Paint sticks best to a clean, dull surface. Grease, cooking film, smoke residue, hand marks and old gloss all get in the way, which is why painters wash walls and trim with TSP or a TSP substitute before they paint and wipe glossy cabinets and trim with a liquid deglosser instead of sanding. This page puts the pre-paint cleaners and deglossers we sell side by side, with dilution, wait times and coverage from each maker's data sheet.
Shop the lineup: Savogran Liquid TSP Substitute concentrate, quart for washing walls, woodwork and ceilings; Sunnyside M-1 Paint Deglosser and Pre-Paint Cleaner and Krud Kutter Gloss-Off liquid deglosser for glossy enamel, varnish and cabinet finishes; and Krud Kutter Metal Clean and Etch for bare, rusty or galvanized metal.
TSP substitute, deglossers and metal prep compared
| Product |
Use it for (maker) |
How to use (maker) |
Coverage, rinse and wait (maker) |
| Savogran Liquid TSP Substitute, quart concentrate |
Heavy grease, dirt and grime on interior and exterior walls, woodwork, ceilings, concrete, metal and vinyl siding before painting; mildew stains when mixed with bleach |
General cleaning: 8 oz per gallon of water. Heavy duty: 16 oz per gallon, scrub with a nylon pad, then damp wipe. Wash from the bottom up to prevent streaks. Works in pressure washers up to 16:1 |
One quart makes up to 4 gallons of solution. Phosphate-free and no rinse needed. VOC listed as negligible (Savogran data sheet 10632) |
| Sunnyside M-1 Paint Deglosser and Pre-Paint Cleaner, quart |
Cleans dirt, oil and grease from wood and metal and dulls high-gloss enamel, varnish and marine paint so the new finish bonds; replaces sanding before recoating |
Test a small area first. Wipe on with a rag or paper towel (fine or extra fine steel wool only if you need more bite). Indoors, work no more than an 8 by 10 ft area at a time, then wipe with a damp lint-free rag |
Wait at least 10 minutes before painting. Water-based, VOC 0 g/L (Sunnyside product page and use sheet 62232M) |
| Krud Kutter Gloss-Off, 32 oz |
Glossy and hard-to-stick-to surfaces before paint or varnish: painted or unpainted wood, metal and vinyl wallpaper; also removes grease, smoke, crayon and wallpaper paste |
Use full strength. Wipe on with a coarse lint-free cloth in circles, refold often, then wipe off with a clean cloth |
About 50 to 75 sq ft per bottle. No rinse. Paint once dry to the touch, usually about 10 minutes, or up to a week later. VOC 0% by weight. Not for porous or non-washable wallpaper (Rust-Oleum Krud Kutter TDS) |
| Krud Kutter Metal Clean and Etch, gallon concentrate |
Cleans and etches iron, steel, zinc, aluminum and galvanized metal in one step; dissolves rust and the film on new galvanized metal |
Mix 1 part with 3 parts water (2 parts water on heavy rust), apply, leave on up to 10 minutes, then rinse well and wipe dry |
About 800 to 1,200 sq ft per gallon of concentrate. Paint within 48 hours so new rust does not form (Rust-Oleum Krud Kutter TDS) |
TSP and deglosser FAQ
What is a TSP substitute?
TSP is trisodium phosphate, a heavy-duty powdered cleaner painters have long used to wash walls before painting. A TSP substitute does the same pre-paint cleaning job without phosphates. Savogran Liquid TSP Substitute is a phosphate-free liquid concentrate, and Savogran says it requires no rinsing.
Do I have to rinse after TSP substitute?
Not with Savogran Liquid TSP Substitute; its data sheet says it requires no rinsing. For heavy-duty cleaning, Savogran says to scrub, then damp wipe the area with a clean sponge and fresh solution. Savogran's directions for its trisodium phosphate powder are different: they call for rinsing the cleaned area with clean warm water.
How much Liquid TSP Substitute do I mix per gallon?
Savogran says 8 oz per gallon of water for general cleaning and 16 oz per gallon for heavy-duty cleaning. For mildew stains, mix 16 oz per gallon of warm water and add one quart of chlorine bleach. A quart of concentrate makes up to 4 gallons of cleaning solution.
TSP substitute or deglosser: which do I need?
Use TSP substitute to wash dirt, grease and grime off walls, ceilings and woodwork. Use a deglosser such as Sunnyside M-1 or Krud Kutter Gloss-Off when the old finish is glossy (enamel trim, varnished or factory-finished cabinets) and you want the new paint to grip without sanding. Many cabinet jobs use both: wash first, then degloss.
How long after deglosser can I paint?
Sunnyside says to wait at least 10 minutes before repainting a surface deglossed with M-1. Krud Kutter says Gloss-Off is ready when it is dry to the touch, usually about 10 minutes, and you can paint up to a week later. Prime glossy or stained surfaces when your paint calls for it; see primers and sealers and spray primers.
What should I use on bare or rusty metal?
Krud Kutter Metal Clean and Etch cleans and etches iron, steel, aluminum and galvanized metal in one step. Rinse it off, let the metal dry, and paint within 48 hours. Then use a metal-rated finish from spray paint for metal.
Shop related: primers and sealers, cabinet refinishing, drywall repair and spackle, painter's tape, paint brushes, and prep, patch and repair supplies.
