Trisodium phosphate is a powerful cleaner and degreaser. It's ideal for cleaning dirt, fingerprints and grease from walls. If you plan to paint your walls, trisodium phosphate is a good choice for thoroughly cleaning the walls so the fresh paint sticks properly.
To clean walls with TSP, mix the powder into a bucket of warm water until it's completely dissolved (be sure to wear rubber gloves and goggles for protection). Dip a sponge into the TSP solution and use it to wipe down walls. Rinse the surface with clear water and let dry before painting.
Mix water and dish soap
Now that the dust is wiped away, it's time to wash walls. Fill one bucket with a gallon of warm water and mix clear liquid hand or dish soap and water in the other. Soak a cloth in the solution, and wring it out well.
Standard TSP must be rinsed away with clean water. Depending on how dirty the surface is, several rinses may be necessary. As a general rule, if the water in the rinse bucket is dirty, it is worth your effort to rinse the wall again with clean water. No-rinse TSP is fairly new invention.
To cut the gloss on an entire wall, wash it down with a strong solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP), available at hardware or paint stores. Mix the TSP powder into hot water until no more will dissolve. Swab it on the wall, and sponge it dry. Rinse with clear water, then sponge dry again.
Damage to certain surfaces: Avoid cleaning with TSP in the bathroom; it can damage metal, ceramic tile, grout, and glass. And as discussed above, it's not suitable for painted surfaces.
Because it's such a mild cleaner, dish soap is an ideal first line of attack for dirty walls. A mixture of 1 ounce of your favorite dish detergent per gallon of warm water removes general dirt from most surfaces as well as smudges from walls with a gloss or semi-gloss finish.
Latex-based paint responds very well to vinegar or dish detergent. Add just a few drops of dish detergent or a few tablespoons of vinegar to approximately half a bucket of water. Once these solutions have been mixed together, use a soft sponge to gently remove dirt and grime from your walls.
Washing your walls and trim will remove grime, cobwebs, dust and stains that can prevent your paint from adhering. Use a mixture of lukewarm water and mild soap, gently rubbing in a circular motion. Rinse your walls using a slightly damp cellulose sponge.
The best use of TSP is for emergency cleaning -- for example, removing soot from a fire -- or to prepare your walls for a fresh coat of paint.
The most accessible way to dispose of TSP in the home would be to pour it down the toilet so it gets treated properly. This is even safe on septic systems. Never dispose of used degreasing rinsates like TSP into lakes, streams, storm drains, or open bodies of water.
The best way to clean walls painted with latex paint is to use warm water and a nonabrasive all-purpose cleaner. Dip a clean sponge in the water, then wring it dry. Gently rub the wall. Pay special attention to areas that get touched often, such as around doorknobs and light switches.
For most painted walls, warm water and dishwashing detergent will work well, but if your walls need more substantial washing, add one cup of white vinegar to a bucket of warm water. Vinegar will not be harmful to the paint on the walls, so do not worry when applying how to clean the stain on the wall with vinegar.
No matter what type of paint you have on your wall, fill the bucket about halfway and never use more than a couple drops of dish detergent. Some alternatives: castile soap instead of dish detergent, a microfiber cloth instead of a sponge, and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush for hard-to-reach places.
Steps For An Expert Clean
Add about ¼ cup of your favorite Pine-Sol® scent to a gallon of water. Dip a sponge, rag or cloth in the mixture and wring out until it's lightly damp. Then, start wiping down the walls from top to bottom, using Pine-Sol® at its full strength on stubborn marks.
You can use Clorox wipes on some walls. However, it's important to test a small inconspicuous area first. Clorox wipes can only be used on non-porous surfaces, so whether it's safe to use them on your wall will depend on the wall's finish. If your paint is considered "washable," you can use a Clorox wipe for cleaning.
TSP and bleach are non-reactive. This means you can add up to 1 cup of bleach per gallon of TSP solution, for moderate infestations. Be aware that this will only remove mold and stains on the surface. Heavy deposits or growths will require an additional step.
Vinegar is an excellent solution for natural from trisodium phosphate cleaners. It is a superb wall degreaser suitable for cleaning cabinets before painting. This process is relatively easy and efficient. You need to mix an equal amount of water and white vinegar.
Wait Before Painting Walls After Cleaning
What is this? You don't want to attempt a fresh coat of paint while the walls are still wet. After your first coat of paint, wait an additional 24 hours before adding another one.
Soak a soft cloth in warm water and then thoroughly squeeze it out. Put a small bead of mild soap on your cloth and work it up into a few small patches of suds. Using circular motions and working from top to bottom, rub the plaster wall with the soapy cloth. Thoroughly rinse the cloth in warm water and ring dry again.
In a bucket, mix 1 gallon of water with 1/8 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP). Carefully apply this cleaner to the brick and only the brick. Using a brush, scrub the bricks clean. Rinse with warm water.
Another widely used concrete cleaner is trisodium phosphate (TSP). It is alkaline, so it will not harm your concrete, but it is alkaline enough to cause skin irritation and even burns.
Trisodium phosphate has been used by painters for years and years as a heavy duty degreaser and all purpose cleaner. TSP is formulated for removing Grease, soot,and lead paint dust cleanup. A washing of surfaces prior to painting helps insure a good clean "bite" for the finish coats of paint.