How To Clean Distemper From Floor

As easy and fun painting is, cleaning distemper from your floors is no fun. Here are 5 easy steps to make this tedious process simple for you.

Distemper paints have been the traditional paint of choice in Indian homes for many years. It’s inexpensive compared to modern formulations and is durable. It is mainly made of glue with high adhesive properties that make it difficult to remove from surfaces such as floors. Depending on the type of material used on the floor there are few professional and home remedies to get rid of these paint splatters from ruining the look of your home’s interiors.

Safety First Before Cleaning Distemper Off

When you clean distemper do note you will be handling substances that can be corrosive to the skin, eye and nose. Hence it is essential to take necessary safety precautions to protect yourself from harm. You will need a pair of rubber gloves, a respirator (optional) if you are sensitive to chemical vapours, a scrubber, a bucket, paint remover, vinegar, a mop and a dry kitchen cloth.

Know Your Floor Before You Clean Distemper

Before getting started, it is important to know how the surface of your floor will tolerate the cleaning process. Materials like marble, granite, vitrified tiles are generally quite resilient to most professional-grade cleaning agents. But may lose their luster and get scratched if you use heavy-duty scrubbers made of steel or sandpaper. Hence plastic or fiber scrubbers are preferred. If you have wooden flooring be sure not to use strong acid-based products or bleach-based products. This will discolour or even permanently damage the wood.

Let’s Take Care Of Business

There are two methods that are popular when it comes to removing distemper stains from floors. One is a homemade solution of warm vinegar and the other is to use professional-grade paint remover which can be brought at your local hardware shop. You can also try both the methods in a two-pronged approach to get the best results.

Step 1

• Take an old cloth and soak it in the paint remover
•  Dab on the area of the floor where you have paint splatters and cover them entirely with copious amounts
• Be generous with the application as this will help dissolve the paint from the pits and grooves in your floor
•  Now continue rubbing it back and forth applying some pressure for a few minutes
•  Allow the paint remover time to dissolve all paint splatters
•  Ideally, it would be best if you referred to the label of the paint remover for best results

Step 2

•  Use a scrubber to remove paint that may be stuck in pores, cracks or groves of your floor
•  This step is needed only if you are not able to get rid of the paint splatters using just the cloth and paint remover
• The scrubbing action will help dislodge paint that may have seeped deep into the flooring
•  Remember to use a scrubber that will not leave scratches on your flooring material
•  Steel wool or sandpaper can leave scratches on tiles that will allow dirt to collect

Step 3

•  Wipe down with a dry cloth the mixture of loose paint and paint remover
• If your cloth gets soaked, use a fresh cloth and continue cleaning
•  After wiping, you can also use soap or detergent to get rid of any excess solvent that may remain

Step 4

•  The last step is optional but can also work just by itself in case of less stubborn stains
•  Using warm vinegar can remove stains without the use of professional-grade paint remover
•  It is not as toxic as paint removers and must get the job done although more elbow grease may be required
•  This is a quick and easy solution for small stains that can be easily removed
• You may additionally do this step after using the paint remover as it helps neutralize any alkaline that was left behind from using the paint remover
• Using vinegar is a cheap alternative but it can leave the space smelling like vinegar and hence is ideal for small areas

Step 5

• Clean all the surfaces with a dry cloth for one last time to get rid of any liquid to avoid slips and falls
• Cleaning paint splatters may seem like a job for the professionals but with the right know how you can get this job done yourself

Hope this helps you to get that sparkling floor back!

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