How to get nicotine stains off walls before painting?

You could try Flash added to water and a sponge.

Scrub with a vinegar/water solution. Then I would prime with Kilz to block the stains.

This may help: https://www.hellolidy.com/how-to-clean-nicotine-off-walls/

Hi Maria: Nicotine has a greasy film, so you have to get it off of the wall, completely, before painting, then I'd use a good primer like Zinsser Bulls Eye 123. Always wash walls from the bottom up. If you start from the top, when the water runs down, it takes some of the dirt with it, and causes semi-clean streaks in the unwashed part and these are almost impossible to get rid of. Here are a couple sites that may help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7quU8UgyQU

https://rainbowintl.com/blog/how-to-remove-cigarette-tar-and-nicotine-from-walls

https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-nicotine-off-walls/

Hope this helps

TSP is great for this kind of cleaning you can get it at hardware stores, Walmart etc follow directions on the box

TSP or Greased Lightning cleaner. Nicotine is oily and you need to use a degreaser.

TSP is a great cleaning product for this.

6 Quick Tips on How to Clean Nicotine Off Walls

https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-clean-nicotine-off-walls/

They can be scrubbed with a product called Krud Kutter available at Home Depot or on Amazon.

I would prime them with Kilz. It works great. Ask at the paint store what to do to prep before you use it and wear a mask and open the windows. It's very potent.

Nicotine stains can be removed using hot water with a couple of drops of Dawn dishwashing soap. Start at the bottom of the wall and work your way up. Use a soft cloth to dry each area as you go. You want to be careful to not let the cleaning solution to run down the walls or it will leave light streaks. Then use a good stain-blocking primer before painting in the color of your choice.

Thank You Janice!

I use Dollar Tree Awesome Orange in the half gallon mixed with some warm water in a bucket, using a car sponge wearing kitchen rubber gloves. All from the Dollar Tree. Melts that stuff right off.

Get your self kills paint you paint that first then paint over it that will block it Home Depot sells it

Hot soapy water. Pre spray with a grease cutting type cleaner.

Clean it off with TSP.

Considered an extreme solution, Trisodium Phosphate tackles the worst nicotine stains, as it is an effective degreaser for cigarette tar. Trisodium phosphate, also called TSP, often works where other cleaning solutions don’t as long as it’s used correctly.

When diluting, follow the instructions on the label. Typical dilution is one teaspoon of TSP to one gallon of water. Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning walls with this cleanser.

Apply the TSP solution from the bottom up to prevent streaks from forming, and allow the solution to work for several minutes before rinsing off. Apply the cleaner with a sponge or even a sponge mop. Use a bucket full of clean water for rinsing, and change out the rinse water as necessary.

4. Chomp Painted Wall Cleaner Removes Heavy Smoke Stains

Nobody wants to repaint their walls if they don’t have to. When it comes to dealing with the after-effects of a heavy smoker, you often think your only option is repainting. Before you opt for this drastic solution, try one of the newest cleaning products called Painted Wall Cleaner by Chomp.

It is difficult to find it in stores, but readily available for purchase online. Painted Wall Cleaner by Chomp is safe to use on all walls and washable surfaces, including paneling. The formula is pH neutral, does not contain phosphates, is non-etching, and non-corrosive.

Most standard cleaners, including a degreaser for your kitchen, damage walls when used repeatedly, but this cleaner leaves behind no damage even after repeated scrubbing. For heavy duty, stains combine Painted Wall Cleaner with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

When finished cleaning, use a good stain blocking primer before you paint you may need 2 coats of primer.