When it comes to painting, your job is only going to be as good as the tools you use for it. You will literally be wasting your time, if the paint brushes and rollers are in unkempt shape, with ragged bristles. It is safe to say you will be doing more harm than good with them. In the pursuit of a clean painting job, you have to pay attention to proper storage and maintenance of the tools you use for the job. That is the consensus among experts and it is a good idea to take their word for it.
Here are a few tips for keeping your painting equipment nice and tidy:
Understand you are investing in painting tools
When you buy your painting tools, you will be able to choose from very cheap ones, which will probably last you through half the paint project, or you can invest in sturdy tools that will see you through it and more. With proper care, the right tools easily last for months and help you in more than one painting project.
Prepping your materials
In order to improve performance, you have to prepare your materials well. When you get a brand new brush, break its bristles a little with your fingers. Gently pinch the tips of the bristles, and pull to remove any loose strands. You may want to remove excess lint, by dipping the brush in a glass of water, and keeping it there for a few minutes.
This is especially helpful when working with latex paints. You can also remove lint on your new tools by wrapping a piece of painter’s tape on your hands and rolling the surface of the tools over. That ought to do the trick.
Proper storing during the project
If you are not a fan of cleaning your painting tools mid-project, you can simply wrap brushes and rollers in aplastic wrap or aluminum foil. That way you won’t have to deal with dried paint on the bristles/fabric. You can even consider storing them for more than a day this way, only you should upgrade the storage method to an airtight bag. Once you remove all of the air, you can place the tools in the fridge.
As weird as this sounds, you will preserve the paint on them fresh. Once you resume your work, it will be like no pause was ever made.
Clean tools quickly after a project
Once you are done painting, you have to clean your tools immediately. Not only will it be an easy thing, since paint comes off quickly when it is still moist, but you will be doing the tool a big favour. Brush the excess paint away, before it has had a chance to dry out, and you can even use it later, with any leftover paint.
Rinse properly
The way you rinse paint depends on the type. Water-based paints you can easily remove from the brush with some warm water and soap, by using your fingers to remove the paint out of the bristles. If you have a roller to clean, you can run a blade down its surface, which should be enough to remove the excess. If you are using oil-based paint, you may want to use odourless spirits. Pour some solvent in a small container and swish the brush in it. Use the edges to remove the paint. Then you will do a final rinse with the spirits.
Using all of these tips is a fine way to make the most of your painting tools. That way you will preserve them in top condition during and after the painting job is done.