Most people who decide to do a major house painting in Pleasant Hill may spend what seems to be a fortune on good-quality painting tools, including essentials like brushes and paint rollers. Quality tools may be expensive, but you may see them as a worthwhile investment if you are doing the painting in your home.
Brushes and rollers that are taken care of properly can potentially last for years. Caring for these tools may even prolong their useful life, since these high-quality tools are mostly reusable. Cheaper rollers and brushes, on the other hand, are often disposed of right away or after just a few uses.
The key to proper cleaning and care of the paint brushes and paint rollers is doing it promptly. Leaving paint on the rollers, unless properly covered, will ruin these tools.
Cleaning paintbrushes (which use latex paints)
- Although cleaning brushes is easy even if you’ve let them sit for a while, it’s always better to clean the brushes right away after you are done painting. It is also much easier. First, remove the excess paint off the brush by wiping it off using a rag. Next, run slightly warm or cool water over the brush until you see the water dripping from the brush becomes clear. Lightly and gently press the bristles on a hard surface to drain excess water, and then allow the brush to dry.
- Another way to clean your paintbrushes is to get a bucket of water and put a bit of soap or detergent into it. Clean the brush in the bucket. Gently press the bristles against any hard surface to remove the excess paint, rinse the brush to remove the soap, and then allow it to dry.
- After you have done painting or quit painting for a while, clean the brush as directed above, then cover your paintbrush with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight. Make sure to wrap the paintbrush very well, without bending the bristles. Take it out of the refrigerator but allow it to return to room temperature before you begin painting again. It will be ready to be used again the next day.
Cleaning paintbrushes (which use oil-based paints)
Unlike paintbrushes that have been used with latex paints, paintbrushes that have been used with oil-based paints should never be washed with water.
In cleaning paintbrushes covered with oil-based paints, a chemical-based cleaning or removing agent should be used. Paint thinner is the most common product to remove oil-based paints. Make sure that you wear protective gloves to keep your hands from possible irritation, and a face mask to protect your nose and mouth. You may also want to wear safety glasses in case the thinner splashes; it could cause damage to your eyes. You should also clean the brushes in a place that has plenty of ventilation when cleaning paintbrushes covered with oil-based paints.
Get a metal container (such as an old coffee can or another old tin can), your paint thinner or other solvent, and a rag. Pour enough of the thinner into the metal container that the bristles will be covered. Dip the brush in into the thinner and move it around a bit until you see that the thinner removes the paint. Aside from the paint itself, make sure the handle doesn’t have paint thinner on it when you take the brush out of the container. You may also wipe the brush on the edge of the can to drain excess paint and solvent.
When the brush finally appears clean enough, wipe it on the rag to get rid of any leftover solvent. Remember that thinner is toxic and flammable, so you can’t just throw the used thinner away in the trash or pour it down into the sink. There must be a proper disposal of chemicals like thinner or any other solvents, so check your local or state guidelines to find out how to properly dispose of them.
Cleaning paint rollers
Cleaning paint rollers is pretty much the same as in cleaning the paint brush, although with a few differences.
For paint roller covers used with latex paint, the best method is to run a curved blade of a 5-in-1 tool down the roller to remove the excess paint. Pull the cover half-way off the frame as you’re removing the paint. Clean it with running water (preferably warm or hot water), using your hands to push down any few traces of paint.
Plastic wrap is a good way to wrap the roller cover. After wrapping the roller cover, put it into the refrigerator and let it stay overnight. And when you have to use it again the next day, take the roller cover out from the refrigerator but allow it first to return to room temperature to ensure it is ready for painting.
For paint roller covers used with oil-based paints, pour solvent (such as paint thinner) into the paint tray. Dip and roll the cover in the tray to make sure that you have removed the excess paint. Replace the used solvent and pour it with other solvent for the final cleaning. Make sure you wear gloves and face masks while you’re cleaning the roller. You should also have plenty of ventilation before you start removing oil-based paints from rollers.
Stand the roller on its end to dry. Lying it down will cause the fibers to flatten on that side. This will cause an uneven roller, and uneven painting results, the next time you use it.
Cleaning brushes and rollers after painting should not be that burdensome. These easy-to-follow cleaning tips will ensure you are able to use your high-quality brushes and roller covers for much longer. Therefore, when house painting in Pleasant Hill, you will be able to make the most out of your investment.
