Nowadays, lime whitewashing can only be found in old houses that have not been renovated for several decades. And in such rooms, before you start ennobling the walls with new modern finishing materials, it is necessary to remove the whitewash from the walls, since neither paint nor glue will stick to it. How to quickly remove whitewash from the walls and what is needed for this, we will tell in the article.
Preparatory work
Anyone who once did a repair knows that before starting the finishing work, it is necessary to complete difficult rough drafts. For example, remove old wallpaper or tear off tightly glued, all worn linoleum. But one of the hard-to-remove materials is a lime mixture, due to the peculiarities of its composition.
Important! In some cases, whitewashing must be removed, even without the intended repair. You need to quickly remove the whitewash from the walls if you find that:
- The walls are yellow.
- Covered with mold - these microorganisms emit caustic components that cause serious harm to the health of residents.
Choose a method
To remove whitewash from the walls, there are such methods:
- Dry.
- Mechanical.
- Wet.
Getting the room ready for renovation
Each method requires its own tools and its own method of work. Since any method of cleaning walls is dangerous and dusty, it is first necessary to carry out thorough preparatory work:
Before you wash off the whitewash from the walls, prepare your workplace:
- Remove furniture from the room where finishing work will be carried out.
- Cover furniture that cannot be moved with plastic wrap and tape.
- Cover the windows and doors of the room with construction film.
- Cover the floor with a film or other material so as not to look for options for cleaning the floor surface from whitewashing. Secure the film around the perimeter with tape.
- Cover heating radiators with foil, as their ribbed surface is difficult to clean from lime dust.
Protective Measures
Working people in the room need to be secured, so prepare:
- Rubber gloves.
- Special clothing.
- Protective glasses.
- Respirator.
Gathering tools
Each wall cleaning method requires its own tools. In the future, we will consider each method in detail and determine all the disadvantages and advantages, and you will have to choose the most appropriate method for a particular situation.
For dry removal of whitewash by hand (mechanical method), the following tools are needed:
- Metal spatula. The tool must be well sharpened. Spatula length: 6-8 cm.
- Scraper. Find a special scraper designed for this job. On such a tool there is a special box in which all the garbage from the ceilings and walls is collected.
- Metal brush.
Important! This method is suitable if it is not possible to take out all the furniture from the room, or if it is necessary to remove that part of the whitewash that hangs in “cakes”, and continue further work with a grinder.
For dry wall cleaning you will need:
- Sander.
- Large sandpaper (abrasive).
To wash the whitewash off the walls, that is, to remove it using the “wet” technology, you will need the following materials and tools:
- Putty knife.
- Basin for water - you can use both metal and plastic containers.
- Water.
- Sponge.
- Rag.
- Foam roller with long handle.
How to remove whitewash from the walls with a dry method?
The dry method is great if your goal is to quickly remove whitewash from the walls. However, it should be remembered that in the process of such work a lot of dust and dirt is formed.
Important! A grinder will help remove the lime layer quickly, but there should be no furniture or other interior items in the room. Dry whitewash as a result of the operation of the machine will intensively crumble down, especially from the ceiling. Therefore, immediately protect your eyes, hair and body with special clothing, a hat and glasses.
To clean the walls of whitewash in this way, proceed as follows:
- Take the grinder.
- Put a large (largest) sandpaper on it.
- Plug in the tool.
- With smooth rotational movements, walk along the walls and ceiling.
- After removing large pieces of lime, clean the entire surface of the walls and ceiling with sanding movements.
- After completing the work, remove all dirt from the floor, along with the film.
- Wash the floor several times.
You can also remove the lime layer manually if you are not the proud owner of a grinder. There are two options here:
- With a hammer and spatula. Tap the whitewash with a hammer and it will remove itself from the walls. Pry off the layers with a spatula and peel them off.
- With a spatula. Just clean the walls with a spatula and a wire brush. This method is very time consuming and dirty.
Important! As a compromise, combine two dry methods. First, use a hammer and spatula to remove large layers of whitewash from the wall, and then work with a grinder, changing the abrasive paper from coarse to fine.
How to wash whitewash off walls?
Our grandmothers and mothers used the “wet” method of removing the lime layer - with water. This method also has two options:
- Wetting the walls with water.
- Use of a special solution.
Let's consider each option in more detail.
How to clean whitewash walls with water?
To moisten the walls with water, use a foam rubber sponge or an old washcloth.
Important! For more convenient impregnation of walls, use a roller with a long handle.
Proceed as follows:
- Pour into a container of water.
- Dip a sponge or other handy material into the water.
- Wring out the sponge so that the water does not run down your hands.
- Moisten the walls with a sponge so that the lime is saturated with liquid.
- Carry out the moisturizing process several times, as the water is very quickly absorbed into the whitewash.
- For ease of use, take a foam roller with a long handle and moisten the walls, moving from the corners of the room.
- Take a spatula and clean the walls.
- After completing the finishing work, put the room in order.
Important! This method of cleaning the walls is considered the most time-consuming, in addition, it will take a lot of time and effort to put the room in order. But remember that the key to the success of the process directly depends on the quality of impregnation of the walls.
How to remove whitewash from the walls with a special solution?
A special mixture can be purchased at a building supermarket, but we suggest that you prepare the solution yourself. We recommend several recipes for mixtures that will effectively help remove whitewash from the walls.
Recipe #1
Mix in container:
- 3 liters of water.
- 2 tbsp. spoons of ammonia solution (purchase ammonia at a pharmacy and mix with water).
- Soda solution (1 part baking soda to 3 parts water).
- 1 st. a spoonful of 9% vinegar.
- 3 caps of bath foam.
Important! Heat the resulting mixture to 40-50 degrees by pouring 2 liters of hot water into it..
Recipe #2
You will need a 2% hydrochloric acid solution and copper sulfate (1 part). Features of its use to quickly wash off the whitewash from the walls:
- Do not heat the solution, but apply it to the walls with a roller.
- After 20 minutes, remove the whitewash with a spatula or scraper.
- Remove the remains of whitewash with a brush with a metal bristle.
- Wash the walls with a damp cloth.
Important! Do not use a spray bottle to apply the solution, as you may be poisoned by the vapors of the mixture. Protect your hands and eyes with protective equipment so that the acid does not get on the skin and mucous membranes.
Recipe #3
Prepare the soap solution:
- 5 st. spoons of soda.
- 2-3 tbsp. spoons of grated soap.
- 10 liters of water.
Use mortar for wall application.
Recipe #4
Prepare the paste:
- 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons of starch (flour).
- 1 liter of water.
Important! Slowly add hot boiling water to the paste. Apply the finished solution to the wall and let it dry. After that, you can easily clean the walls of whitewash with a spatula.
The use of special preparations
To facilitate the laborious process of washing off the lime mortar, a number of manufacturers produce whitewash removers. For example, QUELYD Dissoucol.
Read the instructions carefully and dilute the chemical in the right proportion. The composition of the drug includes components that allow you to quickly and effectively remove lime mortar.
Important! A bottle with a capacity of 250 ml is enough to treat a room of 50-100 square meters. The product is safe for people.
- It is very easy to remove whitewash from the walls with the help of an adhesive composition. This method is the cheapest and easiest. Take old paper, newspapers, wallpaper residues and apply glue (the cheapest one) on them. Glue the material to the whitewash, but leave the edge of the paper unsmeared. After a while, pull the edge and tear off the paper along with the whitewash. What remains on the surface, remove with a spatula or a special scraper.
- To dampen the walls and ceiling, you can use a spray bottle or an old bottle of window cleaner if you use plain water or a special professional solution.
- Clean off the whitewash until the walls are completely clean. You can check the quality of work in this way: run a damp cloth over the wall, if it becomes dirty, then not all the whitewash has been removed.
- To remove whitewash from the ceiling, purchase special tools that contain glue. When applying the adhesive composition, a crust forms on the surface of the old lime layer, which is easy to remove with a scraper. Special chemical solutions are available in large containers of 3 and 5 liters for ease of use.
- If the wall area is large, then irrigate it in small areas of 3-4 square meters. Apply the liquid and leave - let it absorb. In the meantime, work on the next section. Go back to the previous area and remove the whitewash while the treated surface absorbs the mixture. So act on the entire surface of the wall.
- Along with the spatula, use a special scraper, all debris will be collected in the scraper container.
- After you have completely cleaned the walls of whitewash, take a sanding sheet and go over the surface. If after sanding you notice bumps and dents, then treat the defects with gypsum-based plaster.
- After cleaning the walls and ceiling, use a screwdriver to check the joints between the panels for voids. If necessary, clean the joints and seal the holes with new putty.
- Chalk whitewash is easy to wash off with plain warm water. In the process, you can tap with a hammer on thick layers so that it better lags behind the surface.
- Do not use newspapers to cover the floor, as when in contact with water, they easily swell, tear and let dirt through.
- When using a roller, attach a plastic cover to the roller to prevent water from running into the sleeves.
- During work, try to ventilate the room more often to avoid poisoning with mixture vapors.
- When washing floors after cleaning the walls, add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to a basin of warm water. Throw away the rag with which you wash the floor for the first time, as too much chalk and lime will remain on it.
- You can wash off the whitewash from the floor in the following way: add vegetable oil to the water, at the rate of 100 g of oil per bucket of water. Wash the floor thoroughly with this liquid. In the next container, add any detergent, whiteness, vinegar. Finally, wash the floor with clean water.
- Potassium permanganate can also cope with traces of whitewash on the floor. Add some of it to a bucket of water.
More recently, whitewashing was the main ceiling coating, now various types of coatings are used for this. When making a new repair, in many cases the old whitewash is removed from the surface. Considering that they remove it from the ceiling, it is not very convenient to do this. You should figure out in which cases the whitewash is washed off and in what way it is better to do it.
Features of pollution
When carrying out repair work, great attention is paid to the decoration of the ceiling, because every detail in the interior should emphasize the general idea of \u200b\u200bdesign. The upper part of the room should be in harmony with the overall style of the room.
Not so long ago, only whitewash was used to finish the ceilings., but in modern design, these surfaces have received special attention. Suspended ceilings, plasterboard or polystyrene boards, decorative plaster, different types of wallpaper, painting - this is not a complete list of how you can change the appearance of a room's ceiling and transform it.
In order to prepare the surface for applying paint, wallpapering or other decorative coating, a layer of whitewash is washed off the ceiling. This is easy enough to do, but given that you have to work with the ceiling, the work becomes a little more complicated. It should immediately be announced that whitewash should not always be removed from the surface. For example, this is not done when installing a false ceiling or tension structures. You can also whitewash the ceiling again if the old layer remains in good condition.
Before applying a new layer, the surface is cleaned of contaminants., the ceiling is washed with a wet sponge. When applying a new layer, take into account what the previous layer was whitewashed with - it can be lime or chalk. When applying a new layer, it must be taken into account that chalk should be applied to the chalk whitewash, lime should be applied to the lime.
To determine which layer was earlier, the ceiling is sprayed with water. If water drops hang on the surface, the ceiling has been whitewashed with lime. If the water immediately soaked into the surface, it means that chalk was used to whitewash it.
Be sure to remove whitewash:
- if mold has appeared on the surface;
- it is planned to paint with a water-based emulsion;
- wallpaper will be glued;
- if polystyrene boards are glued to the ceiling.
Dismantling the ceiling trim is an important step. If the white is removed from the surface incorrectly or poorly, then wallpaper, paint or any other type of finish will not hold well.
Materials and tools
It is unlikely that it will be possible to remove the old layer without dust, so you should thoroughly prepare for work. Extra things and furniture, carpets are taken out of the room, curtains are removed. Bulky things or furniture that are difficult to carry out are covered with a film. A polyethylene coating should be laid on the floor; newspapers can also be laid out, which will absorb excess moisture.
There will not be a lot of dirt on the walls during work, they just need to be wiped with a damp cloth. Garbage bags should be prepared in advance to quickly remove old newspapers and film in them after work is completed.
Such work is quite dirty, so it is better to prepare special clothes, put on a scarf or cap on your head. Be sure to wear goggles for protection and use a respirator.
In addition to overalls, you should prepare the tools that will be needed during work.
During work you will need:
- putty knife;
- sponges, rags;
- sprayer for wetting the surface;
- ladder;
- container with water;
- gloves.
If a ladder is not available, a stable table and chair will do, but it is not always safe to use them.
During work, doors and windows should be closed so that lime dust does not penetrate into neighboring rooms through them. Given that this work is very dusty, you should put a wet rag on the threshold so that when you leave the room, the dirt from the shoes is not taken out of the room.
Of course, this is the main list of necessary tools and preparatory work. A more accurate list of them may vary depending on the condition of the surface.
Ways
After the necessary protective equipment, tools and clothing are prepared, excess furniture is removed from the room, the floor is covered from pollution, the main work begins.
Washing of the ceiling is carried out in a dry and wet way. For the dry method of washing, a grinder and a spatula are used. With the wet method, the lime is washed off with water or chemical solutions, home remedies. With the wet method, it is easier to clean the surface, but there will be much more dust in the room, and a lot of dirt on the floor.
The choice of cleaning method depends on what type of whitewash was used earlier. If you run your palm over a surface of chalk, a white mark will remain on your hand, there will be no such trace from lime. Often ceilings are painted with a water-based emulsion. When you run your palm over a painted surface, there will be no trace on your hand.
