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The Best Way To Prep Your Doors To Ensure A Perfect Paint Job
By SANDY BAKER
Painting a door covered in dirt, grime, or oils can lead to color distortions, bumps, and issues with paint adhesion, potentially causing the paint to chip, crack, or peel away.
Thus, to ensure a perfect paint job, it's crucial to thoroughly clean the door's surface with sugar soap — a mild yet effective cleaning agent that doesn't actually contain sugar.
To prep your door, remove it from the hinges and lay it flat, which will make it easier to clean. Then, mix sugar soap with warm water to make a solution for cleaning the door.
Next, scrub the entire door with a sponge soaked in the sugar soap mixture, using a circular motion and some pressure to effectively loosen and remove dirt from the door.
Once the door is thoroughly cleaned, rinse it with clean, warm water to remove any soap residue, and allow it to dry completely before painting. Make sure you treat the edges, too.
You may need to repeat the process if the door's paint finish is not in perfect condition. Also, sugar soap can cause skin and eye irritation and breathing issues in some people.
Hence, wear goggles, gloves, and a mask during the process. If sugar soap isn't available, combine 10 parts water to every 1 part washing soda to create a solution for your doors.