Ether Jones wrote:
Phisherman wrote:

in general wood should not be "washed" with a
water-based detergent. It makes the fibers swell, and then when it
dries you have a rough surface that needs sanding.

Why do all the paint can labels tell you to wash the wood, and many
explicitly tell you to use TSP (which is obviously water-based) ?

If you don't wash the wood, how are you supposed to remove the dust and
dirt and grease and wax (old wood) or mill glaze (clean new wood)?


Wood should not be washed if a smooth surface is
wanted or you are not prepared to sand afterwards.
In most cases a light sanding (no washing) is
all that is needed.