How To Clean/Remove Nicotine Staining Before Decorating.

[youdontwanttodoitlikethat]

I've already posted this once, but for some reason it disappeared.

My daughter bought a small one bed house at auction. The previous owner was a heavy smoker. Everything in the house is covered in a yellow/brown smoke/nicotine film or staining. Like pub walls used to be years ago.

It needs completely cleaning and decorating. The walls are mainly woodchip and ceilings artex - not combed but the type with little raised points like an iced Xmas cake.

What is the best thing to use to clean the walls, ceiling and painted wood surfaces to remove as much of the staining and so the emulsion/paint sticks properly? After we have cleaned off the emulsioned/painted surfaces, what should we seal them with to stop the stain bleeding through again?

Also, what is best for cleaning other surfaces in the house, eg. radiators, UPVC window frames/doors, light switches - even the outside of the boiler? Everything in the house is discoloured.

Many thanks for any help and advice.

 

[lostinthelight]

google sugar soap

 

[opps]

google sugar soap

Gonna be difficult to sugar soap the stippled artex though.

I'd apply a stain blocker, eg Zinsser BIN. There are speciality emulsions that will deal with the likes of smoke damage and nicotine but they are realllly expensive.

 

[youdontwanttodoitlikethat]

Thanks for your replies, really appreciated.

I could probably wipe or mop over the stipled artex ceilings with sugar soap, but would this damage it?

With Zinser stain blocker, do I need to get as much of the nicotine film/coating off before applying, or can it just go straight onto walls and ceilings? Do I also use Zinser s/b on the gloss painted woodwork?

And can I also use sugar soap on other surfaces to clean, eg. rads, UPVC frames, etc?

 

[opps]

I don't think mopping the ceiling will damage it, but it will be messy.

Provided that the nicotine on the ceiling isn't so bad that it comes off when you rub your fingernail over it, it should be fine to paint the Zinsser directly.

The walls and woodwork- just use sugar soap (no Zinsser, it ain't cheap).

UPVC- you can use a UPVC cream

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-upvc-cleaner-1ltr/86575#product_additional_details_container