cossie Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 HiHaving just got the keys to our new house on Saturday we are busy cleaning and giving it a lick of paint so it's fit to move into! The previous owners were very heavy smokers and the ceilings are covered in yellowy/brown nictotine stains.Does anybody know what the French would use to remove this? Would it be sugar soap as in UK and if so does anybody know what it is called please? Also does anybody know if 'stain block paint' is available in France and what that would be called?Thanks in advance if anybody can help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 HiWe've just got the keys to our new place and are busy cleaning and painiting so it's habitable! Previous owners were very heavy smokers and the ceilings etc are a very yucky yellowy/brown. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what could be used to clean this off properly before repainting?In the UK it may have been sugar soap, is that available here and if so does anybody know what it is called? Also can you buy 'stain block paint' here in France - also what's that called?Many thanks in advance of any help offered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 If you have a Lidls nearby they do a degreaser which is in an orange pump pack, failing that do you have any TFR (Traffic Film Remover) for a jet wash? be warned it's very strong so eye and hand protection needed, simply dilute into a pump pack spray leave for a bit and wash off, this assumes we are talking typical timber ceilings. If plasterboard or plaster of some variety mild solution of washing up liquid with a squirt of lemon juice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracteurtom Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Are you sure that the yucky yellow is just not french paint - they (the french that is) seem to have a likely for yucky yellow decor!As fpr cleaning nicotine damaged interiors, you've got alot of hard and horrible work ahead of you. It is almost impossible to remove, it will always smell of that disgusting habit and your hands are going to stink like a smoker's for ages. OK I have a thing about smokers, and the damage they do to the environment. Sorry, I have nothing to add re the question of how to clean the damage, except you should seriously consider getting professional cleaners in if its really bad. I hope the purchase price of the house reflected this as I understand it can devalue a property by up to 20%!!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 [quote user="PCWhizz"] OK I have a thing about smokers, and the damage they do to the environment. [/quote]Yea, right................. and what damage to the environment are you actually talking about ? Global warming, Ozone depletion, Temperature rises, rising sea levels, or is it perhaps, just dirty ceilings and smelly clothes? If you want to talk about damage to the environment talk about the pollution caused by 2,000 billion tonnes of coal, currently being burnt in china per year for the production of cheap goods for western consumers. It's all about perspective really...........................................[8-|] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 and to cap it all the Chinese smoke like steam trains......sheeesh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Good old sugar soap always works - believe me I have left a fair amount of nicotine staining around in my time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Health Warning!!!Do not inhale sugar soap it's not big and it's not clever!Getting me coat......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 Many thanks - do you know if it's available in France? And the name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 May I add a word of warning - and I certainly don't want to 'Nanny' or insult anyone's intelligence here - it's just that I had a decorator in one time and he was blind in one eye. How did it happen? Well he was re-decorating a Working Men's Club with the inevitable nicotine stained ceilings. While cleaning it off, he wiped his eye with his hand and that was that. Many valiant efforts to save the eye but to no avail. So please be careful. On another practical note, our friends at Screwfix do brilliant all in one J-Suits (that's a suit made of J Cloth material) with even a hood attached and they cost very little. When you've finished just rip it off (Ooo-errr) and throw it away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 You can also buy those suits at Brico Marche - great things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 A little tip - when you go to paint. Put a few drops of Lavendar oil (or Sandlewood oil etc.) into the paint & it masks the smell of the paint (& any ickey smells left from the nicotine) & leaves a lovely fresh aroma in the room. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Julien make a wide range of specialist paints and undercoats which I find do what they say on the tin. Here is one recommended as an undercoat for covering difficult stains.Cover All PaintThey do another very good undercoat for 'fonds difficiles' as well which I know covers old black mould stains, binds unstable surfaces etc. but I can't find it on their site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Is this a double thread? Another from cossie with the same subject has more answers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 You're right, Pierre.http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/850481/ShowPost.aspx#850481Perhaps a mod could amalgamate the threads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 I've merged the two threads and you will notice the original posts on each are a duplicate of each other. Neither can be removed as this would lead to the direct replies (descendant posts) to be removed as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 Hi AllFirstly apologies for entering this on twice! I entered it on the Western France one initially only to be told by hubby it should have gone on the renovations one!Anyway, many thanks to all the help and advice you have all offered. It certainly needs a good something to get it smelly nice! I popped to Brico today to see if I could work out sugar soap but didn't see any in there but was pushed for time so unable to ask. Also the drops of oil are a good suggestion too - I guess it could be cleaned over with oil scented water before even the paint goes on too.Thanks again and sorry for any confusion with the double thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maude Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I recommend Oxydrene bt St Marcs-available from all brico,s and hardware stores-but wear gloves Grett stuff! Maude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 [quote user="Clair"]I've merged the two threads and you will notice the original posts on each are a duplicate of each other. Neither can be removed as this would lead to the direct replies (descendant posts) to be removed as well...[/quote]And I thought it was deja vu all over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Aaagh.., it's in stereo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Yeap! Such a popular thread I thought I'd give you two for the price of one![:P]my apologies... I still haven't got to grips with the devilish software...[:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 Our last house was owned by a heavy smoker and after painting the ceiling white the nicotine 'bled' through. In my experience you should use a fungicide before painting. That worked for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Anglia Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 Can I just point out to everyone that nicotine is white, or colourless, and certainly odourless?The problem smokers leave behind is actually tobacco tar, that lovely substance responsible for lung cancer, throat cancer, and emphysema. Nicotine is simply an addictive drug.Sorry to be pedantic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 19, 2007 Share Posted January 19, 2007 OK - the tar bled through - you are right about the consequences - it was a probate sale and the previous owner had died of throat cancer.[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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