To make sure that the ceilings are not whitewash, but emulsion paint, you should wet the sponge and rub a small area. In the first case, there will be no obvious traces of paint on the sponge, and the wall will lather a little.
You should dwell in detail on what methods are used to correctly and quickly remove whitewash from the surface.
Wet
Old whitewash is removed with water. This method is used quite often.
The following tools should be prepared for it:
- roller - for such cleaning, a device with an attached tray is used, where garbage immediately gets;
- spray;
- rags, rags;
- putty knife.
If you need to remove the old coating, the ceiling is moistened using a sprayer, and a wet roller is also suitable for this. When applying water to the surface, you need to make sure that it does not drain, so apply it sparingly. After 10-15 minutes, the ceiling is moistened a second time.
Remove the old layer of whitewash from the ceiling with a spatula. If during operation the solution will drain on it, it means that the surface has been wetted very much, you need to wait until the surface dries a little.
It is more convenient to apply water to the walls and ceiling with a spray gun. When working with a roller, you can overdo it and the liquid will drip into your face. Moisten the ceiling evenly so that the whitewash can be removed from the surface in one layer. Often during work, the ceiling is moistened on one part, then they move to another part and continue to work there, during which time the whitewash will be sufficiently saturated with moisture.
Work is done standing on a stepladder. Before starting it, you should make sure that the ladder is stable. It is good if at this time there will be an assistant nearby who will insure that the stepladder does not stagger.
Using a spatula, a thin layer is removed from the ceiling. When all the whitewash is removed from the surface, take a damp sponge to wash away the remaining layer. When the ceiling is dry, check how well the work was done. To do this, hold your palm across the ceiling. If there are no traces of whitewash left on it, then the work was done perfectly.
Sometimes a spatula is not used for this method. With a thin layer of whitewash, it is removed with a wet rag. The most economical option is to wash the surface with plain water. Such cleaning will be the cheapest, although this method will require the use of physical force.
Water is poured into a bucket, rags and brushes are taken and the whitewash is washed off the ceiling. When flushing with water, wash the instrument more often and change the water. To make the work less laborious, it is better to use a warm liquid. It is difficult to wash chalk and whitewash from the ceiling in this way, especially since during operation the chalk solution will always get on the face, and this greatly complicates the work. It is best to use this method on a ceiling with a thin layer of paint.
This method has a drawback - unfortunately, one cannot do without dirt. In addition, it will not be possible to completely remove the entire layer from the surface in this way. As already mentioned, the floor should be covered with plastic wrap or newspapers. This will significantly reduce the time for cleaning the premises after work.
Spatula
To remove white from the ceiling, use a spatula.
For this method, you need to prepare:
- spatulas - 2 pcs, wide and narrow;
- sandpaper;
- rubber mallet;
- vacuum cleaner.
Before starting work, you should inspect the surface. With the help of a rubber mallet, the ceiling is tapped and places with weak adhesion are identified. If there was no rubber hammer at home, you can try to work by tapping the surface with the handle of an ordinary spatula.
Places where the old whitewash is already poorly held are pryed off with a narrow spatula. With a wide spatula, clean the surface, trying not to damage the putty during work. It is much more convenient to work if you put something like a scoop under the spatula, then all the whitewash will remain there, and will not fall down.
This method can be slightly improved. and independently make a device for cleaning the surface. A hole is drilled in the spatula, a wire or braid is passed through it and a bath is hung up, where all the dirt will fall.
At the final stage, using sandpaper, remove residues, clean the surface. Then you can walk with a vacuum cleaner and easily remove dust from the ceiling. After that, the surface should be washed with a damp sponge or brushed.
When working with a spatula, there will be a lot of dirt and dust in the room, so it is important to prepare respiratory protection products in advance.
By special means
You can remove whitewash from walls or ceilings with special tools that are sold at a hardware store.
Working with them is very simple, for this you should:
- spray on the surface;
- when the surface is covered with a crust, the whitewash is removed very easily;
- clean with a spatula.
Using this method, there will be practically no dust, but there will be enough dirt. In order to remove old whitewash, such popular tools as Metylan and Quelyd Dissouco l. With their help, chalk and gypsum whitewash are removed, and a tool is suitable for removing dust. Probel.
Means Metylan diluted with water 1 to 10 and applied to any surface, then cleaned with a spatula. Means Probel often used during renovations. To do this, with a damp sponge, the agent diluted with water is applied to the surface. After the layer gets wet, whitewash is removed with a spatula.
