Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your Paint Booth Clean

Do you have a high-quality paint booth but are puzzled why your paint jobs are contaminated by dust and dirt? The answer might be simpler than you think.

You may think there is something wrong with your paint booth when contaminants wind up in your paint jobs. Although this may be true in some instances, more often than not, it is not the case. The reason for contaminated paint jobs is typically a dirty or poorly maintained paint spray booth.

We have compiled a handful of maintenance tips from our experts in the field to help you keep your paint booth clean and operating efficiently. While these tips generally apply to any type of paint booth, it is crucial that you check the maintenance recommendations outlined by the manufacturer of your spray booth.

1. Keep Dust Out of Your Paint Booth

The simplest and most effective way to prevent dust from entering your paint booth is to keep all of the spray booth’s doors closed. When you open the doors to bring in the object that you are spraying, be sure the spray booth is on and running, that way airborne contaminants are drawn into the exhaust filters.

Other tips for keeping dust out of your paint booth:

• Do not leave any unnecessary items in the spray booth
• Never sand in the spray booth
• Caulk ceiling frames, wall joints, fire sprinkler openings and compressed air pipe openings
• Seal entrance and exit doors, access doors and concrete floors
• Limit traffic in and out of the spray booth
• Never spray without wearing a lint-free painter’s suit and headcover
• Store your painter’s suit in a clean area
• Properly prep the object you are painting prior to bringing it into the spray booth

2. Regularly Replace Your Paint Booth Filters

When it comes to paint booth filters, you definitely get what you pay for. You may be tempted to purchase a lesser-grade filter to save money, but using cheap or incorrect filters can lead to paint finish problems. A high-quality filter provides high efficiency and the correct diffusion to prevent inconsistent airflow and turbulence. Your best bet is to use the filters recommended by your spray booth manufacturer.

It is also important to routinely replace the filters. A plugged filter can throw off the balance of your paint booth, in addition to allowing overspray buildup on some exhaust fans. A manometer measures a pressure differential, indicating when paint booth filters are loaded and need replacement. Monitoring the filters with your manometer lets painters and service personnel know when it is time to change the filters. If your paint booth does not have a differential pressure gauge, it is best to establish a strict maintenance schedule based on the time spent spraying in the paint booth.

3. Clean the Cabin of Your Paint Booth

Regardless of how well your paint booth is engineered, it is likely that some overspray will collect on your spray booth’s floor, walls and other surfaces. Overspray or dust in the spray booth can become airborne and land on your paint job. To prevent this from happening, your spray booth surfaces must be regularly cleaned.

Vacuums can be used to clean stray dust and fibers, but you should be cautious when using a vacuum in a paint booth. Since you are vacuuming up flammable and combustible materials, sparks and heat can be generated by the motor in the vacuum, possibly igniting the material collected. If you use a vacuum, make sure that it is approved for use in hazardous locations.

We recommend using a sponge mop and solvent-based materials to break down paint on the spray booth’s floor and walls. Do not use a cotton mop, as it will leave fibers behind. The ventilation system must be in operation when using solvent-based materials. The spray booth’s floor, walls and exhaust pit also can be pressure washed for a deeper clean.

4. Clean the Components in Your Paint Booth

The interior surfaces of your paint booth are not the only places you need to look for paint overspray. Overspray can also collect on paint guns and air hoses. This caked-on paint can flake off and end up on the painted surface of products. Over time, air hoses may also begin to flake on the inside. Make sure to regularly clean paint guns and air hoses, and replace them when necessary.

Another place to watch for paint buildup is the exhaust. Old paint deposits can build up in the exhaust plenum, duct and fan, reducing the operating efficiency of the paint spray booth. It is important to make sure that when you clean your paint booth, you inspect the entire system to check for potential problems before they occur.

5. Watch Out for Moisture in Your Paint Booth

Dust, dirt and paint overspray aren’t your only enemies when it comes to a clean spray booth and properly operating the equipment. Moisture can also be an issue. Paint guns, gun washers and the paint booth itself all require air, and compressed air systems are an integral part of the paint application process. This moisture produced by compressed air systems condenses and can cause damage to tools and imperfections in your paint job.

There are many alternatives for reducing and eliminating moisture in compressed air systems, including refrigerant dryers. Make sure to choose a compressed air system that performs well and is reliable, and regularly maintain it to ensure optimum results.

These five tips should help you properly maintain your paint booth and ensure contamination control. Proper cleanup and maintenance is crucial for creating flawless finishes, and also provides a safe and efficient working environment for your painters.