Things You’ll Need
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Dust mask
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Narrow-blade putty knife
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120- or 150-grit sandpaper
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Sponge
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Broom
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Dustpan
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Latex primer
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Paintbrush
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Hand sander (optional)
Sanding old spackling prepares your walls for priming. Image Credit: Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Spackling compound allows you to fix holes in walls and prepares the walls for priming and painting. This gypsum-powder joint compound is a staple of home-improvement projects, but filling in holes with spackling and a putty knife isn't the end of the job. Spackling leaves a rough finish on walls that has to be sanded down.
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Step 1
Put on a dust mask to avoid inhaling small particles.
Step 2
Chip off large chunks of spackling with a small metal putty knife. Scrape the blade of the knife gently against any ridges to remove them.
Step 3
Sand the remaining spackling in a circular motion with a piece of 120- or 150-grit sandpaper. Use a hand sander to make the job go faster.
Step 4
Wipe the wall with a damp sponge to remove leftover dust. Sweep up any dust on the floor with a broom.
Step 5
Prime the spot where the spackling was with latex primer before painting over it. Paint the primer onto the spot with a bristle or sponge brush.
Tip
An electric sander with a disk can make removing spackling compound faster if there's a lot to remove. It also saves your hands and arms from soreness.
