The Secrets of Pro Painters

Surface Prep

Preparing the Surfaces
Find, then fix, cracks and dents. Use painter's putty or a lightweight spackle for minor patches. Next, do the sanding two-step. Sanding not only feathers out chipped paint but also provides "tooth" for the next coat of paint. For glossy trim, use a sanding sponge rather than sandpaper. Finally, unless you like textured walls, don't paint over dust. Wash the walls with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a mild cleaner, like Jasco's TSP No-Rinse Substitute. For smoke-stained walls, Toto uses a 50/50 solution of bleach and water.