How to make clean paint brushes and rollers

What'south that they say about workmen and tools? Brushes and rollers that are stiff with paint from a previous project are not the all-time start to any painting chore. If you can't confront cleaning your brushes and want a really professional finish, y'all can discover painters and decorators in your area with Which? