View Full Version : Removing soot from ceiling and walls
I am washing down the ceilings and walls of the house and there is soot all over them(caused by a broken heater which was pumping soot into the house) I tried using citrus degreaser but its just not doing the job. Someone advised me to use TSP trisodium phosphate said it works incredibly. I looked for it but was unable to find it at lowes, home depot only one small bottle was available and it was premixed. I found the powder in 5 lb. tubs available online... has anyone used this stuff before?
Also what type of tools should I use to clean the walls? I was using rags and a mop just wondering if theres a better method??
Jim FL
07-31-2007, 09:55 PM
I am washing down the ceilings and walls of the house and there is soot all over them(caused by a broken heater which was pumping soot into the house) I tried using citrus degreaser but its just not doing the job. Someone advised me to use TSP trisodium phosphate said it works incredibly. I looked for it but was unable to find it at lowes, home depot only one small bottle was available and it was premixed. I found the powder in 5 lb. tubs available online... has anyone used this stuff before?
Also what type of tools should I use to clean the walls? I was using rags and a mop just wondering if theres a better method??
Air,
We just took back a house with a fireplace, where the tenant was also a heavy smoker.
Lot's of nice stains on the painted walls, and the brick around the fireplace.
Brick of course, we cleaned with acid, looks like new now.
For the walls, my cleaning lady used 'magic erasers'.
My wife uses those at our home.
The thing is, they sell them in packs of 3 or 4 in the cleaning isle at the grocery.
But, check the automotive section, where they sell larger ones (for car cleaning), with more to a pack, and cheaper.
They are really the same thing.
These cleaned off the soot, for the most part.
Then, we just primed and re-painted.
My two cents, keep the change,
Jim FL
red46
07-31-2007, 09:57 PM
I don't have any expertise in smoke or soot damage but I sure have an idea. I'd so be using a sponge mop, for one thing. ha Try a little vinegar on a sponge to test a spot. See what that does.
Dan Auito
07-31-2007, 11:44 PM
If it's a thin dry soot as opposed to any oils, then try loading up your spray gun with Kilz primer white and just cover it.
I've done that and it certainly saved the day and went like clockwork.
yeah I think im gonna hit every room with the TSP and then just use KILZ and paint.... thanks for the advice guys! I will try the magic erasers around the bad parts near the heater vents. Oh yeah I dont have a spray gun...think I should invest in one? I thought you cant use them inside??? How much does a descent one cost?
brianb_cobbres
08-01-2007, 01:43 AM
You can spray the inside if the place is empty, and yes it is worth the investment if you plan on doing a couple houses. Makes painting doors a snap.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100069365
http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImage/518ed3ba-87e4-49c5-816b-09b52cbdd239_300.jpg
Dan Auito
08-01-2007, 04:45 AM
Sherwin Williams paint stores sell some fine outfits for around $350.00 out the door.
Randy (SELA)
08-01-2007, 01:05 PM
Clean it the best you can and prime with Kilz original, not Kilz 2.
Debbie
08-01-2007, 11:20 PM
Sherwin Williams paint stores sell some fine outfits for around $350.00 out the door.
Or, $50.00 per day. Our SW store let us have it for 3 days weekend for $100.00. Turned out we only needed it for one day.
Debbie you beat me to my next question...I was just at lowes and I ran into one of my buddies-he recommended I rent one from home depot only 50 a day. So I got to thinking hmmm...thats not bad but if I plan on doing this again in 3 months to another house isn't smarter to just purchase one.
brianb_cobbres
08-02-2007, 12:44 AM
It really depends on what you can afford. If you have the money and are sure you are going to use it then go for it. If you are not sure then rent one this time and try it out. You can always buy one later. There are people that prefer to roll and brush.
Also, you cannot always use a sprayer or wont want to such as when the house it fully carpeted or when its very windy outside.
Debbie
08-02-2007, 02:33 AM
Debbie you beat me to my next question...I was just at lowes and I ran into one of my buddies-he recommended I rent one from home depot only 50 a day. So I got to thinking hmmm...thats not bad but if I plan on doing this again in 3 months to another house isn't smarter to just purchase one.
It really depends on what you can afford. If you have the money and are sure you are going to use it then go for it. If you are not sure then rent one this time and try it out. You can always buy one later. There are people that prefer to roll and brush.
