Keep Your Brush Ready
- You won't want to clean your paint brush or roller every time you need to take a break. Wrap them in plastic wrap and seal them in a plastic bag. They'll be ready and flexible when you return from your break. For longer storage (as much as a week), put the plastic bag with brushes in the freezer-- yes, the freezer! Thaw out the brushes for an hour before you use them again.
Have Plenty of Rags for Wipe Ups
- No painter would be without a supply of rags. You'll undoubtedly need to wipe off excess paint, catch drips, clean up spills, or wipe off your hands.
Razor Blades
- Scrape excess paint or drips from windows, tile, or glass with straight razor blades. The drips won't smear, and the surface will be perfectly clean.
Simple Clean Up for Latex Paint
- When you're done painting, take time to soak your brushes or rollers with latex paint in a solution of water and laundry fabric softener for about 10 minutes. Swish them around in the water, remove them, and rinse well with clear water. Wipe or roll off excess moisture, then air dry the brushes and rollers before putting away.
Extra Paint
- No need to save a big can of paint to store just the little that's left over. Use a glass jar or pint size paint can to store excess paint. Remove the paint can label or mark the new, smaller container with important information. Include the date the paint was used, the color name and number, where it was purchased, the room where it was used, and where (wall, trim, etc.) If you have it, attach the paint swatch from the paint store.
Be Ready for Touch Ups
- Use small baby food jars or food storage containers to store small amounts of paint for touching up scratches or dents. Fill them with leftover paint, label where the paint was used (kitchen cabinets, master bedroom ceiling, etc.) and what type of paint it is (latex flat, oil eggshell, etc.), and place the containers in sealing plastic bags. When you need to make a small repair, shake the container well and dab on a spot of paint with a small foam brush or Q-tip.
Learn about How to Put Together a Household Tool Kit