How do you prepare interior wood paneling to be painted?

You need to sand it to give it some tooth for the paint to adhere to it. RoxanneHow do you prepare interior wood paneling to be painted?
To expand on Roxanne's answer, you first need to was the paneling with TSP and water.


The TSP (TriSodium Phosphate) will remove the grease and dirt that's built up over the years.





THEN you sand it lightly with 80 or 100 grit sandpaper to give it more ';tooth.';





Using damp cloths, remove all the sanding dust.





The sanding is necessary to cut into the clear finish which is on the paneling.





Your first coat should be a latex primer, then the next coat (or two) will be indoor water-based latex. ( it doesn't have much of an odour...)





You may also opt for a latex ';intumescent'; paint, which is both paint and a fire retardant, and it works quite nicely.How do you prepare interior wood paneling to be painted?
If they are new, just fine sandpaper - undercoat - then gloss.


If they are used a bit grimey use sugar soap, fine sandpaper then gloss. Sugarsoap will get rid of greasy finger marks and grimed in dirt.
I painted the paneling in my living room. And just prepped by cleaning with TSP. That paneling in there was more porous/not shiny than allot of panelling. And I did not use a primer on it first.