The quality of a paint job depends on a perfectly clean surface. The surface may not need sanding and stripping, but it must be clean.
Using a powerful degreaser, like TSP Trisodium Phosphate, to clean and etch the surface is strongly recommended. For the last several decades, professional painters have used this product to remove dirt, grease, mildew, and soap scum from both interior and exterior surfaces.
- This chemical deglosses shiny surfaces, providing “tooth” so the next layer of paint can stick.
- It can also be used to clean and soften hardened paint brushes.
Safety First – Handling TSP Correctly
TSP Trisodium Phosphate is a strong cleaner. It can cause irritation and even burns if it is used incorrectly. The following recommendations will reduce your risk of injury.
- Wear rubber gloves, safety goggles, and long sleeves when working with trisodium phosphate.
- Avoid letting the chemical touch bare skin or eyes.
- If skin contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
- Discontinue use if redness, prolonged irritation, blistering, or pain occurs.
- If eye contact occurs, flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes. Seek immediate medical attention.
- If ingested, DO NOT induce vomiting. Drink a glass of water or milk. Seek immediate medical attention.
Protect Surfaces You Aren’t Painting
It’s also important to protect household surfaces from TSP splashes. Painted surfaces, finished wood, and metals can be discolored or de-glossed by TSP. Be sure to mask off anything you don’t want to get damaged.
TSP Trisodium Phosphate Mixing Instructions
For most applications, a solution of 1/4 cup trisodium phosphate per gallon of very warm water is appropriate.
For very dirty or greasy surfaces (such as kitchen cabinets), increase the ratio to 1/2 cup TSP per gallon of water.
There are extra-strength or no-rinse formulas. If using one of these types of TSP, read the package directions. The proportions may be different from those given above.
Using the TSP Trisodium Phosphate to Prepare Paint Surfaces
Hand-Washing with TSP
To hand-wash the surface, use a sponge to apply the warm solution. Dip the sponge in the TSP Trisodium Phosphate solution. Wring it out until the sponge is damp.
Always wash the wall from the bottom up. It reduces streaking. Allow the solution to sit on the wall for two minutes to soften deposits, then scrub, also working from the bottom up.
Heavy buildup may require a nylon scrub pad. Avoid scrubbing the wall with anything that could damage the surface.
Rinse the surface thoroughly. Any residue could prevent the paint from adhering to the wall and waste your efforts to prepare the surface for painting.
Power Washing with TSP
Outside, TSP can be used to wash siding, fences, and masonry. Apply the TSP Trisodium Phosphate cleaning solution with a pressure washer or garden sprayer.
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. It isn’t as strong as the original TSP, but it is well-suited for lightly soiled surfaces and general-purpose cleaning. It requires no rinsing when mixed as directed.
182 Responses
Can I use TSP to clean my paint brushes?
Yes, it should work fine. I would use the no-rinse TSP, liquid in a plastic bottle at your local hardware store. The powder is very caustic. Make sure to wear some chemical gloves. Plus, only use TSP on latex brushes not natural bristle (oil base) brushes.
What is the half life of a TSP mixture? Does it degrade quickly or can I mix and just keep handy in a spray bottle?
I don’t think there is any shelf life for TSP. It might settle out if kept in a spray bottle but a quick shake should take care of it. Non-rinse TSP liquid is a good alternative to the powder.
I just want to clean my kitchen cabinets of 15 years of grease and grime WITHOUT painting. Our late 1990’s honey oak cabinets are something like Schrock or KraftMaid and have a satin type finish. Will “no rinse” TSP be a good degreaser?
Yes, no rinse TSP will work but mix it weak. Too concentrated it can degloss surfaces. You might need to experiment a bit to get the right mix ratio to clean well without causing any damage.
Is TSP effective deglosser for vinyl wallpaper (old layer) before I apply new wallpapaer? I do not want to remove the old wallpaper.
Could be, worth trying. A strong solution of TSP can degloss painted surfaces and cause discoloration on metals, aluminum. It probably would degloss wallpaper.
If I didn’t rinse the TSP off with enough water, would sanding after help remove any leftover TSP residue?
Sanding would remove some residue but you should just rinse with warm water then sand.
Can I use TSP to just wash painted walls and not need to repaint them? We had lots of smoke in our house from leaving a pan with food and it smoked. We rewashed everything and the smell is still there. Will this help?
It can help. Don’t use at high strength, to concentrated it will degloss or etch the surface. You will need to play with the mixed concentration to find one that cleans well without causing harm.
What about renting an ozone machine to remove or neutralize odors?
Could help but washing first will remove excessive compounds, smoke soot. Then use the ozone to finish the job.
Can I fill the holes in wall with spackle, sand then wash with tsp before painting.
Washing could remove the applied spackle. Wash first then do the repairs.
Hi I am prepping a 4by4 non sealed clay colored floor from the fifties
Prior to applying primer and porch paint …
Should I use TSP powder or liquid?
Good idea but rinsing will be critical. If the floor absorbs the TSP you need to make sure to remove as much as possible, a film of TSP could interfere with primer/paint adhesion.
Two questions: How do you recommend washing the TSP residue off the walls before painting? And should I spackle and sand before or after applying TSP? First time painter here. Thanks!
Do repairs after the washing, spackling. Remove any TSP residue with fresh water. All your doing is rinsing the walls. A clean sponge mop could be used, if you have fairly smooth walls, otherwise a clean sponge or cloth and fresh water.
Once cleaning with TSP can you wait a couple of days to paint? Also, would rain affect the cleaned surface? Is it ok to paint once dry or should you reapply TSP?