Means Alpha choose to remove whitewash and to clean the room after repair. Using these products, you can quickly get rid of traces of repairs. They do not leave streaks and whiteness on the surface. Work with concentrates should be in gloves and goggles. Dilute the product in proportions from 1:10 to 1:100 and apply it to the surface.
The washes that are sold in the store are very concentrated, so they are enough to treat a large surface. When choosing special tools, you should take into account that they are not cheap, so you should include them in advance in the estimated costs for repairs. In addition, cases of counterfeiting of these funds are not uncommon, so it is better to purchase them in specialized stores, and not in the market or in another similar place.
Using a grinder
A grinder is used to remove whitewash or water-based emulsion if they are poorly removed with a spatula. It is better to treat the surface in small areas. For those who are not yet familiar with the operation of the grinder, you should read the instructions and make a small test on the surface to evaluate the result. With a spatula, you can clean hard-to-reach areas.
For work take:
- angle grinder;
- vacuum cleaner;
- putty knife;
- personal protective equipment: special goggles, respirator or mask.
When connecting the grinder to a vacuum cleaner, you can immediately remove all the dust. To clean the surface, they take emery, immediately clean the ceiling with emery with a large abrasive, then switch to a fine one. After finishing work, dust is removed from the surface. To do this, take a sponge, soft cloth or brush. After treatment, the surface should be primed.
Working with a grinder, it will not be possible to quickly and easily get rid of a layer of whitewash, this is a complicated process, moreover, there will be a lot of dust and dirt in the room. Chalk whitewash is best removed with a wet method. After all the manipulations, the ceiling will be almost completely ready for further repairs.
With glue
You can get rid of whitewash on the surface using glue or paste.
This method is suitable for those who do not want to bother with washing out the dirt.
For this method, you need to take:
- a stack of old newspapers;
- roller or brush;
- paste, which can be replaced with inexpensive wallpaper paste.
Before starting work, prepare a paste. For its preparation, starch is required. It is diluted in a small amount of water and put on fire. The paste is brought to a boil, stirring constantly. After cooling, it is ready for use.
A brewed paste is applied to old newspapers. They spread it all over the newspaper, leaving only the corners dry. Wet newspaper is glued to the surface and wait until it dries. By pulling on the dry corners of the newspaper, you can quickly and easily remove them from the ceiling along with a layer of whitewash. If there are places left with residues of glue or whitewash, they are removed with a mop, on which a damp cloth is wound.
Instead of a paste that you brew yourself, you can take ordinary cheap wallpaper glue and use it according to the previously described method. The glue or brewed paste must dry completely, otherwise it will be more difficult to remove the whitewash from the ceiling.
When starting repair work, you should observe safety precautions and work using protective equipment. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that lime and other materials can get into the eyes, causing burns or other damage to the cornea. Work only with special safety goggles!
Such repairs suggest that there will be a lot of dust in the room, so a respirator or gauze bandage must be present to protect the airways.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that washing the whitewash from the ceiling can wet the wiring, so the lighting should be turned off during operation. If there is not enough light, the right places are highlighted with a flashlight or carrying.
If there is no special wash at hand or it is impossible to use any of the above methods, you can use a homemade mixture.
For a homemade wash you need:
- draw 5 liters of water into a bucket;
- add 5-6 caps of bath foam and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar;
- small areas of the surface are treated with this soap-acetic composition;
- you should wait 5 minutes until the surface becomes sour;
- using a spatula, clean the ceiling;
- when the work is finished, the ceiling is washed with warm water.
When working with a homemade wash, be sure to lay old newspapers or any oilcloth on the floor, as there will be plenty of dirt.
You can apply another method that does not require a special investment of money - using ordinary salt. Table salt is added to warm water. For 10 liters of water, you should take a pack of salt in 1 kg. Such a home-made wash will be very cheap, and the result will be no worse than when using other means. It will be easy and effortless to clean the ceiling from whitewash.
Do-it-yourself mixes will be much more economical than purchased options. One of the old ways that was used to remove traces of whitewash from the ceiling is to use a solution with laundry soap. For the solution, take laundry soap, which does not contain dyes or other additives. In this case, it will be better to remove white from the ceiling and walls. In a small bucket (5 l) with warm water, add a spoonful of baking soda and 2 or 3 tablespoons of laundry soap shavings.
Such a mixture can cope with any contamination and wash off not only whitewash, but also dirt from the surface, so there will be no need to spend money on buying expensive detergents.
