When we’re talking about home maintenance, one of the most forgotten tasks relates to painting. Everyone thinks of painting as done once the paint is dry, and then having to repaint a couple of years later. But this isn’t the case!

If you want your home to look good for longer, you’ve got to practise good painting maintenance. This keeps the paint in good condition, saving you time and money by reducing how often you need to repaint. 

Keep reading to learn more about how to do this. 

Interior Painting Maintenance

Before getting to the maintenance portion, it’s important to make sure the paint job was done well at the beginning. When interior walls are painted badly, it means there is going to be a lot more maintenance. There’s also a limit to how much maintenance can save the day. 

Follow these tips for painting a wall to make sure you’re starting at a good point. 

Once your wall is in good shape, here are some things to do to maintain it:

Clean Your Walls

Once the final coat has been applied, wait a minimum of two weeks before you start washing the walls. Most interior wall paints are washable, meaning you can use a gentle cleaning solution on them without damaging the paint. 

Using a sponge and a combination of a mild soap and water, gently scrub the walls. If marks aren’t coming off, leave them and rather repaint the area! If you use too much force, you’re more likely to damage the paint than remove the mark. 

Many paint suppliers recommend cleaning the walls every month or so. But most people find this too big of an undertaking, so instead, you can incorporate wall-washing into your seasonal cleaning schedule. But for rooms that are at a higher risk of marks and stains, such as childrens’ bedrooms, it’s best to clean those specific areas more regularly. 

Look Out For Peeling Paint

The purpose of maintenance is to spot problems before they grow. When it comes to paint, this means looking out for peeling, bubbling, or any weird stains. These indicate other problems like mould or water damage. 

Investigate them and contact the relevant professionals to deal with the problem sooner rather than later. 

Be Aware of Sun Damage

If some of your walls are exposed to sunlight more than others, they’re going to lose their shine (and possibly their colour) faster than the other areas. If you want to avoid this, then you’ve got to find ways to divert that sunlight, like putting up curtains. 

Otherwise, you will have to repaint these areas every two years or so to keep them looking as fresh as the other walls. 

Exterior Painting Maintenance

Since exterior paint is exposed to the elements, it’s a good idea to get it done professionally. This means you can rest assured that the paint will look good from the beginning, and all you have to do is maintain it. 

Exterior paint is sturdier, so there’s less work you’ve got to do to maintain it. Once your wall has been professionally painted, here are some things you should do as part of your maintenance:

• Keep an eye out for peeling paint, bubbling, strange stains, and other signs of structural problems. If you find them, contact the relevant contractors immediately before the situation can worsen. 
• Wooden window frames and doors need to be sanded and repainted once a year to keep them looking fresh. 
• Wash your exterior walls once per year (usually best at the beginning of summer) to reduce any dirt and build-up. Note that pressure-washing can damage the paint, so only do that if you’re going to repaint afterwards. Otherwise, use a soft brush and garden hose. 

Keep Your Paint Jobs Looking Good

Painting maintenance is crucial for keeping your walls looking good. Use these tips to make sure your walls look as good as possible for as long as possible, saving you time and money in the long run. 

Hire any of our home pros for your next home improvement project. Experts can make all the difference in turning your house into a home.