Maintaining your interior and exterior painted surfaces will keep them looking great from year to year, and it can also extend the life of your paint.
In time, your newly painted surfaces may require some maintenance. Cleaning is vital to preserving the overall beauty and extending the life of the paint. For best results, wait at least two weeks before washing. And always test your cleaning solution and technique in an inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not damage the paint film.
Interior Surfaces
Use a soft cloth or sponge with mild, soapy water to a general-purpose household cleaner. Apply gentle pressure when wiping. Penetrating stains and marks may be removed by carefully using an abrasive cleaner and water or solution of household bleach diluted with water. Rinse with clean water.
Exterior Surfaces
Remove dirt using a soft bristle brush and detergent solution – working in smooth up-and-down or side-to-side motion. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
Cleaning
Dirt in the surrounding environment and the amount and composition of dirt-producing processes in the building in turn influence the amount and nature of dirt found indoors. A rule of thumb is that the glossier and harder the surface is, the easier it will be to clean.
Painted and lacquered surfaces reach their final chemical resistance and durability one month after application. Avoid cleaning during this time.
Test the product beforehand to determine how its surfaces will withstand various cleansing methods. If a chalk-like residue collects on the fingertips when wiped across the surface, then the surface is not suitable for washing. Use dry or damp cleansing methods instead, or repaint the surface.
Maintenance painting is usually carried out with the same or similar type of paint as used before. When cleaning painted and lacquered surfaces, avoid the following:
- concentrated alkali and acidic washing solutions, which soften the surface and affect the gloss and tint qualities
- strong solvents and abrasive scoring agents
- abrasive cleaners
- hot water, and the long-term effects of water
Stains
Remove stains as soon as possible after they occur and before cleaning the entire surface area. Water, neutral or mild alkaline washing solutions (pH 8-10) are often sufficient for removing fresh stains.
Try removing dried and difficult to remove stains with a concentrated washing solution, rinsing the surface thoroughly and allowing to dry. Depending on the source, remove stains from parquet floors with the following substances:
- fruit, berries, juice, milk, coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, and beer: synthetic cleanser
- chocolate, grease, oil, shoe polish, heel scuff marks, tar, and pitch: white spirit
- ink ribbon, duplicating wax, correction fluid, ball-point pens, ink, and lipstick: methylated spirits
Use a cleaning cloth soaked in white spirit to try to remove marker, ink, paint, oil, and grease stains. Wipe the stained spot carefully, as paint surfaces softened by solvents cannot withstand friction and may become damaged. Some stickers and adhesives can be removed by soaking in water or solvents such as methylated spirits. Depending on the adhesive and surface, paint may fracture and peel off unintentionally!
If the sticker is firmly stuck on a non-absorbent oiled surface, use cooking oil to dissolve the adhesive. When stains permeate through wall and ceiling surface paint and cannot be washed off, paint over them with Akrostop, to avoid priming the whole wall or ceiling. Akrostop is suitable “as is” for ceilings and surfaces that are not exposed to dirt, and conceals stains caused by nicotine, soot, marker pens, and water damage.
