A good painting job will make your home come alive. You would go through some dislocation and hardships while the painting was in progress. Some simple precautions and small steps can ensure that your walls keep looking like new for a far longer time.

• Most wall paints (like emulsion and washable distempers) are washable. Which means that they can be periodically cleaned with mild soap water solution.

• Special care should be taken for the passages, kitchens and children's room. Every month keep a day aside to clean the walls. Use a sponge and a mild soap solution and lightly scrub the areas that have stains.

• In case there is an incidence of severe staining (like spilled food etc.) Clean the walls immediately before the stain dries up. Children's room are likely to get dirty far more quickly than the rest of the house. Hence it is advisable to get a single coat of paint done every two years or so.

• Check your walls periodically for signs of paint flaking or peeling. This could be the first sign or water leakage or seepage problems. The moment such problems are noticed get the contractor to look at the problem area. If the problem is localized (only occurring in specific areas) and the source of the water seepage is detected, have it rectified immediately to prevent the water seepage to spread. This might mean repainting of one or two walls. Ignoring the problem will however aggravate the matter and will turn out to be more expensive latter.

• The enamel paints on the doors and windows exposed to sunlight loses its gloss over time. It is good practice to apply a single coat every two years to keep them looking fresh.

• Rectify any existing surface problems such as dampness ,cracks, etc before painting.

• Thinners, primers and undercoats form the basis of any beautifully finished surface. Insist on good quality ones ,manufactured by reputed companies.

• Test a small swatch of paint on the wall for finish and shade before buying the full quantity.

• Make sure you have enough paint for the job before starting the work.

• Stir and strain paints thoroughly before application. The paint should also be thinned properly (as per instructions given on the container) to ensure adequate application viscosity.

• Buy readymade shades as far as possible. Mixing and tinting of shades (other than color dispensers) may give different results from wall to wall. However, if you buy tinted shades through color dispensers, you can be sure of consistent shades, as you would get from readymade shades.

• Left over paint can be used innovatively : paint the motif on the wall, paint a door, stool, etc.

• It is not advisable to paint in humid conditions. Avoid painting in the monsoons as the paint takes longer to dry and the film will not cure properly.

• The room to be painted should be well ventilated, and free from dust.

• Always clean split or splashed paint with the recommended thinner while it is still wet.

• To guarantee a neat edge around window panes, protect the glass with the paint shield or apply a masking tape before painting. Remove it before the final coat is dry to avoid peeling a layer of paint.

• Always allow the paint to overlap the paint slightly on the glass to prevent moisture seeping into the joint between putty and glass.

• When spraying paint, mask other surfaces around the area with sheets of paper or plastic to protect them. Avoid inhaling vapours or spray. 

• Keep paint away from food, drink and animal feed. As far as possible, use water based paints for your interiors to make the process of painting comfortable to the people living in the house. Wear eye protection masks when painting. In case of contact with the eye, rinse thoroughly with water and seek medical advice.