After repair work, it is difficult to get rid of traces of whitewash on the floor. Even if you put oilcloth, plastic wrap or newspapers on the floor, there is a high probability that the floor will still become dirty. You can wash off the whitewash from the floor by wiping it with water and vinegar; if it is very dirty, you should wash the floor at least three times.
The task of quickly washing off the whitewash from the ceiling, damaged by leaking water from the neighbors from above, or simply lost its quality over time, is quite common, especially when redecorating the premises. It is also necessary to completely remove the layer of whitewash when mold appears in order to treat the surface of the ceiling with an antifungal agent.
Even if a false or stretch ceiling is supposed to be installed, it is better to clean the whitewash so that dirt, pieces of whitewash do not fall on the thin fabric of the false ceiling or pollute the inside of the false ceiling slab or drywall.
Ways to remove whitewash from the ceiling
Unfortunately, often each new layer of whitewash was applied to the previous one, resulting in an uneven, rather thick chalk or lime layer on the ceiling. Regardless of the chosen method of clearing the ceiling surface, you should, if possible, free the room from furniture as much as possible and cover it with plastic wrap.
Traditional ways to remove whitewash
You can wash off the whitewash from the ceiling in the traditional way, if it is based on a chalk or lime composition.
To do this, you can use a regular sponge dipped in warm water. You need to change the water as often as possible, otherwise the chalk dissolved in it will be applied again with a sponge. Rinsing should be continued until the water after squeezing the sponge is no longer cloudy.
Highly salted hot water will rather soften the layer of whitewash, therefore, before starting the process, you need to add 1 kg of ordinary table salt to very hot water, otherwise the salt will not dissolve well, based on 8-10 liters of water. The most effective temperature of a water-salt solution for washing off whitewash is 40°C.
It is much more difficult to clean the ceiling from lime-based whitewash. To do this, in addition to a sponge, you need a spatula. If you remove the layers white dry, a large amount of harmful dust is formed in the room, so the process of cleaning the ceiling from lime whitewash should be organized as follows:
- Protect the floor surface with plastic wrap, old wallpaper or at least newspapers;
- Plentifully moisten with warm water a small fragment of the ceiling, no more than 1 × 1.5 m. To do this, use a roller, spray gun, or a wide hard brush;
- Wait until the lime layer is sufficiently wet. This will be indicated by the darkening of the whitewash layer;
- Remove the layer of whitewash that has lost its hardness with a spatula;
- Rinse off the rest with a sponge.
Before performing work, protect your hair and eyes, it is advisable to use goggles. Minor fragments and dust particles of lime can seriously injure the eyes.
Professional craftsmen, in order to quickly remove the whitewash, use a solution of hot water with soda ash and laundry soap. The disadvantage of this method is that its traces will also then need to be washed off the ceiling surface. Soda ash residue can interact with many adhesive-based paints, and traces of soap, due to the fat it contains, will not allow an even layer to be applied.
But in difficult cases, you can use this recipe.
Composition for washing off lime whitewash:
- 12 liters of water;
- 2 tablespoons of laundry soap, grated;
- 5 tablespoons of technical soda ash.
The ceiling painted with water-based paint is also cleaned with a spatula and a trowel with an abrasive surface, or ordinary wood grout. You can quickly remove old whitewash based on water-based paint by adding a pharmacy vial of iodine to hot water (10 l).
Unconventional ways to remove whitewash
In order to avoid a large amount of dust and achieve removal of whitewash layers in large layers, its layers should be combined into a single whole.
The easiest way to get rid of old whitewash is to coat the ceiling with an ordinary liquid paste. It is easy to cook it at home by pouring flour with hot water from a proportion of 200 g of flour per 1 liter of water.
For paste, it is better to use flour of the 2nd grade, it has more gluten. So that there are no lumps in the composition, you should first mix a glass of water with a glass of flour, and then pour the remaining 800 ml of water in a thin stream, stirring constantly. Bring the composition to a boil, and use after it has cooled to room temperature.
After applying the paste to the ceiling, the whitewash is removed in large layers, practically without dirt and dust.
If you stick old newspapers or scraps of wallpaper on the applied paste layer, then the whitewash soaked in the adhesive solution will linger on the paper panels when they are torn off the ceiling. So you can remove the whitewash from the ceiling without washing it off, or by washing and cleaning off the small remnants of whitewash.
By dissolving acetic acid in water, from a proportion of 100 ml of 9% table vinegar per 10 liters of water, the chalk contained in the whitewash can be destroyed. This method is good for ceiling corners or for layered old whitewash.
