Sugar soap

[eileenjune]

Hi,
We have some mouldy walls and doors to clean before painting. Someone said sugar soap was what we needed. Is this correct? What is it and can we make our own version please?
Thanks

[anniebird]

I do not know if this can be made at home. I bought mine at the local Homebase. You will find it sold at most DIY stores.

[theshedman]

Hi, before using sugar soap on the mould try using Dettox mould and mildew remover. You don't want to be moving the mould around the walls and doors before you start, better to kill it off first. After doing this use the sugar soap as directed on the box on the walls and doors then wash off. This will get rid of the grime and grease that may be on them along with the marks from the mould. Sugar soap is used to help prepare things prior to decorating and I don't think you can make your own. After this prepare woodwork and walls as usual with glass paper etc then decorate. A tip if you want nice smooth doors is to use a Tack Cloth on them just before painting. This will pick up all the very small bits of dust on them that can spoil the finish. Good luck. Shed.

[eileenjune]

Thanks for replies. The reason I asked if I could make my own is that I live in France and can't get it here. Maybe can get similar to Dettox. Good advice to remove mould first, and glass paper too.
Thanks :)

[AlBags]

Some older plasters can harbour funguses.
You should really treat with a fungicidal treatment first, then wash over walls with sugar soap.
You could substitute the sugar soap with a washing detergent and towelling, after treating with the fungicidal.

[coccinelle]

Sugar soap equivalent in France is called St Marc Lessive à la resine de pin. It comes in boxes and can be picked up at the supermarkets or DIY shops. It's got an angel on the box but make sure it's the lessive à la resine one and not the cristaux de soudre. Whereabouts in France do you live?

[coccinelle]

Plus to remove mildew etc use 'javel' you can either buy it in the pouches and dilute it to the strength you want or buy it in the bottles and use it as it is.

[eileenjune]

Thanks for the info, coccinelle. I have seen the javel in bottles everywhere, it's a diluted bleach? I will go to the diy shop and look for the lessive a la resine.
I live in The Vendee. In the middle of nowhere !
Thanks again :)

[coccinelle]

We have a house in Vendée in the middle of nowhere too (we let it out) it's near Beauvoir sur Mer. Yes, the bleach in bottles can be used directly in the toilet etc whereas the pouches need to be diluted though can be used neat if the job could do with it.