House painting in Fremont should be appropriately and safely done, from cleaning and preparation of the surface to cleaning up after the painting part.
Of course, cleaning up the room after the painting job will make the space tidy again, but this time your room will look like it’s brand-new with the fresh coat of paint. But you shouldn’t clean up just your newly-painted space, but your materials as well, especially if you have used quality tools.
And since they’re quality tools, it’s important to keep them in good condition to extend their useful life. You should clean them right away after painting.
The following are simple steps of cleaning up after your painting chores are done:
1. Remove the painter’s tape slowly and gently off the surface after it has been painted.
2. Next, clean the tools such as paintbrushes and rollers
- Latex (water-based) paints – use water and soap.
- Oil-based paints – use mineral spirits
3. Using a paint comb, clean the bristles of the paintbrush. You can use something else such as a scraper which you can also run through or over the bristles or the roller covers. Then try to shake off the rest of the paint in a bucket of water or under running tap water (which is more effective in removing residue paint).
As for the paintbrushes used with an oil-based paint, clean them in a bowl of mineral spirits. Then rinse them under running tap water. Just remember that they are alkyd paints which are volatile substances, so you have to wear a protective face mask or better yet, a respirator. Clean oil-based paints in proper ventilation and in a place safely away from flammable materials and open flames. Don’t just throw away or store rags that have been dripped or soaked with an oil-based paint. Instead, soak them in a basin of water overnight.
4. After washing and rinsing the brushes, hang them out to dry, upside-down, so that water can be drained out and down from their metal band.
5. Cleaning the rollers used with latex paint – scrape off the excess paint from the roller cover. Remove the roller cover and rinse the paint off it, preferably under warm running water. Fill a sink or a basin with soapy water and wash the cover. Drain the sink and then rinse it again. After rinsing, squeeze out the excess water to drain the cover. Dry the roller cover by standing it on its end on top of the used newspapers. Next, clean the roller cage with soap and water, then rinse and pat it dry. Keep the roller cover and the roller cage in appropriate storage once they are dry.
6. Cleaning the rollers used with oil paint – This is more time-consuming and painstaking compared to cleaning rollers used with latex paint. As with cleaning paintbrushes, you should clean the roller cover in a well-ventilated place and safely away from flammable objects. Wear gloves and goggles or a respirator, and cover your work surface with drop cloths or old newspapers.
Using three trays or pans, fill half of each one with paint thinner. Next, scrape the excess paint from the roller cover.
Remove the roller cover from its cage and place it into the first tray of thinner. Let the roller soak into the thinner for five minutes, shaking it a bit now and then to remove some of the paint. Remove some of the excess thinner from the roller cover — use a 5-in-1 tool for this process. Pat it dry using a clean rag or cloth. Repeat this step in the second container.
Finally, rinse the roller cover in the third container of thinner by soaking it in three minutes (shake the cover a bit periodically). By then the thinner should appear clear. Scrape off the excess thinner from the roller. Dry the roller cover by standing it on its end on top of paper towels — not newspapers, as the cover could dilute the ink and thus make the roller cover dirty.
Next, soak the roller cage in the first tray of thinner for about two minutes, then remove it from the tray and pat it dry using a paper towel. Repeat the steps in the second and third trays — or repeat these steps all over again — until the cage is completely clean and devoid of paint.
7. When the paint on the surface is completely dried, remove the drop clothes and re-attach the fixtures in your home (such as lights, doorknobs, or plugs). Clean up whatever debris or litter is left from the painting job, and dispose of the waste properly.
8. Wipe the excess paint off the outer rims of your paint can as well as underneath the lid. Then seal the can tightly and store it in a cool, dry place.
Cleaning after house painting in Fremont can be a painstaking chore. But as long as you properly follow these steps, you will be able to enjoy a cleaner, safer home, not to mention a home that looks brand-new again!
