Home renovation can be a fun experience, especially painting your walls. However, that is not the case while cleaning distemper stains from the floor. In many Indian homes, distemper paints are used for painting the walls because they prove to be a cheaper and more durable alternative. The glue used in these paints has high adhesive properties and hence, it is extremely difficult to remove the stains from the floors. Further, you should know the right technique to clean the floor. Your floor type may not be able to sustain all types of cleaning methods. Mentioned below are a few tips and techniques to get rid of these paint splatters from the floor:
Consider your safety before cleaning the floor
You must ensure your safety before cleaning the distemper stains. This is because many paints often contain substances that are corrosive in nature. They can cause irritation to your eyes, skin, or nose. Experts suggest not handling the distempers with bare hands. You must always wear rubber gloves used during home renovation while scrapping or mopping the floor. In case you are sensitive to chemical fumes, you must keep a respirator handy.
Your home interior idea also determines the cleaning process. You must know about the material used for flooring before getting started. Many materials will get damaged if you use the wrong cleaning method. For instance, while marble and granite are quite resilient to professional-grade cleaning solutions, they get scratched if you scrub the surface with a steel scrubber. Hence, you will require a plastic or fiber scrubber to clean this type of material. On other hand, wooden flooring cannot sustain strong acid-based or bleach-based products. Using them can discolour or damage your floor permanently. Hence, you have to be careful while cleaning distempers from the floor.
For removing distemper stains from the floor, there are two ideas for your home interiors. You can either opt for buying professional-grade solutions or making homemade remedies for cleaning them. However, many professionals suggest using both methods for the best results. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1
- Soak a piece of cloth in the paint remover solution. Make sure to check beforehand that it will not damage the flooring material.
- Now apply the solution to the stains in sufficient amounts.
- Gently rub the spatters so that the paint stains in the grooves slowly start dissolving.
- Now, continue rubbing with the piece of cloth applying some pressure on it for a few minutes.
- Leave it for some time to allow the paint remover to slowly dissolve the paint.
- You can check the label of the paint remover solution for instructions.
Step 2
- Stains stuck in grooves and pits might be harder to get rid of. Use a scrubber to clean those areas.
- You should only scrub when you cannot get rid of the paint stains after rubbing them with a piece of cloth and the paint removal solution.
- The scrubber will help to get rid of the stains faster.
- However, be careful while choosing a scrubber as many materials like steel will scratch the floor.
- The scratches will further allow dirt to collect.
Step 3
- After rubbing or scrubbing the floor, wipe it with a clean and dry piece of cloth.
- If you still notice the mixture of loose paint and the paint remover, wipe it clean using a soap or detergent.
Step 4
- This step is necessary when the stains do not come off completely using the paint remover.
- Use warm vinegar to clean the floor.
- This is a quick and easy solution but requires more effort while rubbing the floor.
- Further, it helps to neutralize any alkaline that was present in the paint remover.
- The only problem with this method is that your floor might smell like vinegar for some time. Hence, it is best suited for small areas.
Step 5
- Once you get rid of all the stains, you must clean the area properly.
- Use a dry piece of cloth to wipe off any liquid present on the floor. If you leave it on the floor, it may cause someone to slip and fall.
Although cleaning the stains after your home renovation may seem like a difficult task, it is actually quite easy. You just need to know the correct process and techniques required for cleaning the floor.
