Here are a few tips to retain the glamour of your walls and interiors post the colour splash
The festival of colours is undoubtedly the most boisterous festival in India. It marks an adieu to winter thus ushering a glad acceptance of summer in a rainbow of colours. It may include creating beautiful and intricate rangoli or kolam patterns at the thresholds of houses as a way to bless visitors and those who enter. Families also gather around a bonfire where a dummy of Holika is burnt to recall the triumph of Prahlad and the burning of his father’s evil sister.
Traditionally, the colours used for Holi were created from flowers, herbs and roots with medicinal value which were believed to act as protection against fever and illness caused due to the change in the season which has now been replaced with artificial and synthetic colours. Most of the colours available in the market are adulterated with high content of chromium, silica, lead and alkaline material which gives darker shades, long lasting effect and thick texture. This consequently results the colours to leave back numerous colour marks and stains on floor, walls, wash basins, sinks, counter tops, taps, faucets etc.
With the advancement in the technology, one can opt for paints that have features like excellent washability and stain resistance which promises hassle-free clean up post holi.
Here are some effective tips that would help you in getting rid of Holi colours from your walls, thus making it sparkling clean and spotless again:
Post Holi, there are certain techniques which should be followed in order to clean the wall. The cleaning of the walls depends on the type of paint used and the wall texture. The paint used should be washable/stain resistant. Avoid rubbing too hard as you might create a stain or remove the paint texture from the wall. Make use of water and a clean sponge/paper towel to clean the wall. You can also use a mixture of water and mild soap to clean your walls with prominent stains. Good paint brands do have specific instructions on the cans and on their websites too. It is always advisable to refer to these instructions before attempting to clean.
For water resistant colour stains, one may need to apply a stain blocker to the walls before applying paint. The water resistant colours will prevent your paint from adhering properly to the wall surface and will cause bubbles.
Touch-up is a good idea with leftover paints from previous paint jobs if the stains are really bad and stubborn. Simply roll over the dirty spots on the walls. When this paint dries it will dry perfectly, leaving you with a wall that looks as though you just painted it. However, professional help from a painter is advisable to make sure that the final outcome is not patchy.
The colour-stained floors can be effectively cleaned with a paste of baking soda and water. Apply this paste over the stained areas and leave it to rest for some time. After the paste dries, wipe it off with a damp cloth or a wet sponge. This would effectively clean the stains on floor without interfering much with its texture and sheen. However, this method won’t work on walls as its paint could get affected.
For those looking at paint job post holi, pastel shades like placid pink, peach, lilac, aqua blues, stimulating greens, bright yellows are a hit this season.