TL;DR
Clear and protect everything, fill and sand all defects, clean walls with TSP substitute, mask all trim and edges with quality tape, and prime any patches or stains before paint.
Step 1: Clear and protect
- →Remove all wall decor, outlet covers, and light fixture covers.
- →Move furniture to the center and cover with plastic sheeting.
- →Cover floors with rosin paper near the perimeter and plastic in the center.
- →Mask door hardware, hinges, and HVAC vents.
Step 2: Repair and sand
- →Fill all nail holes, dings, and cracks with lightweight spackle.
- →Larger holes (>1 inch) get drywall patches and joint compound.
- →Sand all repairs flush with 220-grit, then dust with a tack cloth.
- →Inspect with a raking light — defects invisible in normal light show up after paint.
Step 3: Clean
- →Wipe walls with a TSP-substitute solution, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
- →Skip this step and the new paint will not bond properly to greasy or smoke-stained surfaces.
Step 4: Mask
- →Use a quality painter's tape (Frog Tape or 3M Blue) on trim, ceilings, and edges.
- →Press the tape edge firmly with a putty knife to prevent paint bleed.
- →Remove tape while paint is still slightly wet for the cleanest edge.
Step 5: Prime
- →All drywall repairs and stains need primer before paint.
- →Use a stain-blocking primer (BIN, Kilz, or Zinsser) for water marks and nicotine.
- →Skip priming patches and you'll see 'flashing' — dull spots where the patch absorbed paint differently.
Common questions.
A skilled painter can cut a sharp line freehand with a quality angled brush, but for DIY, tape is the difference between sharp and amateur edges.
Last updated 2026-01-10← All guides