How do you prep walls before painting? ie cleaning, primer, wallpaper, and such?

Question

I just moved into a new (really old) house that looks as if it hasn't been painted in 30 years or so. The walls are filthy!!!!!! I've tried many things, but can't really get the filth off.
How can I clean them? (in detail)
How clean do they need to be before I apply primer?
I have peeling on my doors, how do I remove this?
I also have peeling wallpaper, how do I remove this? Do I need to remove all of it?
Thanks : )

Answer 1

TSP trisodium phosphate will clean the walls, follow the instructions. Do not use if you have recently used ammonia on the walls. The walls should be free of grease and dust. You might need to lightly sand walls if they are oil based paint.
Peeling doors scrape and sand. Use power sander if you want to get to the bare wood. You might find wonderful oak doors that you will not want to paint.
Wall paper, If you are going to paint the walls, you will want to remove all of it. Peel off lose paper and moisten walls to see if the paper is "dry" strip-able. Use putty knife and be careful not to gouge the walls. Heat gun will also work to loosen glue.
Good luck. Sounds like you will be busy for a few months.

Answer 2

use long handled sponge mops and DIF to both clean and take paper off but, you'll need Patience's. Leave the DIF on once, go all the way around the second time then the third time it should start coming off. start pulling the paper off, don't let it on the floor, it'll stick, put it in bags or toss it out.
Wear masks and gloves for the dust so you don't get sick. If you have allergies be careful. My Pa mixed his primer with water, made it thin, try it for first coat and spray it on. Rent a Wagner sprayer, the best way, then the second coat primer put it on full strength. Let it dry good.
If it's bad when done, spray the woodwork too, what the heck, we did and it looks good this way, new look. Do try to leave the wall paper if it won't come off, see what happens. we were in the business for many years, sometimes it works. Good luck.

One problem Honey, you do have to clean good, Hire someone they don't charge that much.

Answer 3

You need to remove wallpaper with a wallpaper remover spray (DIF) you can buy at home depot. Clean the walls with TSP solution with warm water, before primer. The peeling doors need to be scraped and sanded. Then prime before painting

Answer 4

tsp is the BEST. It comes in a white plastic gallon type container that states clearly that it is TSP. It is found with paint supplies at hardware and paint stores. What it does is not only cleans your walls, but makes it so that the paint sticks. You will not get a beading effect if you use it correctly. It can make the difference between a poor paint job and a great one. Be sure and wear gloves when using it, and have more than one big CLEAN sponge.

Answer 5

I had found myself in the same position buying this old house. There is a trade-off too, 1st is it all outside drywall. I would remove the old drywall and put in more insulation, make all the studs plum & square and install new drywall. The best thing I've ever done, now after 15 years.