How to Care for Newly Painted Walls

Room makeovers have become a popular option for homeowners. People spend hours choosing just the right colors and designing the perfect room. But after the fun part of painting is completed, the homeowner’s job is just beginning.

In order for those walls to stay in their perfect, pristine state, you must be vigilant in taking care of them. Several easy steps will guarantee their fresh look for years to come.

Use the Right Paint

The first step should actually already be done. When selecting paint, carefully consider the type of paint for the room (high-traffic room vs. low-traffic room). Gloss and semi-gloss are easier to clean, but matte and satin finishes are often preferred in bedrooms and living spaces.

Remember that starting with premium paint on your walls will give you a better value for your money. Premium paint allows for easier cleaning and better touch-ups. Keeping your walls clean and mark-free will create a beautiful backdrop for any room.

Prevent Scuff Marks

The second step is to try to prevent marks and dirt from staining the walls. Chair railing, wainscoting, and baseboards can all help to hide marks or prevent future marks. When hanging artwork, affix a small piece of rolled painter’s tape to the back of the frame. It will keep the frame from shifting and creating scratch marks.

Plus, be careful when moving furniture. Have someone there to guide you and prevent you from bumping into your walls. Paint belongs on your walls, not your new wood table!

While there are techniques for dealing with blemishes on your walls, the best solution is prevention.

Prepare for Touch-Ups

Third, keep touch up paint on hand. Mark the paint can with the date and room and place it in a cool dry environment. If you don’t have any left over from your project, purchase some extra as soon as possible, so you can ensure the color is as close to the original as possible. (Also make sure to purchase the same sheen, as matte and gloss will look very different even in the same color.)

To apply the paint, keep small, clean paint brushes on hand so they are available when needed. Remember that over time, paint color can change slightly and the touch-up might be slightly different than the original color. To minimize the color difference, slightly dab a minimal amount of paint onto the wall (an artist brush works great too).

Washing Your Walls

The fourth step involves learning how to carefully wash your painted walls. Use some warm water with a sponge and gently wipe over the walls and rinse well when finished. Start at the bottom of the walls, and thoroughly wring out the cloth. Water running down walls can create marks, so carefully wash and dry the walls. If water alone doesn’t work, you can try adding some laundry detergent to the mix.

For tough marks, use a small amount of baking soda and rub gently over the stain. Most marks will disappear with a little cleaning and the walls will have a fresh look.

Be careful not to use strong chemicals without diluting them first, as they can change the color of your paint and leave you with a bigger issue than you started with. If you do change the look of your wall, or you can’t remove the stain, you now have the tools to do a touch-up.

Award-Winning Painters Ready to Transform Your Home

When you want peace of mind that you’ve chosen the best quality paint and painters that are second to none, you need the pros at ALLBRiGHT PAINTING. Contact us today at (661) 464-0771 and experience Painting Happiness for yourself.