Painting expert Todd Olson shows how to clean up easily after a painting project.
- After you have cleaned your paintbrushes, hang them from a clothes hanger to dry (figure A).
- Before sealing up a can of paint, dip your finger into the paint and dab a smudge on top of the can (figure B). Now you can easily see what color of paint is inside.
- Make a handy touch-up kit by pouring a bit of leftover paint into a baby food jar. Put a piece of tape on the jar and label it with the room the paint came from (figure C).
- Since you've got the switch plates off anyway, go ahead and put a couple of pieces of tape on the back of a plate and write the type, color and brand of paint you used in the room (figure D). Now you've got a record of the paint used in case you need to buy more for touch-ups.
- When painting a door, smear hinges, locks and knobs with petroleum jelly before you paint to prevent scraping them later. The paint and petroleum jelly will wipe right off.
- Small paint splatters on windows can be removed with a little nail-polish remover.
- Paint levels--A good way to tell how much paint is left in the can is to mark the level on the outside of the can to quickly see if you've got enough paint.
- Color reminder--Just before you're finished painting, dip a frozen ice-treat stick into the paint. Later, it will serve as a portable color guide for matching colors when you shop.
- To clean your brushes that have been hardened by paint, soak them in hot vinegar for several hours, then wash them in warm, soapy water.
- To keep your paintbrushes soft and pliable for future use, add a splash of fabric softener in the final rinse water.
- To remove paint on your hands, wash them with cooking oil and follow up with a glycerine-based soap.
- To eliminate the odor from a freshly painted room, put a tablespoon of ammonia in a pan of water and leave it in the middle of the room overnight.
* Note: Only do this if the room is off limits to pets and young children.
Guests Todd Olson
Paint / Wallpaper Consultant, Lathrop Paints
401 11th Ave. S.
Hopkins, MN 55343
Phone: 612-872-7000
Fax: 612-872-7029
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