How To Clean Sanded Wood Before Painting
Using a tack cloth can also confirm that your wood surfaces have been properly sanded.
How to clean sanded wood before painting. Wood dust from sanding will cause problems if its not removed from the surface before staining. Then use a vacuum or blower to get rid of dust from tricky spots. I recommend using water mixed with TSP to clean exterior wood after sanding it and before staining it.
You will need a hand brush to clean the dust. Ensure that all sanding residue is removed by wiping your whole piece down with a damp microfiber cloth. Sanding produces dust which may make it difficult for new paint to stick.
How to Clean Wood Before Painting. It is good to use a shop vac to clean the surface between sanding grits removing the larger grit particles from the wood before sanding with the next higher grit. Dont use paper towels as this will leave behind paper particles that may affect the staining of the wood in the future.
While blowing the dust off with compressed air removes the dust it also mixes it into the air so some of it can settle back onto the surface and so you can breath it. I just use a regular Sherwin Williams 3 sash brush about 12 bucks and at the end of every shellac session I saturate it in the can and then put it in a zip-lock gallon sized freezer bag and stand it up in a clean coffee can. Water spots or stains may also form on the surface.
Sand the wood twice with a medium grit sandpaper 100 to 120-grit and twice with a fine grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections and prepare the surface for stain. These are the same steps as cleaning before painting. Step 2 Mist a lint-free cleaning rag with the spray.
Clean the wood with a damp rag twice which serves to both remove any debris and condition the wood. Instead use a tack cloth a sticky piece of cheesecloth made especially for this purpose. When exposed it will absorb water or the cleaner and warp.