How to Paint Columns and Stop Dirt from Sticking

Learn how to paint wood columns and how rubbing car wax on exterior house columns can prevent dirt from building up.

LESLIE: Calling in from Louisiana we’ve got Steen (sp). Welcome to The Money Pit. What can we help with?

STEEN (sp): I have a problem with discoloration around the columns on the front of my house. And I didn’t know if there was something maybe I could seal it with; something I could – some kind of paint or something that would, you know, let the stuff wash right off of it instead of me having to wash it once a week or so.

TOM: Is it a – is it a mildew that’s causing the discoloration?

STEEN (sp): No, it’s not really a mildew. It’s just – I guess it’s just dirt, dust, something. It’s – you know, I can get down and scrub it off.

TOM: OK.

Well, what you’re going to want to do, Steen (sp), here is – first of all, you’re going to want to repaint the columns and I want you to use an oil-based primer. It’s going to give you a smooth, even surface for the topcoat layer to adhere to. Then I want you to use a semi-gloss. Don’t use a satin because it’s not going to clean as well.

LESLIE: Mm-hmm.

TOM: Use at least a semi-gloss if not a gloss. And once you do those two things then what you can do as a final step – and there’s the trick of the trade – take some car wax, like some Simonize or Turtle Wax or something like that, and wax the columns. That’s going to create a layer that will help keep that dirt from sticking.

STEEN (sp): Alright, sounds great. Thank y’all for taking my question.

TOM: And that’ll do it.

STEEN (sp): Alright.

LESLIE: That’s super clever, Tom. I have to say.

TOM: (chuckling) You like that one?

LESLIE: I really think that’s a clever tip and …

TOM: Yeah, occasionally I think of a good one. (chuckling)

LESLIE: And you know, it’s going to be so helpful when his kids come running home and swing around those poles as they’re like, “Hey! [We’re suing] (ph)!”

TOM: No, you know why I thought of that? Because that’s a trick of the trade that we use in the bathroom. Sometimes if you have a shower door, if you have really hard water and it gets a lot of mineral salts on it …

LESLIE: Mm-hmm.

TOM: … you can use car wax on that, too. It doesn’t hurt anything.

LESLIE: Interesting.

TOM: You just have to make sure you don’t use the car wax that has an abrasive in it. Just use like the plain, old-fashioned Simonize. I’ve been using it for years. It works great. Just don’t ever use it on a floor surface and it does a really good job of keeping the dirt from sticking.

LESLIE: You’re the cleverest.