Waiting is fine and reapplying or additional cleaning isn’t needed. Rain shouldn’t affect the surface once cleaned.
Concrete floor in my converted garage has no real oil spots, but many years of mystery-stains (paint etc)
I’ve got the Concrete Paint and the Concrete Floor Primer but I can’t use the recommended Concrete etch (muriatic acid, hydrocloric acid, etc. products) because it’s impossible to protect the building structure from that acid cutting the base of the walls and the anchor bolts.
What should I use? I’m thinking ammonia. It will be VERY hard to rinse TSP from a 24 foot square area with sufficient water.
You could use no-rinse TSP. It could be applied with a mop and scrubbed with a push broom to help get things clean. A little rinsing is still a good idea but the same mop can be used.
There are also citrus acid based cleaners that do a good job with etching concrete and removing oily stains. These cleaners can also be applied and rinsed with a mop.
I’m considering using a TSP/bleach mixture to clean the exterior of my home with a pressure washer, however, I’ve read varying opinions as to whether the use of TSP is safe on a painted surface. In this case I have painted brick and trim. This is only for cleaning, no plans to re-paint. Is it ok to use the mixture in this manner? Thank you!
If the TSP mixture is too strong it will dull the paint surface, possible cause damage. Same with the bleach. You could use a “no-rinse” type (liquid) or go with a good house wash like Simple Green House Wash. These are injectable into a pressure washer.
I have touched up some areas on my wall with same color paint. Only problem is new paint is high gloss. Both old and new paints are oil based. Will TSP dull the sheen of oil paint? How should I apply it? Should I scrub or just let soak?
Thanx!
I don’t think these spots can be perfectly blended by any means. TSP can dull some finishes but its primary function is cleaning. You could try a liquid deglosser, can be found at your local hardware or paint store. You could try rubbing some on with a clean rag and see what happens.
Hi, we just bought a house from a previous smoker who smoked for 5 years in the house. I washed the first room with a TSP solution of 150ml mixed with 4 Litres of water. However when I went to rinse with fresh water I found it very difficult to rinse all of the solution off with a mop and sponge… i spent a lot of time trying to rinse it all off! Is there an easier solution? It was exhausting, also can using the TSP solution on walls cause any side effects? Lightheaded etc. Thank you so much!
This is a lot of work. You could try a ‘no-rinse’ TSP solution, it’s a liquid concentrate. Try a half strength solution to start and see how it goes.
I’m not aware of any side effects except strong solutions can cause chemical burns on sensitive skin. Working really hard with lots of bending can definitely cause problems. Make sure your physically fit for this work and hire out if you notice anything.
If you don’t want to do too much cleaning then you could prime with a good stain blocking primer then repaint. Shellac primer works the best but many oil based primers also do a good job. Water based primers will lift the nicotine off the wall and might need repriming to properly seal before painting.
None of the stores where I live carry a no rinse solution otherwise I would be all over that! I tried lesser amount of solution and it made no difference. Do you happen to know if by chance if there was a little solution left on the walls that I could not fully wipe off, will this ruin my priming and painting job?
Should be fine. A good way to find out is apply a little primer somewhere and do a scratch test with your fingernail. Use a quality acrylic bonding primer, a small part of a wall is fine, allow to dry overnight then test. All primers take a while to cure, 2 weeks or more, but a decent bond will occur in 24 hours.
I’m planning to use TSP and bleach on a portion of my asphalt shingle roof to remove streaking. Should the solution be sprayed on with a tank sprayer and left for a while before rinsing off? To your knowledge, will this discolor the roof?
Yes, apply with a tank sprayer. I don’t think it will hurt the roof but sample on a small inconspicuous area first before committing to the entire roof.
To remove nicotine stains would I wash ceiling first or walls first or does it matter?
It doesn’t really matter but generally start at the top and work your way down. Example, ceiling first then walls.
Is TSP safe to use on ceramic tiled floors? I am trying to remove a greasy slippery residue from another cleaner.
Yes it is safe. Could require extensive rinsing if to concentrated.
Help, I used “curveball” degreaser that has butyl as an ingredient, to wash a painted three season porch floor. I then painted the floor and it remains sticky after two weeks. I realize now that I did not rinse off the product enough before painting. This is my question: Would it help to use TSP to try to neutralize and remove the paint and curveball? I am at odds. This is a rental unit that I need to turnover. Any help would be appreciated.
You might have to strip and repaint. Washing with TSP probably won’t do much but is worth a try. I would recommend trying a wood deck stripper applied with a brush and roller. Test these possibilities on a small section of floor before committing to the whole project.
Hello. I am trying to refinish a hardwood floor that was sealed in the 1950’s. After I have swabbed the TSP solution on, how long should I let it sit before removing it? Thanks!
Just a few minutes should be enough time. Don’t over apply as the water can warp the wood. If you plan on doing extensive sanding then a major washing isn’t needed.
After I have washed the walls with TSP and rinsed the wall off, how long should I let the wall dry before I start painting? I live in a dry climate in Denver. Thank you
A couple hours is fine. Make sure the corners are dry. If dry to the touch then you can paint.
Can I use TSP to clean decorative plaster moldings in a very old house?
Yes, as long as the molding are painted or fully sealed. Test on a small area before committing to the entire project.
I am prepping trim on outside of house.. Is there a way not to degloss the siding ..without taping off?
Or is there a product like soap that I could spray on siding first so the tsp doesn’t effect it?
Instead of using TSP use a mild house wash. Simple Green house wash is a good choice. The goal is a clean surface, deglossing usually isn’t necessary with acrylic over acrylic paint.
I used TSP to clean my front door before painting it. The front door turned out great although I didn’t realize it would remove the finish from my door handle. It there anything I can use to bring back the gloss or shine back to the way it was before? Thanks!
I used a 2nd coating of sealer stain on a newly sanded deck, should have only used one coating. It didn’t penetrate and is built up on the surface. I was told to use either mineral spirits and a towel or powdered TIDE, scrub with a brush, let it sit on top for 10-20 mins, then wash off w a hose. Since TSP is a degreaser, would it work? In what application?
Don’t worry too much about the second coat. It is possible some areas could peel but most will be fine. It will fade over time like normal. It is doubtful you can fully remove the second coat without causing some damage to the first coat. If you want to remove the second layer of deck stain then TSP would help. Use a half cup to about 2-3 gallons of warm-hot water (mix well to dissolve), apply with a mop, scrubbing with a push broom will help. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse well.
I am painting a door and used the powder tsp to clean it after stripping and sanding. I did not rinse it off though. Do I need to resend before applying the latex primer? The door is an art project and will eventually be painted with acrylic and sealed with a clear polyurethane.
You should first rinse off the door with clean warm water before priming. It is possible the door has a residue of TSP. Allow the door to dry before applying primer.
What will TSP do to acrylic/plexiglass sheeting?
A TSP solution could etch acrylic sheeting, cause fine scratched or fogging of the surface. Test a small area as see what it does.
Can you use if pregnant? Also if we have already spackled the walls will that matter?
Don’t know about using while pregnant but it can cause skin irritation and it will wash off some of your unsealed patching compound.
How long should u wait to paint after I cleaned fireplace in my house with tsp? I was thinking a few hours
Just a few hours. Give it a chance to dry before priming or painting.
I have a brand new aluminum awning which is painted glossy white. I need to paint to match trim on house. Would TSP degloss enough to allow primer/paint to stick?
It will help. Go ahead and wash then when dry prime with a good acrylic bonding primer. Check with your local paint store for available suitable primers.
I washed painted walls with TSP to prepare for painting. I ran out of time to rinse and it has now been over 24 hours since washing so has dried by now. Does that make a difference in rinsing? How will I know if it is fully rinsed? Thank you!
You can rinse at any time. Use warm water and a clean cloth, you might have to rinse twice. Depending on the strength of the TSP/Water mix you should notice the wall surface is very slick when wet, you can feel the soapiness.
My walls are painted with a slightly glossy paint it’s too shiny for me if I use this on it will it dull the gloss, which is how I want it, or ruin it ??
TSP might dull the sheen but it won’t be consistent. Better to purchase and apply a new coat of paint with the correct or desired sheen, like a satin or matt.
My husband used TSP cleaner with water to clean our vanity. He then used two coats of primer and two coats of paint. He did not rinse it before applying the primer / paint. I don’t care if it comes off at this point. We can always redo it but I am concerned that it could cause harm since it was never rinsed. I have two small children so I’m a little worried about this. Is this dangerous? Will the layers of paint protect from the cleaner? Help!
The TSP has caustic properties when added to water so no worries at this point. The only problem is the soap film could interfere with the paints ability to stick causing peeling.
We want to paint our light oak kitchen cabinets white. Is sanding enough prep work, or should we also wash with TSP. The paint we are going to use is a 2 step process. Thank you.
Washing is always the best start, removes contamination before it can be ground into the surface through sanding. Wash – Sand – Prime – then apply the paint.
We just moved into an apartment that has extremely nicotine stained walls and ceilings, also in the bathroom there is mold above the shower. We are going to use TSP to clean every painted surface. I have 2 questions… What is the best way to apply the TSP mixture to the walls and ceilings? Also, in the bathroom is it safe to add bleach or vinegar to the mixture to kill the mold?
Yes, bleach can be added to TSP/water. Apply with a sponge mop or by hand with a rag.
I am about to clean my concrete floor with tsp, how long do I have to wait for it before I can lay tile?
overnight should be fine. Use a fan if you live in a humid area.
You always recommend warm water to rinse. If tsp is used to clean exterior wood siding (mixed with warm water and applied with a scrub pad), can it be rinsed off with a garden hose with a pressure nozzle (cold water)? Also: if tsp is not rinsed off properly when would peeling start to occur with new coat of paint? Thank you–very informative posts!
The powdered TSP has to be mixed with very warm or hot water to dissolve but once applied any water can be used to rinse off the residue. So, a garden hose is fine.
You could also use use the liquid ‘No-Rise’ solutions on the market. Although not as strong as regular TSP they still do a good job cleaning. Plus they can be injected into a pressure washer. Same for most house washed on the market.
It is important to rise off any soap residue prior to painting. This could interfere with paint adhesion. Possible peeling could take a few months. Best to do a good rinsing and not deal with this possibility.
We recently peeled off the old wallpaper in a basement bedroom only to discover that the previous owners had applied it directly to the drywall. It doesn’t look like they plastered or even primed the walls at all. We used a DIY remover of fabric softener and hot water to get the paper off. Is TSP the best option to get the residual paper, softener, and glue off? It’s safe to apply to drywall? There is some damage to areas of the drywall, where some of the drywall paper started coming up as well. I assume I need to avoid those spots. After it’s clean, just rinse well and then prime? Most likely we will be applying plaster after we finally get the walls prepped.
A mild cleaner would work better. Simple Green or similar would be fine. Rinse as well as possible without causing additional damage. Allow to dry then prime to seal it up before repairing.
