table vinegar (per 10 liters of solution).
- Soak a sponge in the prepared mixture and squeeze to remove excess moisture.
- The base should be processed from bottom to top. Any spills that form must be wiped off immediately. Once dry, it will be difficult to get rid of them.
- Squeeze the dirty washcloth over another bucket.
- Then repeat all the steps again.
A thoroughly washed painted surface must be rinsed. But you can’t pour water on it, especially if the base is painted with water-based emulsion. Therefore, you should take clean water into an empty container, moisten and squeeze out the sponge, then treat the wall. At the final stage of cleaning, the cleaned surface must be wiped dry with a cloth. You cannot leave it wet, otherwise the paint may deteriorate.
To wash the wall without streaks, you must strictly follow the rules for washing painted surfaces Source luxury-house.org
Detergents: do's and don'ts
For washing walls and ceilings painted with water-based paint, only liquid household products that do not contain solvents, bleaches and other caustic components, including essential oils, are suitable.
Also, you should not use cleaning and washing powders - they do not completely dissolve in water and can eat into the coating. Then it will be difficult to get rid of the persistent chemical smell in the room.
Which tool to choose
When painting, use a brush or roller. So that you can do the work yourself, standing directly on the floor and not having to climb on a stepladder, you can use a telescopic tube. In order for the roller to absorb the paint uniformly, you need to take a special tray. In addition, the bath will prevent excess dirt from spreading.
You should not choose a large brush. After all, as a rule, a brush is used only for layering corners. The best option for this is a thin flute brush with a width of five to ten centimeters. The roller should be chosen more carefully. A medium-pile roller is best suited for this purpose. Its width should be from 18 to 25 centimeters. You should not buy a roller with a foam attachment; it will fail very soon.
Tips from the professionals
To wash ceilings without heavy contamination, a small concentration of soap solution is sufficient. This makes it easier to wash off and there will be no chemical residue on the surface. And, knowing how to wash a painted ceiling with water-based emulsion, it will not be difficult to deal with the walls.
And more tips:
- It is much easier to completely wash away the old layer of paint and repaint the ceiling - this is faster than removing stubborn soot and dust.
- If you doubt whether the entire area will be washed, try a small area in a corner or other inconspicuous place.
- Local contaminants are more difficult to clean than the entire surface, so you should start with them.
- Do not use caustic chemicals over the entire area - the paint will be hopelessly damaged.
- A soft foam sponge and a clean microfiber cloth work well for cleaning areas.
- In daylight, stains on the ceiling are invisible, but they can appear when the lights are turned on - this will make it easier to see where the missing spots remain.
That's all the advice on how to wash a ceiling painted with water-based emulsion. And you shouldn’t hesitate when taking on a job. In extreme cases, the base will wash out and after drying it will simply need to be covered with a new layer of paint.
Safety precautions
When carrying out cleaning procedures, it is recommended to place the ladder as securely as possible.
You should not install all kinds of pads under the legs if the floor is uneven. You cannot stretch while standing on a ladder in an attempt to cover the maximum area of the ceiling. In such a situation, it is recommended to get off and move the stepladder. Otherwise, there is a high risk of falling and serious injury. When wet cleaning the ceiling, water will fall onto the floor. On such a surface, the housewife may slip or the stepladder may move out of place.
The container for the soap solution must be of such size and shape that it is securely fixed on the landing of the stairs. It is recommended to wear an apron over your clothing. It should have roomy pockets. You can put a rag or sponge in them at each stage of cleansing. It often becomes necessary to wipe the ceiling with a dry cloth after cleaning with a damp sponge. In this case, the sponge can be placed in the apron pocket. Moreover, most likely, there is no place on the stairs for it. In addition, the sponge may fall, which means that you will have to go down to get it.
Technology of painting the ceiling with water-based paint
The procedure for applying water-based emulsion to the ceiling surface is practically no different from working with other types of paints. However, before painting, you will need to do a preliminary test of the coverability of the material on a small piece of concrete or plywood somewhere in the utility room.
It is best to whiten the ceiling with a thread roller; there should be at least two of them in stock, one with a nozzle width of at least 20 cm, the second, 5-7 cm, is used for tinting corner areas.
How to properly apply water-based paint to whiten a ceiling
The painting procedure involves laying at least two layers of material. In this case, the direction of movement of the working tool when moving to a new layer should change to perpendicular to the previous one.
Traditionally, the first layer of water-based emulsion is laid with movements parallel to the plane of the window opening in the room. The second layer of painting is accordingly performed perpendicular to the window. In this case, the flow of light falling through the window onto the ceiling will be directed parallel to the lines of application of the water-based mixture. Even if there are risks from the roller somewhere, they will be invisible in natural light.