Ready-made whitewash removers
The construction industry offers a variety of products with which you can wash the ceiling from whitewash, they can be easily found in every building supermarket. A series of CLEANING products in a convenient plastic packaging proved to be good. But with a limited budget, it is better to use home remedies, the quality will not suffer from this.
Tools needed to remove whitewash:
- Spatula, two types, wide and narrow;
- Brush with hard nylon bristles, for sweeping the initial layer mixed with dust;
- Trowel with abrasive or wood grout;
- Spray;
- Wide hard brush or roller;
- A special plastic tray or just a box for collecting exfoliated fragments of whitewash (for convenience it is attached to the spatula handle);
Do not neglect personal protective equipment, you will need:
- Protective glasses;
- Pharmacy gauze bandage to protect the respiratory tract.
When indoors it is required to paste wallpaper, putty or tiling, finishing work begins after. In the absence of signs of unsuitability of lime, a layer of water-based paint can be applied to it, after treating the surface with a special primer. Any finishing materials are well kept on lime whitewash, but adhesion occurs only with its last layer. For this reason, after applying a putty or other material, the finish layer of lime becomes heavy and falls off the walls. Therefore, the question arises of how to remove lime from the walls.
Lime from the walls is removed with a sponge dipped in warm water.
Necessary tools and materials
To clean the walls you will need:
Cleaning equipment: rubber gloves, apron, goggles.
- sharpened metal spatula or scraper (width from 6 mm to 8 mm);
- basin for water;
- metal brush;
- respirator or gauze bandage;
- protective glasses.
There are several ways to remove old lime:
- wet;
- dry.
The choice depends on the specific case. In one situation, it is possible from the walls, and for the second, it will be necessary to clean the material with a spatula centimeter by centimeter.
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Dry whitewash removal
This method is suitable for rooms in which interior items are covered with a film, or for rooms where there is no furniture. For work, a grinder with coarse abrasive paper is suitable. In the process of removing lime from the walls, it is necessary to ensure that the furniture is tightly covered with a film, otherwise a thick layer of dust will remain on it, which will take a lot of time and effort to remove. It is necessary to remove lime from the wall gradually, without rushing. When all layers are removed, the room is thoroughly washed and further repair work is carried out.
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Removing whitewash with a wet method
If there is no grinder at hand, then this method is ideal. To do this, the walls are moistened with water. Foam rubber is suitable as a tool for application, which easily absorbs moisture and can easily give it away. Foam rubber moistened with water needs to be walked along the surface of the walls. This is done several times. To make the lime soak, it is necessary to take a break of at least 15 minutes between wetting. If there are places where there is a large layer of whitewash, then this place is tapped with a hammer.
When water does not help, you can use a special solution that is sold in stores, or prepare it yourself.
Would need:
- ammonia solution (mix water with ammonia from a pharmacy);
- water - 5 l;
- a solution of soda (in a ratio of 1/3);
- shower gel - 3 caps;
- 9% vinegar - 1 tbsp.
The components are mixed in a container and applied to the walls with a sprayer. If this was not at hand, a roller with a foam nozzle will do. Before starting work, the solution is heated to 50 °. To do this, boiled water is added to it. For this reason, it is recommended to take about 3 liters of water to prepare the solution, as it will be diluted later.
Next, the solution is applied to the wall. Lime layers swell and are easily removed with a sharp spatula, a wire brush and a rag. You need to remove lime from the walls until they are clean. A damp cloth must be carried over the wall. If there is dirt on it, then the walls need to be cleaned further. When the rag is clean, the whitewash is removed without a trace.
A solution made from copper sulphate will also help to remove lime from the walls. To prepare the mixture, you need a weak solution of hydrochloric acid (no more than 2%). Apply by roller to walls and ceiling. It is worth knowing that it is forbidden to heat such a solution, as well as to use a spray bottle. There is a risk of poisoning by toxic fumes.
The solution is applied for 15 minutes. After that, it must be removed with a sharp spatula. Lime residues are removed with a stiff bristled brush and water. When the procedure comes to an end, the walls are washed with a damp cloth. Next, the room should dry well for subsequent finishing work.
The most affordable is a solution of soap. Would need:
- water - 10 l;
- soap - 2 tablespoons;
- baking soda - 5 tablespoons.
Soap is pre-rubbed on a grater. The components are thoroughly mixed. The solution is applied to the walls and ceiling. For old lime, a sticky mixture is used. It is prepared as follows: 2 tablespoons of flour are diluted in a glass of water, boiling water is poured. The mixture allows you to clean the room without the appearance of dust.