I am cleaning up a condo that had a tenant that smoked and the upstairs resident smokes. I am renting an ozone machine for the weekend. Am hoping to paint, and wondered if I should sand walls before ozone? Or can I use TSP instead of sanding?
A good cleaning is all that is needed. You can use either powdered TSP (the strongest) or “no rinse” TSP. Both should work well for you.
What should the tsp be mixed in? Would a plastic bottle be OK? And how thick of gloves do I need to handle a regular or slightly weaker solution? I’m washing walls prior to painting.
Plastic pail or bottle is fine. Make sure to use hot water so powder dissolves completely. Regular household rubber or latex gloves is fine.
Is there an alternate to tsp to use? I plan to paint four rooms on the lower level of a house with heavy woodstove use. The paneling is thin and not glossy. 1970 cheap paneling. Can i use pine-sol or vinegar instead or just oil based primer followed by latex flat paint?
Any cleaner/soap will work but will require rinsing, maybe extensive depending on what is used. Instead of standard TSP (powder) use the no-rinse liquid TSP instead, available at your local hardware. Use according to directions and no extensive rinsing required.
Priming is still needed over most types of paneling.
Will it clean bath/shower ceramic tile and grout? This is a 60 year old house. The tile is originally a light green, but has yellowed from smoke etc. that is hard to clean. Should I use TSP or some other cleaner. I don’t want to damage the ceramic tile.
TSP is a strong cleaner so should do a good job with the tile and grout plus it shouldn’t harm anything.
Im a first time painter and I was told to washed down my dresser set I plan to paint with TSP. So I did so, Then reading the prep directions on the oil-based primer it says specifically not to use TSP for cleaning the surface before applying this product. Now I’m trying to find out how to completely remove the TSP off of the dressers?? I have looked everywhere trying to find out what to do and I can’t find anything explaining how to reverse the TSP solution or completely clean the surface??? Please help!!
Wipe off with warn water. Might have to rinse more than once to remove any residual soapy film.
I used powdered tsp in warm water to wash my walls which were nicotine stained. I didn’t rinse with clean water after and don’t plan to paint the walls. After reading comments here about rinsing I’m concerned about residual toxicity. I used a 20-1 ratio. Should I be concerned? Also, I have a glossy vinyl door frame. Can I use tsp to clean it?
Don’t be concerned. TSP is caustic not toxic and only at high concentrations. TSP on vinyl is fine.
I am thinking of buying a house but the cabinets and walls have heavy urine splash by a cat. Do you think that TSP non rinse can get rid the odor and stain? Please advise best instructions to use ?
Thank you
It will help but you might have to use a pet stain/odor product as well.
I am in the prepping stages of painting an older double wide mobile home. Since I am trying to tackle this myself, small sections at a time could be doable. However my question is , how long of a time between cleaning with the TSP and actually painting would be allowable? My first thought would be to clean the entire home first, or on second thought , maybe I should clean just one side first then paint, and then move on to the next side? Because of physical and time constraints this could take me awhile! Lol. Also do you start on the bottom and work up and rinse?
You can wait 2-3 weeks to paint after a good cleaning. Plus, if your home isn’t overly dirty you could use a commercial house wash, like Simple Green house wash. They do a good job and easier to use.
If needed you can wash a side at a time then paint. And always wash from the top down. If you can, use an injectable pressure washer for best results. It doesn’t take a lot of pressure so a small unit if fine.
I washed wood paneling at church so that we could paint it. I didn’t realize the TSP needed to be rinsed. I did this several days ago. Is it too late to go back and rinse before we paint the paneling or do you think the solution soaked in to the paneling and now we need to sand it?
Go ahead and rinse with warm water. Could take a little extra effort at this point.
We want to paint the interior of our garage. It is bare wallboard that has never been painted. The garage is almost 5 years old. Should we wash it with liquid tsp before painting? Can we use a pressure washer on a low setting? Thanks!
No need to wash with any soap. At most a damp rag or sponge mop to remove dust. Primer will be needed to seal up the surface and stop any stains from coming through the paint. Use an oil base stain blocking primer, like Kilz or Cover Stain, for very “dirty” stained surfaces or use an acrylic stain blocking primer if the walls and ceiling aren’t bad.
Do not pressure wash the unpainted walls. Very bad things will happen.
Can TSP be used on painted exterior block walls to remove effervescence? Will it harm the lantana planted in the immediate area?
TSP can be used but is harmful to plants. Use a mild house wash instead, Simple Green House Wash.
I am going to clean my gutters, down spouts, and soffit with tsp before painting. Will any run off cause streaking on my brick?
Some streaking might be possible. Make sure to rinse thoroughly, lots of fresh water. An alternative is to use a milder house wash, such as Simple Green House Wash.
All instructions refer to using TSP on walls. Any suggestions or recommendations if using TSP to prep a ceiling? Any concerns about streaking or patchiness?
Basically the same just more physically demanding. Use a sponge mop with a roller pole other long pole to make this easier. Using a no-rince TSP would be good as well.
Streaking is always a concern if you don’t plan on repainting the ceiling. Additional rincing might be needed to reduce streaking.
I see from the comments and answers that rinsing is a very important part of the process. However I don’t get much of an idea of how serious a rinsing is needed, as in, dripping splashing water all over vs. passing a dampish mop or sponge. Obviously when doing this in a house it becomes a big chore if I have to don my “scaphander” bell suit before proceeding. Could you elaborate on this?
Thank you.
