TSP is trisodium phosphate, a chemical compound that comes in a powder form that you mix with water prior to using it. Typically, you dissolve a half of a cup of TSP into two gallons of warm water, and then it can be easily applied to nearly any surface that you wish to clean. However, don’t use it to clean any surface in a bathroom, because TSP will etch into the glaze of ceramic tile, and it also breaks down grout. It is often used by tile layers to remove dried grout from tile, because it easily breaks down the dried grout, and it won’t need to be scraped off of the tile with the use of TSP.
There are really no other surfaces around your home that can’t be cleaned with TSP cleaner, as long as the directions are followed, and you’re very careful in the application and rinse of the product. Because it is a phosphate based cleaner, any runoff that you may have, and the disposal of any leftover solution needs to be very closely monitored so that it doesn’t get into any drains, fresh water or potable water sources, or near any animals or landscaping.
Prepare the area fully for TSP application by laying down a drop cloth, and also applying tape to any wall or cabinet surface that you don’t want the TSP cleaner to make contact with. Once you have applied all of your PPE, as we’ll cover in the personal protection section of this article, you can use a stiff brush, a rag, a sponge, or even a mop, to apply the TSP cleaner solution to the cabinets or surface that you wish to clean.
An important part of the application process is to start washing the cabinet or wall from the bottom, and work your way up. This will reduce any streaking that occurs. After you apply the TSP cleaning solution to the cabinet or surface, allow it to sit for approximately two minutes. This will give the solution time to break down any grease and oils, and any bigger debris that may be on the surface. Once the solution sits for two minutes, you can scrub it with a stiff brush for a few moments, moving from the bottom to the top to avoid any streaking.
Once you’ve finished a small area, you need to thoroughly rinse the solution off. Use a sponge and warm water, and be certain that you change the rinse water frequently. It is imperative to remove as much of the cleaning solution as possible because it will continue to eat through paint, including the new paint that you’re planning to apply to the surface. The surface or cabinet then needs to be given adequate time to fully and completely dry prior to applying any new paint at all.
TSP cleaning solution can be applied using nearly any medium of your choice. A rag, sponge, mop, scrub brush, sprayer, or other method of application is completely up to you. The solution will work in an effective manner no matter how you decide to apply it. Most of the time, when it is being used to remove old paint from a surface, instead of using sandpaper, a stiff brush is used to scrub the TSP cleaner into the area, as it helps to lift the old paint, and the grease, oil, or stains in the paint as well.
However, working with TSP has some negative drawbacks to it, as well, and some of them are fairly serious. When you’re getting rid of any excess cleaning solution, you can’t just pour it out into the yard as you would old dishwater. It will kill any vegetation that you get it on, and it will also harm pets and children, so it must be disposed of properly. You’ll need to check you local hazardous material disposal regulations in order to figure out how to dispose of your excess solution.
You shouldn’t use it in your bath, or anywhere that you have ceramic tile, because it will etch the tile glaze, and also will destroy your grout. It is used by tile professionals to take dried grout off of tile, so it is very well known to break down grout. To be safe, if you aren’t a tile professional, don’t use it in your bathroom.
Any area that you aren’t planning to actively use the TSP cleaner on needs to be covered, either with a drop-cloth, or taped off. Even a very small amount of TSP on an unintentional surface is going to give you a really difficult clean up job. In order to prepare for the caustic nature of the chemical, just play it safe and cover or tape off everything you aren’t using the TSP to clean.
Make sure that the area is fully ventilated, with all doors and windows open to allow the fumes to escape. Be sure that the area is free of pets and children. Put your PPE on, including long sleeves, pants, eye protection, and gloves. Even a tiny amount of TSP cleaner getting on your skin or in your eyes is going to be painful and very irritating, and is more than likely going to require that you seek medical attention.
Although regulations have made TSP less popular today, it is still very effective at cleaning any foreign material from the area in preparation to paint, and also to remove old, peeling, flaking paint from the surface, which eliminates the need to perform any sanding prior to priming and painting. The time savings you’ll find from not having to sand, though, may very well be given back in the time that it will take to completely cover and tape off the remaining surfaces in the area that you’re working with the TSP solution in.