My Favorite Painting Tips
One thing I have done plenty of is painting! In our nearly 45 years of marriage we have moved seventeen times. In the early years even rentals got repainted to suit us. Many of our landlords commented that we left the house nicer than we found it. We papered, we painted, we landscaped and then we moved on. It was always a chore, but a necessary one. Over the years I picked up tips here and there so it turned into more of just an inconvenient weekend to do a room or two.
One of the first things I found was cleaning that roller pan could be completely eliminated by putting a plastic bag over it first before pouring the paint in. The paint is heavy and it molds to the shape. Using a liner that is purchased always resulted in some paint finding it’s way into the pan, but it’s never a problem with a plastic bag. I use a kitchen size trash bag that completely covers it. We are talking pennies.
I used to use plastic drop cloths but found that the paint doesn’t dry and the chance of stepping in it later after you have forgotten that it’s there is problematic. I’ve cleaned up many a footprint. Even covering the plastic with newspaper, although better, doesn’t work really well because it can make for a slippery area. Not the ideal when you are moving a roller pan full of paint from one side to the other. I like to use old sheets in the area I’m working. Buy them at the Salvation Army thrift store or yard sales. Old stained sheets are worth their weight in gold. The paint dries on top and it isn’t slippery. I use a couple of layers and the carpet is protected. No slips.
Punching holes in the rim of the paint can helps keep the area free of dried paint and keeps the lid on tightly between painting sessions. Use a large nail and punch about six or eight holes around. A tight fitted lid ensures that it won’t spill if the can tips over and the paint won’t dry out.
A large rubber band around the center of the can is ideal for wiping your brush. It keeps most of the excess paint in the can and not in the rim. You can never keep all the paint out of the rim so punch those holes anyway.
Look for an Oops section at the paint store. I like to buy my paint at a big discount. If there is a color I like, I will buy it for five bucks rather than twenty five or thirty and paint. Don’t wait to look for paint when you are ready to paint. Check every time you go into Lowes or Home Depot. You can be much more choosy about the colors you pick. A new can of paint in a gorgeous color can actually inspire you to paint a room that is long overdue.
When you must set aside the paint brush to do other things, no need to clean it all out. Just wrap it in plastic. It will be fine for a few hours or days. If you must wait to finish the job until the following weekend, put the wrapped brush in the freezer. The paint won’t freeze and there will be no worry about any paint drying on the edges of the brush.
If you are spray painting, a good trick is to put a flexible plastic finger over your finger. The kind used to sort mail and papers and stuff. Your finger will stay paint free, especially under the nail! Gloves don’t bother me so I have been known to spray paint and just cover my hand with a thin plastic glove but that can be over kill. A sweaty hand can be slippery and uncomfortable. All you really need is to cover the trigger finger.
When you spray paint an object, make sure there isn’t any wind. You will use twice as many cans to cover the object. I sprayed indoors once because the day was so windy. I was being very, very careful. I did it only once because a fine mist of color will not be stopped no matter how careful you are. The clean up was forever because the mist covered everything. Everything.
I never use painters tape. It’s such a bother and so time consuming. If you use the correct brushes and keep them in good condition the little extra wipes and clean up is far less work than spending hours applying painting tape. I have had it pull new paint off the wall as well, although the newer kinds promise that won’t happen anymore, but at a higher cost. It isn’t worth it if you use a bit of care.
Painting a room is a chore but the benefits of your fresh new color are legion. A few tips applied and the clean up is minimal. Have fun!
Source: Life experience