Depends on the strength of the mix used, how much TSP powder per gallon warm/hot water. The idea is to get any residual soap scum off the surface. General cleaning, mild mix, 1 good rinse should do it.
No need to be sloppy with the rinse water. Use old towels at the base of walls to catch any water.
An alternative to using the powder is to use a liquid TSP instead, aka No-Rince TSP. For general “mild” cleaning rinsing not required. Jasco Tsp No Rinse Substitute Cleaner is the one we use for most cleaning these days.
I’m a first time user of TSP and going to use it on my indoor brick fireplace to prep it before priming and painting. I bought powder and no-rinse but not sure which one I should go with. I know brick is porous. Can I still use? And if I choose to go with the powder, how do you rinse it inside?
Use the no rinse type and do a little rinsing anyway to help pull some cleaner out of the pores. If you use the powder you will need to rinse using a hand sprayer with fresh water. A real pain so use the no rinse type.
I am about to prep some 1970s aluminum siding to be painted. The current condition of the paint is very chalky, so I was going to scrub it with a TSP/bleach/water solution before painting. For environmental reasons (and because I don’t have a power washer), I would prefer to use a no-rinse TSP substitute. Will a TSP substitute work as well as regular TSP for paint adhesion? Or at least, will it work well enough? Also, do you dispose of your left over TSP solution in a special way to keep excess phosphates out of the environment?
Yes, the no-rinse TSP will work well. You can also one of the dedicated house wash products on the market, Simple Green make a good one. Unfortunately, there is no way to dispose of TSP that doesn’t effect the environment. It’s best to try a more environmentally friendly product first before going with such a strong cleanser.
Can anyone help me with the removal of tsp residue from windows please.
Use a 50-50 mix of warm or hot water and white vinegar.
i’m repainting my house’s outside walls, which are overlapping boards, with some silicone beading at the bottom of the boards. will tsp eat away at the silicone beading? also, i’m going to replace some of the old silicone beading with new silicone beading: should I do this before or after using tsp to clean the walls?
100% silicone caulking is not paintable. It will have to be removed prior to recaulking and painting.
So I have a question, I washed my bed set with tsp. Didn’t realize I needed to rinse. Waited for it to be dry to the touch then applied a thin coat of Zinsser 123. What do I do now? Can I rinse now and then apply second coat of Zinsser? Or do I have to scrape or sand it down. Fyi: the bed is very detailed and has a lot of hard to get at areas. I used 1/2 cup to 1 gallon of water.
Did you use the powder TSP or liquid? The liquid form should be fine but the powder must be rinsed.
How is the primer sticking? Test the adhesion with your fingernail. Is it easily scratched off down to the original surface? Check several places.
If the primer isn’t adhered well then it will have to be removed, re-clean and rinse, then reapply the primer. Rinsing now wouldn’t do any good. For detailed areas you can use a small brass wire brush, paint stripper might help.
Check adhesion first before committing to any plan of action.
I have a solid wood table with six chairs given to me but they were stored in a garage where the owner would smoke. It smells highly of nicotine now even with months of airing it out. I now have the time to actually take care of it and knew that TSP would probably be my best bet to get that odor out. So a few things: I have no idea what kind of finish is on top of the table, the legs and chairs are painted with a black paint, and the under side of the table is unfinished. I plan to sand and refinish and coat the table to eliminate the risk of nicotine smells. How do I go about cleaning all this with TSP? Is it okay to clean with TSP on the underside since it is unfinished wood? I know that can absorb the most amount of nicotine but wasn’t sure how else to clean it other than seal it with something. The black paint on the legs and chairs came like that so do I clean with TSP and then sand them down or do I clean with TSP before and after sanding? Sorry if that’s a silly question. I really want to restore this table to its former glory without the smell as best as I can. Thanks!
Use a no-rinse liquid TSP, available at most hardware stores.
Using a scrubbing pad will help plus go ahead and rinse with fresh warm water and clean rags. You will notice the rinse water getting a bit yellow, this is the nicotine. You might need to wash more than once.
Wash the underside if possible. Flipping the table over can help. After it dries shellac BIN or oil based Kilz can be applied, this applies for the entire table. Primer, Kilz or BIN, can be applied after sanding, which is after washing.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the reply! How long should I let it sit before rinsing it off? Is it bad if I use the powder kind rather than the no rinse liquid version? That’s what was available at my hardware store and so that’s what I got. I assumed if I did a light wash over and quick rinse it wouldn’t pose too much damage.
The powdered kind is fine, this is the “real” stuff and must be rinsed well. Allow the solution to sit on the surface for just a few seconds, don’t allow it to dry on the surface, then rinse well.
I wouldn’t wash the underside with the powered TSP, unfinished areas. Would be hard to get the soap out.
I just bought a house that was painted with a primer only and never painted afterward. Previous owner lived there four years, smoked, and had cats. Is tsp OK to clean the walls before painting. Theres plenty of info on how to clean a wall, but I can’t find much about how to clean a primed wall before painting
Yes it is, in most cases, but use a milder type like no-rinse tsp.
Hi there! Another question, my dining table chairs were originally made with a smooth black paint all over except for the seated part which has a finish over the wood. This applies to the legs of the table as well – same smooth black paint while the table top has a wood finish. I already cleaned everything but now I am wondering what to do about the areas that have black paint? Should I sand and then use an oil based primer or water based? I am trying to make sure no old nicotine smells come through so that’s an important factor. And after priming do I just paint over that with a certain type of black paint? What would I even be looking for as far as that goes? I don’t want it to look cheap or tacky based on the paint I pick out. And all after that I suppose I should get a top coat of some sort since it is a high traffic area. Sorry for the long response. Thanks!
