When it comes time to repaint a room, or many rooms, in your home, you have various options. One of the options is to have professional painters come in and complete the work for you. After all, they have the necessary painting tools. If you’re DIYing a paint job, being done painting is not the end of the process. You still have to clean up, especially all those brushes and rollers. Not every paint application tool can just be cleaned with soap and water – read on to learn more.
Use these tips to clean your tools.
Cleaning Brushes
When it comes to cleaning brushes, time is of the essence. It is vital to make sure that you are cleaning them as soon as you’re done. Don’t let the paint dry on them, or it becomes much harder to clean (and may damage the brush). Use the proper solvent for the type of paint you used (water-based paints can be cleaned with soap and water, but oil-based paint requires paint thinner or mineral spirits). You should clean your brushes in a clean container rather than in a sink and agitate the color out of the bristles with a natural painting motion rather than pressing down on them or twisting them. You may have to wash them multiple times to ensure that all of the paint is out of the bristles. When you think you’re done, press any excess solvent or water on a clean, dry paper towel. If color also comes out, you’re not done washing the brush.
Cleaning Rollers
Most people assume the roller heads are disposable, and for the most part, they are. They are priced and designed to be used once and thrown away without too much wallet-ache. They can be reused, however, if they are washed properly. Choose the suitable solvent based on paint type, as you do for brushes. Pour it into the pan and roll the roller through it to loosen the paint. Once you’ve reduced it as much as possible, remove the roller from the handle (you may need a putty knife to dislodge it if the paint has built up and dried). With gloved hands, massage the remaining color out of the roller until it is clean.
Storing Painting Tools
Just as important as washing your painting tools is storing your tools. Rolls should be thoroughly dried and then stored in a dust-free cabinet. If it gets covered with dust, you may as well have thrown it away rather than cleaning it. For your brushes, you should also make sure that they are thoroughly dry. If you need to pause during the painting process and can’t clean, you can make it easier to maintain your brushes by wrapping them in a damp cloth or paper towel. But remember that this is not a long-term storage option.
New Locations! Visit Us Here And Explore!
We’ve moved from the Dobbin Road location to our new, roomy location just down the road:
Columbia Paint and Decorating, a Benjamin Moore Dealer: 6822 Oak Hall Lane, Suite C2, Columbia MD 21045 phone number: 443-319-4001
Expect the same one-stop shopping for all your decorating needs. We are a full-service Benjamin Moore dealer offering the best quality decorating products at the best prices. We have ample paint and paint supplies, wall coverings, custom window treatments, fabrics, and now, NEW flooring selections from Kaleen Rugs and Luxury Vinyl Tile samples. And, of course, the same excellent customer service, knowledge, and customer satisfaction that you’ve come to expect.
Announcing Our Second Location:
Clarksville Paint & Decorating, a Benjamin Moore Dealer
12447 Clarksville Pike, Suite 1A, Clarksville, MD