Sugar soap is a cleaning agent and can be effective for removing stains, grease, and loose paint flakes. Sugar soap can also rejuvenate painted surfaces but you need to be very careful to avoid removing too much paint or damaging the surface.
Sugar soap does not leave behind the amount of residue that other cleaning products do, but unless it is wiped off, then you will be painting over a chemical cleaning product, which will cause problems with your paint.
To use Sugar Soap, simply dilute it in warm water. Using a sponge, wash the required surface with the soapy liquid. Once the entire area has been washed go over it again with clean fresh warm water, in order to rinse off the sugar soap and remove the remaining dirt or grease.
Sugar soap is great for washing walls, but for a cheaper sugar soap alternative, dishwashing detergent and vinegar do the trick. Put some warm water in a bucket with a squirt or two of dish detergent and a splash of vinegar.
Sugar soap will also not kill mould lurking behind walls, under floorboards or in ceiling cavities. If you're using it in its liquid form you'll need to be very careful to avoid getting power outlets wet or letting it drip onto more delicate surfaces such as furniture and fabrics.
A typical example would be around 150ml of sugar soap to 5 litres of water. But you can add a little more to get a stronger solution for stubborn dirt and grease. (Bear in mind, if you have sensitive skin wear rubber gloves.)
It is not absolutely necessary to rinse of Sugar Soap if you are planning to repaint but in most cases it is good practice to have a bucket of clean water and clean cloth or mop and wipe over the surface after cleaning to remove any residues.
Stick with warm water, or mild soap
Glossy paint: All-purpose cleaner or dish soap and water. White paint: Baking soda and water. Latex paint: Dish soap and water, or vegetable oil-based cleaner. Oil-based paint: White vinegar, or dish soap and water.
Apart from warm water, a sugar soap helps in removing all that grease and dirt so the new coat of paint looks fresh. Cleaning with sugar soaps helps the new paint to stick to the walls without hampering the adhesion.
How to Use Sugar Soap. Simply dilute the liquid or powder in warm water and wipe the affected areas with a cloth or sponge. Then, simply rinse with clean warm water, again, with a clean sponge or cloth. Allow plenty of time for the surface to dry before rubbing down and painting.
North America
The comparable cleaning product in Canada and the US is trisodium phosphate, also known as "TSP".
No matter the surface, it is easiest to always use a good dish soap and water to dilute it for your cleanser. All-purpose cleaner, wood cleaner, and white vinegar are also suitable alternatives. But if you're not sure and you want to be safe, it is best to stick to good old soap and water!
Let the sugar soap sit for a minute, then wipe down with a clean cloth/sponge, leave for a couple hours. Then safe to apply your fresh coat of paint. 1 hour is fine.
Wipe the surfaces down, then rinse the sugar soap off with warm water. Repeat this until you are sure all grime, dirt and dust has been removed.
With fine sandpaper, remove lumps, bumps and any paint flakes. Brush off excess dust and then wash down the walls with Poly Sugar Soap to remove grease and grime. Let the sugar soap dry completely before filling.
Don't use household cleaning agents like hand soap, dishwashing detergent, or glass cleaner on the paint. These aren't formulated for use on a car's paint and may strip off the protective wax. Do use a dedicated car-wash product, which is milder and specifically designed for use on automotive paint.
Professional Painters Usually Don't Wash Walls
Washing cuts into painting time, which cuts into their income, so don't expect your hired painter to wash down your walls unless you agree to pay them more for the service. Better yet, hire a cleaner to do this work, or do the cleaning yourself before the painter arrives.
It's a granulated-looking powder that people use for cleaning walls. So, sugar soap is a powerful chemical that also exists in liquid form, and it's perfect only for cleaning large wall areas, like entire rooms, basements, bathrooms. Sugar soap is essential for cleaning the walls before painting them.
No caustic soda present in the formulation. SUGAR SOAP POWDER CLEANER is not abrasive and will not scratch the surface. Mixing For general household cleaning: Dissolve ½ cup SUGAR SOAP POWDER CLEANER in 5 ℓ hot water. Dab solution onto surface to be cleaned using a cloth or sponge.
Then, using warm clean water, rinse the walls with a damp sponge to remove any excess sugar soap. Make sure you have dry walls before painting.
If the ceiling is flat painted, a quick rub over with 100 grit drywall sandpaper will help to cut through years of dirt and neglect – after all, who washes their ceiling? Follow that with a wash down with sugar soap and water and you're ready to go.
Soap Scum. Remove soap scum with a mixture of sugar soap and water. Spray on glass and bathroom tiles, then wipe off with a wet VIVA® Multi-Purpose Towel.
I would avoid using Sugar Soap on windows. The residue from Sugar Soap if it is not thoroughly removed from glass can become very difficult to get off of the surface. I would stick with a standard glass cleaner for this application.
First and foremost, this product can be quite harsh on certain surfaces, potentially damaging them in the process. While not considered toxic or hazardous by any means, some people may experience skin irritation after coming into contact with sugar soap solution due to its strong alkaline properties.