Lightly sand the black paint, use a contour sanding sponge (very thin sponge with grit on 1 side) or sandpaper. Remove the dust, vacuum and damp cloth or sponge. Now prime with an oil base primer, Kilz or Cover Stain are available in spray cans at most hardware stores, apply several thin coats. Once dry the primer can be lightly sanded is needed then painted. Any good paint can be used including spray cans, whatever color you want, water based or oil based.
There are lots of good paints on the market, including spray cans. Something with a sheen, satin or semi-gloss, will be good. I like Benjamin Moore Advance for furniture, cabinetry and wood trim. Not sure about what’s available in spray cans.
In trying to remove cigarette odor, nicotine and tar stains from plaster walls in a 40 year old home. I so very appreciate the information I received from this site regarding the use of TSP cleaner on cigar, nicotine, and tar stains along with the cigarette odor.
I spoke to several fire remediation companies who recommended many different options, but the common theme to get rid of the cigaret odor I was going to need to put in some time and money.
1) Clean everything (the walls, the doors, the windows, the ceilings, the floors)
2) Prepare to paint anything that cannot be replaced
3) Ozone shock or Hydroxyl each room
4) Double seal it with Shellac (BIN 1-2-3 or Zinnser odor seal)
5) Repaint
Here’s what works.
No-Rinse concentrated TSP…. ASTERISK HERE*
*The recommended 4 to 1 ratio does very little in terms of making the cleaning easy. Find a testing spot (inside the closet?) make several test mix ratios — each more potent. After three attempts I decided full strength didn’t tear off the finish but cleaned best. Three wipes of full strength, with a rinse after each wipe, and the wall was pretty close to white.
After accepting it wasn’t going to be an easy fix I tried to do it cheaper unfortunately cheaper doesn’t work. Follow the procedure in order to get rid of the odor.
I just bought a 13 year old house with honey oak cabinets and plan to gel stain the cabinets dark brown, the cabinets are very grimey with lots of corners. Do you suggest the no rinse formula for this application,? I will have rinse some to remove a lot of the grime. I don’t want to damage the wood.
No-rinse will work fine but you will want to wash more than once and rinse anyway. Using an old tooth brush helps with corner and tight hard to reach areas. Try not to overly wet the wood or you might wind up warping the wood.
Using clean dry rags or old towels to quickly remove the water/soap as your washing helps.
The main reason why I recommend no-rinse TSP is it’s easier to find and use. The powder form of TSP, mixed with hot water, works better but it is harsh on your skin (wear gloves).
After washing and good dry-time you will need to do some sanding to knock down the raised wood grain caused by the washing.
Took ceiling down in room that had water damage from leaking roof. Can I use powder TSP mixture to kill mold/mildew on rafters without rinsing? It is a 2F carpeted room.
TSP will be useful in removing some mold but won’t kill it all. You will need to apply some bleach/water or other mold-mildew killer. Using a small garden sprayer could be useful for large areas.
I have a hardwood floor I want to put liquid sander deglosser on before I add a fresh coat of polyurethane . The floor does not have buildup as I never waxed it but has not had anything done to it in 20 years except washing with water. Should I wash with TSP before using the deglosser?
TSP would be good. Also a light scuffing with a sander or floor buffer will be helpful. Vacuum and wipe off the dust then wipe down with the deglosser.
Can I use TSP to clean grease off a textured ceiling in the Kitchen before painting
Yes, make sure to rinse well and allow to dry before painting.
We are painting the exterior of our house which has painted cedar shake siding. Areas of the house have a chalky opaque look and TSP has been recommended. I purchased TSP no rinse concentrate. Do you think this is the right product for us or is there something else we should use.
Yes, this is perfect. The easiest TSP to use for sure. Products like Simple Green House Wash also work well. Even though is says “no rinse” go ahead and rinse well anyways, make sure there is no chalky residue left behind.
bought a house filled with smokers and who knows what else. I double primed all the walls and ceilings with water based pro block. ceilings painted with flat white latex no problem, walls the paint isn’t holding onto the primer in a lot of spots. can I use tsp on walls that have been primed already and if so which product would work best?
Reprime the unpainted walls with another primer. Maybe Zinsser 123 or Cover Stain to improve adhesion. Test a wall with another primer before proceeding with the whole project. It’s also possible this is a paint problem and not the primer. Consult with the manufacture or paint store for additional information.
i am about to paint the garage floor and i washed the concert with TSP that came with the kit and after drying it came out chalky is it OK to paint.
A little chalkyness is fine. If you think it is excessive then rinse again with hot water and a clean mop or floor squeegee.
I read that TSP would clean wallpaper before painting. Then I read that it would actually take the wallpaper off. Which is it? Should I use something else to clean the wallpaper?
It could loosen the wallpaper. Depends of the type of paper and glue used. Instead of regular full strength TSP use the liquid no-rinse TSP; Use just enough to get the job done without stripping the paper, at a reduced mix ratio.
Is it possible to use TSP on a painted stone building and then lime wash it?
TSP is for washing so it can be used. The lime washing will be a challenge it will need sealing so it doesn’t wash off. You could look for an exterior stain that has a similar color/effect as the lime wash, this would need to be applied over your current paint base color. Good luck.
