4 little known facts to maintain your painted walls

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You've dreamed of repainting and finally get the courage to do it. You've done your homework and managed to narrow down the paint selection to a few hundred choices. You've even hired a color professional to narrow the chaos down and help you select THE best paint combo known to man; and the transformation begins. Excited you see your space take shape...*swoon*

Samantha Friedman

The change is amazing, and you can't beleive it took you this long to repaint. And then it happens. You turn the corner from your hallway to see your beautiful wall has been marred by the black scuff monster.

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In panic you grab a rag, papertowel anything you can find to rub it off the wall...and it only makes it worse. YIKES! Now there is a big shiny patch in the middle of your wall the size of Equador.

Wall mainteneance 101-First things first DON'T PANIC!

When a scuff monster has attacked your wall don't attack it with gusto. This will cause the paint to burnish. What does that mean, you ask? Simply put, it means you have stripped off the smoothed out top coat of the original paint. And you have rubbed TOO HARD. To keep walls clean try to remove stains quickly. They will generally come off easier. 

How should you clean them?

Start out with clean water on a nonabrasive rag. If that doesn't work, dip the rag or sponge into a dilution of water and dishwashing soap. For more stubborn cases, you can apply soap directly to your sponge and gently wipe. Keep in mind that the more moisture applied to the wall the softer the paint will become.

There are two types of stains

Oil based and water based. If the stain is a water based stain than a wet cloth with water will do. But generally for oil based stains the dishwashing soap will help break it down.

How to clean Permanent marker

You can try diswashing solution, however the chemical that makes them "permanent" is the same chemical that makes paint permanent. More aggressive solvents like comet on a sponge, or a sponge with an abbrasive side may help. Get as much of the marker off as you can, but most likely, you will need to repaint that section of the stained wall.

Overall scratches and dents on the walls

Most dents can be avoided with furniture bumpers. They can be purchased at big box stores like Home Depot, or I like to buy mine from Rockler woodworking. You can also install chair rails. And remember the glossier the paint, the easier to clean.

Are some paints easier to clean?

All paint manufacturers have paints that are considered more durable. Many on the market today have high-performance finishes that are amazingly easy to clean—you just sponge them off as if you were wiping off a countertop, {instead of experimenting like a mad scientist with water and various solvents that may not work!} Ketchup, food, scuff marks, mud—all just wipe clean. Sherwin Williams has Duration Home, Behr has Premium plus and Benjamin Moore has AquaVelvet; and all are easy-clean products. Each manufacturer has a scrubbale flat or a high-performance eggshell ready to take on your homes dirt and grime. Just ask your local paint supply company and they will be happy to let you know which paint is the best for your lifestyle.  

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What to avoid to prevent painting mistakes
Often times when a consumer takes on the task of painting (in an effort to save money) they rush to the finish line without warming up. What does this do? Causes major cramping, dehydration, and profuse sweating. Ok, not exactly, but without proper preparation the surface can't be prepared correctly. Make sure you:
1) Wipe off your walls, especially around light switches.
2) Remove all cobwebs.
3) Remove grease, lotion, or any smoke residue that can be found on kitchen and bathroom walls. (If walls are not cleaned properly the paint will stick to the above items causing your paint to fail.)
4) Use good tools. Don't skimp on quality brushes and rollers. If you do, they will shed into your paint, giving you unwanted textured walls!

What are some of your painting woes?

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