Need expert painter advice - I let TSP dry on the walls

This was in my kitchen nook, not my garage, but y'all are so knowable, I am sure someone here will know the answer.

Through a combination of my lack of experience with TSP and very inadequate instructions on the box, I let TSP dry on the walls for around 30-60 minutes before rinsing the walls with water. I was not aware the TSP had to be immediately washed off. I looked around on the internet for the consequences of this mistake, but the only thing I could find was an "ehow" website that said letting TSP dry on the walls will make it even harder for paint to stick.

The walls are currently covered in a cheap coat of oil based paint (previous owner) and the trim/beadboard is covered in a 8 month-old oil based Kilz. I washed everything with a TSP solution first and then went back 30-60 minutes later and sprayed everything down with water from a spray bottle and wiped down with a cotton rag. I plan on eventually coating everything with 1 coat of 123 Zinnser latex primer (hence the TSP) and then 2 coats of SW latex.

What should I do to ensure that the new paint sticks? I was already thinking of sanding everything with 150 grit, but I will definitely do that now. Any other suggested steps because of my primer mishap?

Have you tried washing with more TSP? Maybe do a small test spot.

Leaflessshadetree said:

Have you tried washing with more TSP? Maybe do a small test spot.

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You think adding more TSP to the walls will help offset the TSP from before?


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And spraying it with water and wiping it down with a wet cloth wouldn't have done that? It has to be soaked with TSP again?


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Washing with TSP dissolves dirt, grease etc but it also etches to a degree. You rinse while its still wet because the dirt/etched paint is in suspension. Left to dry, the contaminates are still there, also depending on how much TSP used might leave a powder residue. But you said you rinsed-if the re-wetting was enough to redissolve TSP & dirt your good-hard to say from here.

Unless walls were really dirty or greasy, a simple rinse top to bottom would be good. Id use a bucket & large sponge, rinsing the sponge often, bucket water will tell you. Since your using a primer, walls wouldn't be so critical, but sanding anything thats going to see contact, door frames, base board, high contact areas, sanding is the best for adhesion. Especially latex over oil. 220 production paper (grey) would be better for surfaceing- 150 probabably burn thru the old paint.

JimmyTheMonkey said:

You think adding more TSP to the walls will help offset the TSP from before?


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Click to expand...

I think it's worth a try. Lots of cleaners will "dissolve" their own residue. Try a weak solution on a small area. It won't make your situation worse.

I left tsp on once caused really bad adhesion. Didn't know any better. It does come off nicely after drying with bleach and water followed by a water rinse.

You can rinse off TSP, even if it dried it will rinse off easily.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I ended up rinsing the walls again this morning and I think I'm in the clear. I sprayed the walls with water and agitated with a sponge. I then went over with a wet towel and rinsed again. The bucket water was light blue each time I emptied it, the color of the sponge. Bucket water was dark brown when I rinsed last night. I think all is well now!

Thanks for the help everyone! I will post on this thread again if the paint ever fails so people know in the future.


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