1. Will TSP remove some bad grout sealer which was applied to a new tile floor? The handyman didn’t follow the instructions (wipe up the overage with a clean dry cloth), but instead used a damp mop and spread it all over the floor. It has created horrible fumes that affect my lungs (but you can’t smell it). This action probably created some kind of third chemical compound with the ether/polymer in the Miracle Sealants grout sealer. I want it all off without using a VOC chemical.
2. Will TSP clean/cut paint thinner which on clothing and towels? Is it effective in the washing machine that way?
First, if this is messing with your lungs- stop using it!
I have no idea if it will or can remove any grout sealer. From what you described it is doing something but you would need to use a chemical respirator to continue. Generally, removing the residue involves fresh hot water and repeated rinsing. This can be followed up with a dry buff if needed, this more a heavy duty cleaner/degreaser than a stripper.
TSP will help with cutting thinner, but leaving these items outside to dry (evaporate the thinner) then soaking in a TSP solution is a good way to go.
No idea if it can or should be added to a washing machine. I suspect not.
Here’s my problem. I used TSP to clean our floor to ceiling “Angel Stone” fireplace. I believe that the angle stone is an manufactured product that seems similar to sandstone and is quite porous. The TSP was great, it removed the smoke stains around the fireplace opening and cleaned up the rest of fireplace beautifully and it hadn’t been cleaned in 60 years. The fireplace is sparkling clean now, however, there remains a strong odor of TSP. We rinsed with plain water using brushes and drying with cloths while the TSP was still wet on the stone. After drying overnight and the strong odor persisted we rinsed it again using the same method but still the odor remains strong, noticeable as soon as you walk into the house. We may have used a too strong mixture of TSP (perhaps 1/2 cup to 1 gallon water) but it’s done now. Any suggestions on what to do?
At this point let everything dry out, could take a couple days or more. The smell should diminish. If not, apply a clear acrylic masonry sealer, 1 coat brushed. This should seal it up, take care of any smell and keep the fireplace looking good longer plus make it easier to clean in the future.
Hello, we’re in the process of repainting the exterior of our centennial home. We’ve scrapped and sanded the wood siding until none of the old paint is peeling anymore. We’ve also replaced some boards. At this point, Approximately 50% of the surface is now bare wood. When we bought our paint it was recommended to us that we clean the surface with tsp before applying primer and paint, however the tsp packaging doesn’t recommend application on bare wood. We also have a metal roof on our porch which we are worried could be damaged by the tsp rinse run off. Could it suffer some damage from contact with the TSP? Would you still recommend that we clean our surface with tsp before painting at this point? Or would a simple rinse with water be sufficient? If we do clean the surface with TSP, would it be ok to wait a few days before applying the primer and paint? Thanks for your help.
Using TSP at this point isn’t necessary. Just rinse off the dust and prime when dry. I don’t think TSP would harm your roof but no need to find out.
Great! Thanks so much.
can I use tsp in a pressure washer to clean the exterior of my house in the rain?
Maybe, if the washer is protected from the rain. Maybe under a carport or similar. You shouldn’t splash water all over the washer while in use.
I need to clean my garage walls prior to painting. I just installed a brand new epoxy floor with a polyurea top coat. Will TSP damage the floor?
A mild TSP solution will be fine. For a strong solution protect the floor, just in case.
Hey I’ve used TSP to get rid of a smoke smell in my house and I haven’t washed it off enough. My kitchen kinda stinks of the stuff – how do I get rid of the smell?
Thanks 🙂
Repeated rinsing with very warm or hot water. You can also use a mild vinegar water mix, 1 cup vinegar to gallon of hot water, to help cut through any soap scum.
I installed a concrete patio last summer. It was sealed with Quikcrete Cure & Seal (Latex/acrylic). I understand it needs to be removed before I can paint it. Quikcrete says a heavy duty latex paint remover will do the trick. Would TSP do this for me? Thank.
TSP won’t do it. It might etch but won’t remove the sealer. Try one of the more environmentally friendly paint removers on the market. You will need to roll it on, let it sit for a bit then rinse off, maybe with a power washer (shade it possible). This is not an easy thing to do. Be careful as some paint/varnish removers can be quite dangerous or damaging to you, your landscaping and near by surfaces.
I am painting an old white aluminum house that is very chalky, will tsp clean it enough with a powerwasher without having to hand wash anything?( 2 story house hand washing would be very time consuming and difficult in areas), only way I have seemed to clean the chalkyness is by being within 3-4 inches from the siding with powerwasher or hand scrubbing it off, I am a painter but I do not deal with aluminum siding very often..definitely not into hand washing an exterior 2 story house..lol the more I read about tsp the more I worry about this place, they basically turned their whole yard into a garden,I was givin the powder tsp to use, would the simple green clean the chalky off? If I use tsp, Do I still need to be within a few inches of the house to actually clean it? And if I have to be that close to clean it do I have to use tsp? I’ve read I don’t need cleaner with powerwasher because it can cut through the chalk which I have seen it do but I have to be so close and can only clean 4-5 inches at a time, but I’ve also read that water alone won’t clean it so I don’t know..lol
We do these quite often. Wash with Simple Green house wash. 6 inches away should be fine, too close and run the risk of bending the siding. No scrubbing needed. This will get it clean enough. We use E-B EMULSA BOND by Flood, mixed into the first coat to improve the bond with the chalky surface. A quick top coat then trim out like normal. No additional primer needed. We have never had any call backs using the Emula Bond and SW Duration.
TSP powder is fine for some stuff but it isn’t injectable into the power washer, no-rinse TSP can be injected. All of these things have their limits plus the surrounding landscape can be damaged. The Simple Green house wash, Home Depot or Ace should have it if the paint store doesn’t, seems safe for landscaping and pets.