Also, you cannot always use a sprayer or wont want to such as when the house it fully carpeted or when its very windy outside.
Well, Brian beat me to answering to your question.
Home Desperate? Hmmmm.....not sure I would rent sprayer from them. I've heard plenty of complaints. I'd stick with Sherwin Williams for renting sprayer unless we have reason to use multiple times. If that's the case, we'd buy the sprayer that Brian recommended.
Randy (SELA)
08-02-2007, 12:36 PM
If you will be painting the entire house inside and out, buy. If you're just doing a few rooms, rent.
how much time does it save compared to rolling and brushing?
Debbie
08-02-2007, 01:53 PM
how much time does it save compared to rolling and brushing?
This is where we're experienced on our rental properties and our new house....
For the last 7 years, we painted and rolled on our rental properties, using primer and color. That means for one whole property (interior)--one whole weekend plus one or two evenings.
Using a sprayer for primer on our new (whole) house--less than 2 hours
Guess how long it'd take us to paint color via sprayer?
BTW---using sprayer, be sure to cover your whole body. I thought I covered myself well. I had no choice but to discard my clothes and underwear! At least, I covered my hair well.
brianb_cobbres
08-02-2007, 03:15 PM
how much time does it save compared to rolling and brushing?
how much time does it save compared to rolling and brushing?
In the right situation is can save you hours and hours of work but it also saves you physically. It is much easier on the body to spray over brush and roll.
One more big, biggie is how much easier it is to paint unusually shaped things like doors, trim, and shutters. You can also use some sprayers for stains and wood treatments but read the instructions before you try.
Examples -
Door - 4 doors at a time taken outside to the spray area. literally 5 minutes per coat to do all 4 doors, let dry, second coat, let dry and rehang.
Shutters - Plastic ones from my own house. Popped em off, spread out on tarp. Took maybe 20 minutes for coat to do 19 individual shutters
Trim - Spread out full strips on tarp. Prime and paint in not time 500 feet at a time.
Water Sealant - Sprayed all basement wall in 2000 sf basement in less than 20 minutes
The finish is much better on these types of items ever could be with roller and brush.
OHHHH BABY-- Im getting excited, im leaning towards buying a spray gun. The only thing I am thinking about is painting inside with hardwood floors I have to cover, windows, trim, etc What is the best way to cover these things. I was picturing taping plastic sheeting around windows taping tarps over floors.... how much time does it save compared to rolling and brushing?
In the right situation is can save you hours and hours of work but it also saves you physically. It is much easier on the body to spray over brush and roll.
One more big, biggie is how much easier it is to paint unusually shaped things like doors, trim, and shutters. You can also use some sprayers for stains and wood treatments but read the instructions before you try.
Examples -
Door - 4 doors at a time taken outside to the spray area. literally 5 minutes per coat to do all 4 doors, let dry, second coat, let dry and rehang.
Shutters - Plastic ones from my own house. Popped em off, spread out on tarp. Took maybe 20 minutes for coat to do 19 individual shutters
Trim - Spread out full strips on tarp. Prime and paint in not time 500 feet at a time.
Water Sealant - Sprayed all basement wall in 2000 sf basement in less than 20 minutes
The finish is much better on these types of items ever could be with roller and brush.
brianb_cobbres
08-02-2007, 10:50 PM
That is exactly a case where you have to decide if it would be easier to roll or spray.
You can buy rolls for paper from both Lowes and HD that is you can put down on the floor to cover the hardwood. You should probably have it down anyway so it does not get scratched and dirty while you are working on the house. Or, film guard plastic sheeting on carpeting. That is the stuff that actually sticks to the carpet to make it easier to walk
Windows. Another decision. It may actually easier to just spray the windows, glass and all, then go back and scrape the glass later. Depends on the type of windows, etc....
A pro painter will use a spray shield rather than taping this off. You can get a shield in the paint department. It looks like a snow shovel but is plastic and light enough you can use it with one hand while spraying with the other.
Oh, I should add that a sprayer is the only way to go if you are painting out cabinets. Nice smooth finish and you will be done in a fraction of the time.
Debbie
08-03-2007, 01:10 AM
Windows. Another decision. It may actually easier to just spray the windows, glass and all, then go back and scrape the glass later. Depends on the type of windows, etc....
We did that recently. I didn't want to spend the extra time scraping the windows so I taped newspapers onto the glass windows. Worked like a charm!
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