Clean, Degrease, and Prepare Surfaces for Paint

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: the walls, trim, and high-touch surfaces identified in the Chapter 1 plan for the same room or practice area, cleaned, degreased where specified, rinsed where required, dried, and inspected, resulting in one documented cleanliness acceptance covering every surface scheduled for later preparation or coating.

B. Cleaner and Method Schedule

Surface Category	Cleaning Method	Rinse Required
Walls / ceilings	Approved general wall cleaner, controlled moisture, clean-to-dirty direction	As specified by the cleaner's product instructions
Kitchen / bath surfaces	Approved degreaser, soft-bristle brush for textured areas	As specified by the degreaser's product instructions
Doors / handrails / high-touch trim	Approved degreaser targeting hand-contact residue	As specified by the degreaser's product instructions
Glossy sound coatings	Compatible cleaner removing wax, polish, silicone, smoke film, or soap film before any sanding begins	As specified by the cleaner's product instructions

C. Documentation Takeoff

• Worksheet: one Cleaning and Inspection Worksheet per room or area, completed in full before cleanliness acceptance is recorded.
• Test areas: the location of every cleaner and degreaser test area recorded before general application.
• Photographs: one photograph minimum of any defect newly visible after cleaning, labeled with its worksheet location entry.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Dust removal	All loose dust removed by HEPA vacuum or dry microfiber method before any wet cleaning begins; no dry-sweeping performed
Test area	Every cleaner and degreaser tested on an inconspicuous area with a recorded, acceptable result before general use
Wash coverage	Every wall surface identified in the Chapter 1 plan washed using the approved cleaner without saturating drywall, wood, joints, cabinets, or electrical boxes
Degrease coverage	Every kitchen, bath, door, handrail, and high-touch trim surface identified in the Chapter 1 plan degreased using the specified product
Rinse	Rinsed where the product requires it, with rinse water or cloths changed frequently until acceptable cleanliness is achieved
Drying	Every cleaned surface allowed to dry fully before the cleanliness check is performed
Cleanliness check	A water-break, wipe, adhesion, or other required check performed and passed on every surface, with failed areas recleaned and rechecked

E. Preparation and Dust Removal

1. Review substrate, contamination, existing coating, cleaner, rinse, ventilation, and disposal requirements. Confirm the Chapter 1 plan identifies the approved cleaner and degreaser for each surface category.
2. Remove loose dust using HEPA vacuuming or a clean microfiber method. Work walls, trim, and ledges before any wet cleaning begins.
3. Do not dry-sweep fine dust. Confirm no dry-sweeping method is used at any point in this chapter.

F. Test Area and Protection

1. Test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area. Apply the approved cleaner to a small, hidden area and observe the result before general use.
2. Protect adjacent finishes and electrical devices. Cover or mask receptacles, switches, and finishes not scheduled for this chapter's cleaning.

G. Wall Washing

1. Wash walls using the approved cleaner and controlled moisture. Apply the cleaner with a sponge or cloth, using only enough moisture to lift dirt without saturating the surface.
2. Work from clean areas toward contaminated areas. Begin in the least soiled section of the wall and move toward the most soiled section.
3. Avoid saturating drywall, wood, joints, cabinets, and electrical boxes. Wring cloths and sponges before applying them to porous or jointed surfaces.

H. Degreasing and Glossy-Surface Cleaning

1. Degrease kitchen, bath, door, handrail, and high-touch trim surfaces using the specified product. Apply the approved degreaser and work it into textured or grooved areas with a soft-bristle brush where needed.
2. Repeat cleaning until rinse cloths or test wipes show acceptable cleanliness. Change cloths as soon as they no longer lift additional residue.
3. Clean glossy surfaces before sanding so contamination is not driven into the coating. Complete this step before any sanding scheduled in Chapter 4 or Chapter 10 begins.
4. Remove wax, polish, silicone residue, smoke film, and soap film only with compatible methods. Confirm the method selected for each contaminant is identified as compatible in the Chapter 1 plan.

I. Rinsing and Drying

1. Rinse surfaces where the cleaner requires it. Follow the product instructions for whether and how rinsing is required.
2. Change rinse water or cloths frequently. Replace rinse water or cloths as soon as they show visible residue or reduced effectiveness.
3. Allow surfaces to dry fully. Do not proceed to inspection until all washed, degreased, and rinsed surfaces are dry to the touch.

J. Inspection, Correction, and Documentation

1. Inspect for residue, streaks, grease, chalk, soap, and water damage. Inspect under normal light and, for surfaces scheduled for a new finish coat, under raking light as well.
2. Perform a water-break, wipe, adhesion, or other cleanliness check where required. Apply the check specified for the surface and cleaner combination and record the result.
3. Reclean failed areas. Repeat washing, degreasing, or rinsing on any area that fails the cleanliness check, then repeat the check.
4. Mark defects that become visible after cleaning. Record any newly visible defect on the worksheet with its location for the Chapter 4 patching plan.
5. Document cleaners, test areas, residue removal, and final acceptance. Complete the Cleaning and Inspection Worksheet in full before releasing the room to Chapter 4.