Taking care of your home is an important part of creating an inviting, comfortable living space. That includes maintaining the interior paint of your home. Wear and stains are inevitable, but with a little pro-active attention and care, your interior paint will stay looking fresh longer.

How to maintain the paints of your home

A professional interior paint job can do wonders for showcasing your personal style and making your home a special, comfortable space for you and your loved ones. So it’s no surprise that most homeowners want their interior paint job to last for as long as possible. Luckily, there are several things you can do to extend the longevity of a new paint job. Following these simple interior paint care tips will keep your home’s walls looking fresh for years.

Use High-Quality Exterior House Paint

First and foremost, always go with high-quality paint products for your projects. While premium paints are more expensive, they will save you time and money in the long run due to their increased durability. This isn’t to say that superior paints are immune to fading, of course — every type of paint loses some of its color over time, especially when constantly exposed to direct sunlight. Still, quality paint products feature stronger compositions and therefore withstand various environmental pressures better than their counterparts. If you’re trying to prevent paint fading, don’t cut corners in this department.

Opt for UV-Resistant Products

Speaking of paint types, many paint products also offer special features for specific purposes. Some paints, for instance, contain additives to prevent and kill mold/mildew, other products are made for waterproofing, and other varieties help keep pests at bay. To prevent fading due to harsh sunlight, you’ll want to choose exterior paint products specifically designed to resist UV rays. UV-resistant paints (also called fade-resistant paints) and topcoats have reflective properties that cause the sun’s rays to bounce off the surface. As such, surfaces that feature UV-resistant coatings remain cooler and retain their color longer.

Wash Your Exterior Surfaces Periodically

While we’re discussing exterior maintenance, it’s important to thoroughly clean your exterior at least once a year. Doing so will remove dirt, dust, debris, and other contaminants that are tarnishing your paint job and may begin to eat away at your exterior. Moreover, a well-maintained paint job is less prone to fading than a dirty, neglected one. If you don’t have access to a pressure washer or feel confident operating one yourself, hire professional pressure washing services to tackle this important project for you.

Interior paintwork maintenance

Majority of paints used on interior walls are washable. This means they can be periodically cleaned with a milk soap water solution. Using a sponge and mild soap solution lightly scrub the areas that have any light stains or marks. Note that very old and stubborn stains are difficult to remove and should not be continually scrubbed hard as this could result in permanent damage to the paint work.

To prevent stubborn stains ensure any stains are cleaned up straight away to prevent drying up and becoming permanent.

Frequent cleaning helps maintain the look of the paint job and it is recommended to clean and wash walls once a month.

Dealing With Mould

Mould thrives in damp and wet environments. Homeowners should buy special paints that avoid mould growth in warm and humid areas such as bathrooms and basements. If you discover a mould or mildew-infested wall, inspect the infected area to ascertain the extent of the infestation. If the area is big, you will need to hire a professional to clean it. Get three no-obligation painter quotes to know more. Don’t attempt to do this yourself, as you might end up aggravating the problem.

Avoiding Rot

Paint does more than just add colour to your house. It slows the deterioration and corrosion of the surfaces. If you have repainted the house yourself without prior experience, there is a high chance you might have missed a few places. Make sure that the undersides of corner boards are completely painted. It is recommended that you inspect the tops, bottoms, and backs of wood shutters to confirm that they are painted. If you don’t paint the bottom, it will accumulate water and rot the board.