Max Strip Painter's Prep | 22 oz | Pre-Painting and Refinishing Surface Cleaner | Water-Based Formula | Fast-Acting | Removes Grease, Oil, Dirt, Stains, Adhesive Residues, and Paint Splashes

Why I reached for this cleaner

Surface prep is the unglamorous part of painting that makes or breaks the result. I’ve tried everything from soap-and-water to TSP and IPA mixes to get walls and cabinets ready, and I’m always looking for something that cleans thoroughly without slowing the workflow. That’s what led me to Painter’s Prep by Max Strip—a water-based, no‑rinse cleaner in a 22 oz spray bottle designed specifically for pre-paint cleaning and degreasing.

What it is

Painter’s Prep is a ready-to-use, water-based degreaser formulated to lift oils, general grime, light stains, adhesive residues, and minor paint splashes from common substrates. The pitch is simple: clean, degrease, and move straight to scuff-sanding or priming without a rinse step. It’s positioned as a user-friendly alternative to TSP, and on paper it promises a quicker, less fussy prep process.

How it performed in real prep work

I put Painter’s Prep through the typical tasks I run before paint and refinishing jobs: interior walls, kitchen cabinets, sticky tape residue, a bit of overspray cleanup, and some glass and metal surfaces. Across the board, it hit the mark for a pre-paint cleaner—strong enough to cut contamination without being so aggressive that it risks damaging finishes.

• Interior walls before repainting

  • Fingerprints, hand oils around switches, and general dust film came up quickly. I sprayed a light mist, let it sit for about 30 seconds, then wiped with a microfiber. On flat and eggshell paint, it left a squeaky-clean, slightly matte feel that inspires confidence for adhesion. I didn’t notice residue or surfactant film—a common problem with household cleaners that can cause fisheyes. Tape grabbed better afterward, and sanding produced clean dust instead of smeary gunk.

• Cabinets and kitchen grime

  • Kitchen cabinets are where a cleaner proves itself. On door fronts near the range, it cut through accumulated cooking oils and handling grime without multiple passes. I still do a light scuff sand before priming, but the sandpaper didn’t gum up as it can with inadequate degreasing. The finish stayed intact; it’s a cleaner, not a deglosser, and it behaved accordingly.

• Adhesive residue and paint splashes

  • For sticker and painter’s tape residue, dwell time matters. I sprayed, waited a minute, then agitated with a nylon pad or microfiber. Adhesives softened and wiped away without needing harsher solvents. On minor paint specks and thin overspray on trim, it helped soften and lift the dots with a plastic scraper. Don’t expect it to remove cured drips or act like a stripper—it’s not—but for the light spatter that often shows up after rolling ceilings, it’s useful.

• Glass, metal, and other slick surfaces

  • On glass and metal (think light fixtures, door hardware, or even a windshield), it left a clean, streak-free finish when I wiped with a fresh, low-pile microfiber and did a second dry buff. Odor is mild with a slight tang—closer to a light vinegar note than a chemical blast—and ventilation plus gloves were all I needed. I also used it as a final wipe-down after polishing compound on a coated metal panel; it cleared residual oils without flashing too quickly like straight alcohol mixes.

Application and workflow tips

A little process and the right cloths make a big difference:

• Use a fine spray and work in manageable sections. You’re not trying to soak the surface.
• Allow 20–60 seconds of dwell time, especially on greasy areas and adhesive residue.
• Agitate with a microfiber towel or a non-scratch pad where needed.
• Wipe dry with a clean microfiber. On heavier soil, follow with a second clean cloth to ensure you’re removing, not just moving, the grime.
• For sensitive or unknown finishes, test a discrete spot first.
• Don’t saturate raw wood, MDF, or unsealed drywall; any water-based cleaner can raise grain or fuzz. Light mist only, and let it dry thoroughly before sanding/priming.
• PPE: Gloves are smart, and I prefer good airflow. The odor is light, but it’s still a cleaner—behave accordingly.

The no-rinse claim held up in practice. In most cases, I moved straight to scuffing or priming. In greasy kitchens, I like a quick final dry wipe to remove anything loosened by the first pass.

Bottle and usability

The 22 oz spray bottle is a convenient size for room-by-room prep and small refinishing projects. The trigger delivered a controllable, even mist with a decent pattern, and I appreciated not having to decant or mix anything. A stream option would be handy for targeting stubborn residue, but the standard spray covered most needs. I didn’t run into drips or sticky triggers, and the bottle stored fine upright in my kit.

In terms of coverage, one bottle is enough to do detailed prep on a small kitchen or a couple of average-sized rooms if you’re focused on high-touch zones rather than washing every square foot. If you’re prepping an entire house, you’ll want multiple bottles or a larger format from a different product category.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t

Painter’s Prep shines as a “smart middle ground”: stronger and more purpose-built than generic household cleaners, but less harsh and fussy than TSP.

• Where it excels

  • Pre-paint cleaning on painted drywall, trim, doors, and cabinets
  • Degreasing kitchen surfaces prior to sanding and priming
  • Removing light adhesive residues without resorting to hot solvents
  • Cleaning glass, metal, and plastic fixtures so paint and tape adhere cleanly
  • Wiping down after polishing or compounding steps when you want oils gone without the rapid flash and streaks of straight IPA

• Where I’d look elsewhere

  • Heavy smoke/nicotine, fire soot, or chalking exterior paint: TSP (or specialized cleaners) still wins for severe contamination.
  • Mold/mildew remediation: use a dedicated cleaner designed for that.
  • Stripping or softening cured paint or thick, old adhesive beds: this isn’t a substitute for chemical strippers or aggressive solvents.
  • Bare, porous substrates that don’t like moisture: use a very light touch or switch to a solvent-based prep if appropriate.

Value and alternatives

The biggest value proposition is time. Not having to rinse speeds up the prep loop and reduces the chance of introducing water into joints and seams you’re about to paint. Compared to TSP, this is easier to deploy, less likely to leave a film, and more user-friendly for indoor work. Compared to IPA/water mixes, it doesn’t flash too fast, so you get better working time and less streaking, and you’re not stuck guessing at ratios. And compared with household all-purpose cleaners, it doesn’t leave lingering surfactants that can mess with adhesion.

As for cost per ounce, a 22 oz bottle is a practical, grab-and-go size for DIY painters and pros doing punch-list tasks. For larger jobs, I’d plan on multiple bottles or consider adding a more concentrated cleaner to your kit for the dirtiest zones, keeping Painter’s Prep as the efficient, no-rinse mainstay.

The bottom line

Painter’s Prep earns a place in my prep arsenal because it does the boring, essential work of getting surfaces truly clean with minimal hassle. It cuts grease, lifts everyday grime, softens light adhesives, and leaves a paint-ready surface without rinsing. The spray bottle is convenient, the odor is mild, and it integrates smoothly into a sand–prime–paint workflow. It won’t replace TSP for extreme contamination or act like a stripper, and it’s not meant to. But for most interior repainting and refinishing tasks, it hits the sweet spot between effectiveness and ease of use.

Recommendation: I recommend Painter’s Prep. It’s an efficient, low-odor, no‑rinse cleaner that reliably improves paint adhesion and streamlines prep on the majority of surfaces I encounter. If your projects routinely involve heavy smoke or severe residues, keep a stronger cleaner on hand. For everything else—walls, trim, cabinets, light adhesive cleanup—this is the bottle I reach for first.