How to whitewash a ceiling with water-based paint without streaks
In order to obtain high quality painting of the ceiling surface without marks, marks and streaks, you must follow several basic rules:
- Before applying paint to a roller or brush, it is necessary to remove lumps of mixed dust and water-based emulsion;
- The water-based paint applied to the working surface of the tool must be rolled in a tray so that it is evenly absorbed throughout the entire nozzle;
- When painting, the roller is pressed against the ceiling surface with approximately the same force. There is no need to rush or try to squeeze the water emulsion out of the nozzle;
- Rolling out the paint and varnish material is done in strips with slight overlap at the joints. In this case, the ends of the soft roller attachment must be rounded; this is the only way to avoid the appearance of splashes and marks on the ceiling.
After painting, the layer must be thoroughly dried before repainting. Painting over a damp or insufficiently dried layer is not allowed.
Advice! Experts also recommend installing an additional light source in the room, a lantern or spotlight aimed at the ceiling. This illumination allows you to see painting defects even at the stage of applying water-based paint.
In corners and areas adjacent to walls, the water-based emulsion must be applied with a small roller, and in some cases it is necessary to use a brush to touch up or level the layer. The process of painting ceilings with water-based paint with your own hands is described in more detail in the video.
How to properly paint a ceiling with water-based paint to avoid stains
In order to avoid the appearance of stains or stains during the painting process, it is necessary to carefully prepare the ceiling surface. Even if the surface has been primed and thoroughly dried, immediately before painting the ceiling, the surface must be thoroughly wiped with a slightly damp sponge and allowed to dry for 10-15 minutes.
Use a thread version of the nozzle with bevels
The second problem is related to the incorrect use of the paint itself. Stains and stains appear on the ceiling due to uneven application of the material. After applying a fresh portion of water-based emulsion, the roller, as a rule, is pressed against the surface with great force; accordingly, at the beginning of the movement, a larger amount of paint is squeezed out. As you move away from the starting point, the amount decreases, the paint layer becomes thinner and more transparent. Therefore, it is better to roll several times with little force than to make a stain.
How to quickly whitewash a ceiling with water-based paint
There is only one way to quickly and efficiently paint a ceiling with water-based paint - using a pneumatic spray gun. It will take about an hour and a half to cover the walls and furniture in the room with plastic wrap. The same amount will be required to paint the ceiling in two layers.
The sprayer is convenient for applying water-based composition to complex surfaces.
With the traditional method using a roller or brush, the process of painting the ceiling surface takes 2-2.5 times longer.
Main types of paint
There are a number of dyes, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages. Experts advise choosing formulations that can easily withstand washing. Thanks to this, it will be possible to maintain the cleanliness of the coatings and avoid constant repairs.
Silicate
This type of coating is considered the most resistant to moisture. In addition to the silicate base, the substances contain pigments and liquid glass. However, you should not use such compositions for painting bedrooms. An excellent solution for using silicate paint would be a bathroom. It is also allowed to apply it in other utility rooms and carry out external treatment.
Latex
These compositions fit perfectly on all types of bases and are easy to clean. The only disadvantage is the high cost, since this is an elite market segment.
Acrylic
This is one of the most popular coating options. This dye contains resins. They have a binding effect and make the paint more elastic. Some substances are characterized by resistance to moisture because they include a latex component.
Acrylic dyes are easily distributed over the surface and are durable. They usually have a pastel color scheme. To obtain a more saturated shade, special additives are added to the composition. Tinting is done in a store or at home.
Silicone
These coatings are based on silicone resins. They also include acrylic copolymers. The products protect surfaces from fungal microorganisms and mold. The compositions are characterized by vapor-proof properties.
Everything is in order
First, you can try removing the gray deposits with a vacuum cleaner. An ash-gray coating always forms in areas above the kitchen stove or above windows. If it is not cleaned, it will become larger and more noticeable. Even though cleaning ceilings is quite a boring task, it is necessary to clean them regularly to prevent dirt from becoming habitual.
If you have not paid attention to the grease deposits above the stove for a long time, then forget about the uniform color of the ceiling - it is very difficult to get rid of this dirt without damaging the emulsion layer. Due to the ease of application and use, it is also easy to damage.
Peculiarities
Ceilings seem to be relatively clean and less dirty surfaces, because no one stands on them, no objects are hung here, no one walks on them, no scattering or spilling liquids, and touching with hands occurs very rarely. But the problem is that emerging stains are extremely difficult to hide, and against a light background they are too noticeable even to the naked eye.
The traditional finishing method - whitewashing - allows you to eliminate accumulated dirt by simply applying a new layer. But modern materials and designs, with all their advantages, do not leave such an opportunity for people. Therefore, the question of how to wash away soot and other contaminants is extremely relevant.
