Instructions General Finishes Milk Paint - Step 1 - Preparation for Paint

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore

General Finishes milk paint instructions covering paint preparation and priming requirements before application. It explains sanding and cleaning steps for both raw wood and existing finished surfaces, including scuff-cleaning methods, dust removal, and drying times to protect adhesion and color performance. It also details priming guidance for stain bleed-through, knots, dark paint coverage, and non-wood substrates such as laminate, MDF, and metal, plus specific cleaning alternatives and cautions about outdoor storage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Step 1: Preparation for Paint

Preparation for Raw Wood Projects

Preparation for Projects with an Existing Finish

Power Prep Cleaning Highly Used Existing Finishes

Alternative Cleaning Solutions for Existing Finishes

Step 2: Priming

Instructions General Finishes Milk Paint Step 1: Preparation for Paint Before applying paint, all raw wood projects require preparation sanding, and all existing finishes require prep cleaning and sanding. If you skip this critical step, your finish may fail. Preparation for Raw Wood Projects See our video: How to Prep Sand Raw Wood 1. Sanding schedule: 120-grit sandpaper followed by 150-grit. Do not over-sand with fine-grit sandpapers; this will close and seal the wood grain, preventing ideal color absorption. Do not use steel wool with water-based finishes; the particles will get trapped in the finish and rust. 2. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, an oil-free tack cloth or a water-dampened rag. 3. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product. Preparation for Projects with an Existing Finish For high-use areas with heavy grime build-up and oil from hands, give your project a deeper cleaning. See our video: How to Prepare Existing Finishes 1. Scuff clean with a Scotch Brite™ pad or maroon synthetic steel wool and a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. Dry 1-2 hours. Avoid cleaning with products containing phosphates (salt), which can linger in the substrate and produce a white haze. If your project requires a deeper cleaning, see Power Prep Cleaning Highly Used Existing Finishes below. 2. Sand lightly with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding sponge or 400-grit sandpaper. 3. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, an oil-free tack cloth or a water-dampened rag. 4. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product. Power Prep Cleaning Highly Used Existing Finishes See our video: How to Power Prep Existing High Use Finishes for Stain or Paint 1. Scrub clean with a detergent, such as Spic and Span or Dawn, using a Scotch Brite™ pad. 2. Rinse well with water. 3. Scrub clean with a Scotch Brite™ pad and a 50:50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. Dry 1-2 hours. 4. Sand lightly with a fine-grade (220-320) foam sanding pad. 5. Remove dust with a vacuum, compressed air, an oil-free tack cloth or a water-dampened rag. 6. Let dry completely before applying General Finishes product. Alternative Cleaning Solutions for Existing Finishes (Not as aggressive or effective as denatured alcohol; requires rinsing.) 1. 50:50 mix of bleach and water 2. 50:50 mix of vinegar and water 3. Mineral spirits can be used when working with water-based products, but only if the surface is thoroughly rinsed and allowed to dry for 72 hours. Instructions General Finishes Milk Paint Step 2: Priming A base coat of primer is not required to use General Finishes Milk Paint. However, 2 coats of General Finishes Stain Blocker may be necessary in the following circumstances, especially when using WHITE OR LIGHT-COLORED PAINTS. Watch Stain Blocker Product Overview video Here 1. Raw Wood Tannin Bleed-Through is unpredictable; yellowing can appear immediately or months later with seasonal temperature changes. Oak, pine, mahogany and douglas fir are particularly prone to bleed-through. 2. Knots in Wood contain rosin (sap) and are dense, making paint adhesion a challenge. Pine knots are especially difficult to cover with white or light paints. If you decide to paint over them, apply 3 coats of Stain Blocker over the areas with knots first; however, we cannot guarantee against rosin bleed-through. You are better off using a dark paint on pine. 3. Existing Finish Bleed-Through may be caused previous stains or aniline dyes, surface contamination, and incompatibility between brands. 4. Dark Paint Colors Over Existing Surfaces: To improve coverage when applying darker colors such as Coastal Blue, Dark Chocolate, or Queenstown Gray, prime with a coat of Lamp Black. 5. Non-Wood Surfaces may be able to take paint if primed first. Primer may improve adhesion over laminate and prevent bleed-through from MDF. Metal requires a primer made specifically for metal. NOTE: Do not

FAQs

What preparation is required before applying General Finishes milk paint?

Raw wood projects require sanding, and existing finishes require cleaning and sanding. If these steps are skipped, the finish may fail.

How should existing finishes be cleaned before painting?

High-use areas with grime and hand oil should be scuff cleaned with a Scotch Brite pad using a 50:50 denatured alcohol and water mix, then dried 1–2 hours and sanded lightly with 220–320 or 400 grit before dust removal.

When is Stain Blocker or priming needed?

A primer base coat is not required in general, but 2 coats of General Finishes Stain Blocker may be necessary for unpredictable tannin bleed-through, knots with rosin, existing finish bleed-through, and for improving coverage with dark colors. Outdoor storage use is cautioned against tinting or using Stain Blocker.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore