Many people have a big dislike for painting. Painting is an easy task and with painting secrets, it is even easier! Paint is a quick and easy way to completely update a space, a focal wall, or furniture. The great thing about paint is that it can go over anything.
Along the way of my many painting adventures, there have been great tips I learned that make the painting project completely painless. It always seems when I am sharing tips I have learned along the way, someone always has new ones to share with me. So here are some of the best tips that have come my way:
Use a Dollar Store shower curtain as a drop cloth. Drop cloths are expensive, especially if you go through them as quickly as I do. At one dollar a piece it becomes much more affordable to throw them away instead of trying to save the ones you are paying five dollars for.
Store your rollers and paintbrushes in the refrigerator. The amount of time spent on cleaning paintbrushes and rollers throughout your project is painful. This is by far the best tip I have learned over the years. The painting supplies will easily store up to a week when wrapped in saran wrap or stored in a Ziploc bag. This is priceless if your project is going to take than one day.
If your project is a smaller, simply store paintbrushes in a cup, or a larger container for rollers, mixed in a solution of hot water and dishwashing liquid. Allow them to sit overnight.
When painting over existing paint, it is very important to know if the old paint is oil or latex-based. To find out, simply rub a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the paint. If the paint comes off on the cotton ball then you know it is latex, if not then you know the surface is oil-based. If it is oil-based, make sure to use an oil-based primer before starting the project.
Put any smaller items to be spray-painted in a box. This prevents overspray, and it is a genius idea.
When painting doors always cover your hinges with painters tape, and go around the edges with an exacto knife to remove the excess. This will allow the doors to be painted without the hinges suffering. It also eliminates the door from needing to come down.
One of the most irritating things about painting can be brush stroke marks. Luckily, there is an easy remedy by the name of Floetrol. This will totally change the way you paint. Add it per the directions to latex paint and it will eliminate brush and roller marks. When using an oil-based paint look for a product called Penetrol. Floetrol can be found at Home Depot for $6.47 for a 1-liter bottle, and Penetrol can be found there as well for $9.47 a quart. This will be this best money spent when painting, I promise!
Instead of taking off all of the light switch plates and outlet covers, use artist brushes to paint around them. This allows you to paint small precise areas easily without removing all the hardware. A multi pack will cost about $3 at Home Depot.
For easy cleanup of the roller pans always line them with aluminum foil. Again, you can buy this at the dollar store and it will save sanity when painting. Line the pan, paint, and then afterwards just toss it. Cleanup is officially over!
There are many tips you can use to make a painting process smooth and painless. Just do your research before you start painting so you will know exactly which tips you need to use. Have more tips for me? I am always trying to figure out new ones since I do all the painting. Email me and let me know your secrets.