If there is no time to prepare mixtures, then you can remove the whitewash from the walls with tools from the store. Read the instructions before starting cleaning. Usually, there is glue in the composition of the substances; when it is applied, a crust of old whitewash appears on the wall. It is she who needs to be removed with a scraper.
Whitewash was the most common material found in apartments. But now they are trying to get rid of it in order to replace it with more modern materials. To do this is not so easy. In the article we will understand:how to remove whitewash from walls.
Of all the finishing materials, whitewash is the most difficult to remove. The work does not involve complex manipulations, but the process will take a lot of time and effort. In addition, everything will be in dust and dirt and clean up, then you will have to do everything more than once. Therefore, take care of protecting your apartment. 
Remove all furniture from the room where the work will be done. It is not necessary to take out large interior items, but it is better to take out their contents. Wrap them in foil and secure with tape. Cover the floor too. Close the joints around the perimeter with masking tape. Newspaper can be placed under the film for additional protection. In time, close the door, and fill the gaps with foam rubber or cover with tape.
Lime penetrates into the smallest cracks, so in order for it not to scatter throughout the house, preparatory work should not be neglected.
Precautionary measures
For safety, you need to turn off the electricity in the room. During operation, you will work with water, and this is dangerous when the electricity is on. Remove all wires, cover sockets with tape.
Lime is not good for health. Therefore, take care not only about the safety of furniture, but also about your own health. 
Use protection items that you won’t mind throwing away later, because after whitewash has become contaminated, it will no longer be possible to use it. The body must be completely covered. Put a hat on your head. Hair must be removed. Use gloves to protect your hands, they must be durable: they can be damaged during operation. Just in case, keep two pairs in reserve. Use a respirator to protect your respiratory tract. A medical mask will not work - it is very thin. Eyes can be protected with goggles.
What you need in the course of work
- Putty knife.
- Grinder
- Sandpaper
- Water container or spray bottle
- Sponge or rag
- soap solution
- Roller
Depending on the removal method you choose, you may need a different tool. If whitewashing does not lend itself, try several options.
How to remove whitewash from walls
Dry way
Includes the use of a grinder. When using it, the whitewash will fly in different directions, and it will not be easy to get rid of it. Be sure to work in full protection, lime is not good for health and if you get it, you can cause damage to yourself. 
Cleaning with a grinder is done using coarse sandpaper. Run the machine along the walls. You need to work carefully, the movements should be smooth. After you have walked once, make another round and remove the remaining coating. After removal, rinse the entire room with water and cleaning agent. It will be better if you do it twice.
A regular hammer and spatula can serve as a replacement for the machine. 
Tap the whitewash with a hammer, and scrape off the exfoliated areas with a spatula. You can also use a brush.
wet way
The wet method refers to removal with a soapy solution. 
This is the cheapest and easiest way. Whitewash comes off much better when wet. A soapy solution is applied with a roller or brush. If there is a spray bottle, then spraying them is much more convenient. You can make a solution from water and laundry soap. You can replace soap with detergents. The larger the layer, the more solution will be needed. Wet the wall generously, but do not overdo it. Wait until the solution is absorbed. Then apply another layer. And then remove the residue with a spatula. Work with force, but do not pick out the layer under the whitewash.
Another effective option is removal with a paste. 
The mass is smeared on the surface of the wall and remains so until it dries. Then all this will turn into a crust and it will be easy to remove it with a spatula. Paste is made from flour or starch. Bring the water to a boil and pour a small amount into another container. Add flour there, stirring gradually. The mass is ready when it looks like jam. The resulting mass must be applied to the walls, evenly distributing. A brush works well. When the mass turns into a bark, remove it with a spatula or scraper. Of all the methods, this is the best. No dirt and dust, no costs either, while it helps almost everyone.
If even a paste did not help you, then only one thing remains - an acid solution. 
Sounds more scary than it really is. A small amount of acid is used. But this does not mean that you need to relax. Contact with the eyes can damage the mucous membrane, so do not forget about glasses. Acid solution is made from acetic acid. Pour water into any container and add a 3% vinegar solution in small quantities there. Apply it to the walls with a brush. Be sure to wash the wall with soap and water twice afterwards. Don't forget to pour out the leftovers.
Some use a washing vacuum cleaner for cleaning. 
The water from the vacuum cleaner softens the whitewash, and then sucks it up. However, this method should not be used. It is impossible to predict how the equipment will behave and you would not have to buy a new vacuum cleaner.
If you do not want to suffer, then you can buy a special whitewash remover in the store. After applying it, you can easily remove the layer. If there is absolutely no desire to engage in this type of work, then you can hire workers.