I have a cedar deck that has had Shark Skin water based solid stain over applied to some parts. This has left a sticky tacky resin coat that you can clearly see shining on the surface. Will TSP and a stiff broom take this off? The parts have already had paint thinner and laquer thinner applied which release some but not all.
Possibly and worth a try. You might need to sand off or otherwise remove the sticky stain and apply a new coat to the affected areas.
I’m remodeling a camper. It has the vinyl wallpaper in it with the pressed wood with paper covered cabinets. I’m wanting to paint both surfaces but wanted to be sure I do it correctly before painting. How should I mix it for the walls and cabinets? And rinsing for both surfaces? And I noticed it’s recommended to spackle After applying and rising the tsp… I have already repaired those areas so what will the tsp do to those repairs?? And how to avoid redoing all the work? Thanks
Use the no-rinse liquid TSP, easier to use. Mix about 1/2 bottle per couple gallons of warm water. This is a good general cleaning mix, for heavy grease use a full bottle per gallon of warn water.
Washing could remove the spackle or patching compound. Try carefully cleaning around these areas. After the cleaning, lightly sand with 150 or finer grit sandpaper or sanding block to improve adhesion of the primer and paint. Use a good bonding primer after all repairs are made.
I just had my kitchen and laundry room remodeled with new marmoleum floors and quartz counter tops. Now I need to paint. I’ve always used TSP in the past but I’m very worried even if I mask off I`ll get some on my new floor counter. Will dish soap work with some elbow grease. I read a site where they recommended Dawn dish soap over TSP. I have a 1939 house with a lot of layers of paint and want the semi–glass paint to stick.
Any mild soap will work fine, make sure to rinse well. You can also try the liquid no-rinse TSP, available at most hardware stores. It works well and you have a mild mix or add more for stubborn areas.
I’m wondering why you never recommend using ammonia to degrease. I frequently use it to remove grease , washing woodwork, in laundry for greasy items, prepping wall for painting. It doesn’t seem to need rinsing. When using ammonia I always open windows and doors and use fans to push air away from wok area.
Can you comment?
Ammonia does work, really well. I don’t use it for the smell, TPS in any form is easier on my lungs.
I used the TSP that is in the spray bottle. I applied it to a cloth and cleaned walls. Afterwards I did as it says-took another clean cloth and washed off TSP with water. I painted the room with Duration Sherwin Williams paint. After it was painted 4 days ago, I saw that my child lightly grazed the wall with a toy and paint came clean off. After seeing this with disgust, I can literally scratch all the paint completely off by just scratching it with my fingernails. Can you tell me why this is happening?I just spent a lot off $$$ just the other day having someone put brand new oak baseboard stained trim on too so im pissed to say the least. Feedback is appreciated. Thank you.
It is possible the paint isn’t cured yet, 4 days isn’t mush time. Touch-up the scuff marks and wait for a couple weeks to see if adhesion improves. Humidity has a major effect on the drying and curing of paints, including interior paint. If you live in a humid area or run a humidifier along with/or an air conditioner the paint could be soft for a while.
I have ran older house with lots of terra cotta floor which is greasy and very greasy grout. Will TSP remove the grease on the tile and the grease in the grout?
It should but will take some scrubbing. A floor buffer with a scrubbing pad will be very helpful. Maybe rent something that will make this go faster with less effort. Don’t forget to use hot water and rinse well afterwords.
I’m painting ceiling, walls, and trim in a room that was last done within the last 10 years. The trim and closet doors are currently painted off-white, likely water based. I plan to repaint the trim and closet doors in a pure white color. After washing the trim and closet doors with TSP and rinsing thoroughly, is it necessary to prime? Thank you!
Priming isn’t necessary when painting over acrylic (water based) painted areas. Repairs, like wall patches or sanded wood trim, should be spot primed before painting.
Dark blue house paint has oxidized. I can remove the oxidation with TSP powder/water mix using a sponge with a good hose rinse. Did I read that the powder TSP solution is not suitable for use with a power washer? If so, what is preferable….Simple Green house wash, or no-rinse TSP?
The oxidation is giving the blue paint color a dusty appearance.
Suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you.
Simple Green house wash works good and is injectable with a pressure washer.
Before I bought de-humidifiers the inside of my antique hutch (the bottom half behind closed doors) got white fuzzy mildew. The inside doors are not raw wood but the finish is pretty thin and the inside walls are not finished at all. How should I get rid of the white stuff? Thank you.
If you can wash it that would be good. Just get any surface gunk off. Now treat all surfaces with a mild bleach and water solution, can be spritzed or wiped on with a sponge or cloth. This should kill the mold. If not then a stronger solution is needed.
After the mold is removed a new coat of finish can be applied. Maybe a waterbased acrylic or poly.
Thank you for your quick response. It is a relief to me that the solution is so simple.
I have been asked to clean a house that currently has renters who smoke. I am a bit concerned with the nice wood paneling on the vaulted ceiling that the new owners would like washed off. Would TSP help if the ceiling is not going to be painted afterwards?
Use a no-rinse TSP at half strength to start. Rinsing might still be needed to remove any streaks from the cleaning but this would be the best way to remove smoke residue and preserve the wood.
I want to paint a small bedroom and hallway that are painted with semigloss paint. I bought a eggshell latex paint, and latex primer. Will TSP do enough deglossing so I don’t have to sand the walls?
The washing is plenty to ready the wall for primer and paint. Make sure to rinse well and allow to dry before priming.