Cleaning Up After Painting
CLEANING UP AFTER PAINTING
Now that the fun parts over, its time to pack up the project, ensuring that you clean and store your accessories properly, so they can be used for your next project!
Tired of wasting money replacing your stiff and unusable paint brushes? You can simply wash and clean them so they perform better and last longer.
after use on water based paint
Removing water-based paint from paint brushes is easy as long as you clean them immediately after use. Plunge the paint brush bristles into a bucket of clean warm water. Work them around the bucket and most of the paint build-up will be removed.
The next step is to grab a wire brush and thoroughly comb out remaining paint from bristles. Discard used water and clean out bucket. Repeat washing in the bucket until all paint is removed. If you cannot completely clean use some mineral turpentine and then thoroughly rinse in warm water and soap to remove all of the turps. Dry the paint brush by shaking out the water then replace the paint brush into its cover or a plastic bag and hang so that the bristles are not touching anything otherwise the bristles can become bent & out of shape.
after use on OIL based paint
Slightly different products will need to be used if you’re using oil-based paint to help get rid of any excess paint left on your brush, you will need mineral turpentine to remove the existing paint by pouring roughly 5cm of mineral turpentine into a clean bucket and work them around loosening the remaining paint. Now if paint still remains comb the bristles with a wire brush, dip the bristles into the turpentine again and swish, repeat this process two more times if needs be. Wash the paint brush in warm water and soap, dry the paint brush by shaking out the water then replace the paint brush into its covers or a plastic bag and hang so that the bristles are not touching anything so that they’re not damaged or bent whist drying
STORAGE TIPS
- Keep your water-based and oil-based brushes separate.
- Clean after every use, neglecting to clean will cause the paint to harden and displace the brush hairs.
- Wear old clothing when painting and cleaning brushes.
- Always hang your brushes when drying.
Cleaning paint rollers will allow you to reuse these valuable tools instead of throwing them away, which is good for both the environment and your wallet. Cleaning techniques will differ depending on whether you use water-based or oil-based paint.
Removing water-based paint from rollers is easy as long as you clean them immediately after use. Plunge the roller cover into a bucket of clean warm water. Work them around the bucket and most of the paint build-up will be removed.
If you’re using oil-based paints you will need to use a mineral turpentine to clean the roller which is also known as Turps.
The first step is to clean the excess paint from your roller using a wire roller cleaner, which you clip in from the top of the roller and drag in a downwards motion pushing the excess paint back into the tin, you may need to do this several times to remove as much paint as you can.
The next step is to run your roller across a couple of sheets of newspaper to remove any further paint. Next using a Rota Cota Roller Cleaner pop your roller into the roller sleeve which fits straight in and clips into place. Once you’ve done that you’ll need to grab a hose and and connect it to the other end and place it over a bucket, once you turn on your tap you want the water to gently flow through into a bucket until the water coming out the end is running clear. After turning off the tap & disconnecting the hose you should actually leave the bucket of water for a while, perhaps overnight until the sediment settles. That way you’ll be able to pour out the excess water which will be sitting at the top allowing you to scrap out the remaining sediment onto a couple of sheets of newspaper and throw it in the bin.
Now that your roller is clean, the next step is to dry it by removing the roller from its handle and placing it on a roller dryer which is a system used to quickly rotate the roller by moving the handle up & down creating a spinning motion. Place the roller in a well-ventilated area to dry and try to let it hang freely to avoid indenting the brush it dries. Store the roller after it has dried completely.
hints & TIPS
- Keep your water-based and oil-based rollers separate.
- Clean after every use, neglecting to clean will cause the paint to harden and make the rollers difficult to reuse.
- Wear old clothing when painting and cleaning brushes.
- Always hang your brushes when drying.
CLEANING & storing drop sheets:
If cleaned and stored correctly, dropcloths can be reused for different projects, saving you money.
Plastic Drop sheets
While designed for one or two uses, plastic drop sheets can be reused a handful of times however it is important to be mindful of a few important care steps to prevent damages:
- Make sure any spilt paint that in on the drop sheet is completely dry before folding up to store. If the paint is not properly dried, it will stick and potentially rip when being pulled apart for use next time.
- Plastic drop sheets are lightweight and easy to store, but make sure it is stored away from any potential hazards in the garage or shed – nails, hammers, scissors, etc – anything that can cause a hole or puncture.
Canvas Drop sheets
Canvas drop sheets are designed to be used multiple times and are easily cared for:
- Canvas drop sheets do not need to be washed. Simply let them dry, fold them up and store away for next time.
- If you do decide you would like to clean your drop sheets, simply hose down after use and let air dry (we recommend hanging over to clothes line to allow for easy hosing and quick and easy drying!)
- STORAGE HINT: if possible, store your canvas drop sheet in a garbage bag in your shed or garage. This will prevent the drop sheet from collecting dust during storage.
The main thing you want to avoid is tipping any unwanted paint down the drain or into your garbage bin as the potentially hazardous chemicals can cause damage to the surrounding waterways and wildlife. Using the environmental principles of reduce, reuse, recycle there are lots of ways you can alleviate environmental impacts.
- Give your remaining paint to a neighbour or colleague, or donate to a school, charity or community group.
- A cost effective and handy way to dispose of leftover paint is to line a container with newspaper and fill it with biodegradable cat litter. Pour small quantities of any unwanted paint directly over the litter. Wait for the litter to absorb the paint, then wrap up the cat litter and toss it into your household bin.
- Another alternative is to find out when your next local Household Chemical CleanOut day, or to find your nearest Community Recycling Centre by visiting the following link to check dates and locations: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/recycling-and-reuse/household-recycling-overview/find-crcs-or-hcco
Store your leftover paint to use for future touch ups. Leftover paint will last longer if the tin is tightly sealed. To reseal a can of paint so that it is airtight, wipe the rim of the can clean, replace the lid, place a block of wood over the top and tap it down with a hammer. Then quickly turn the can upside down to form an airtight seal which will help prevent skinning.
To keep left-over paint, scrape any paint off the underside of the lid of the can before closing firmly and storing in a dry, cool area. There are touch up kits available which use plastic containers to store small amounts of paint which can then be applied directly from the container with an applicator. Both Uni-Pro and Wagner touch-up kits can be ordered and purchased from your local Inspirations Paint store.
|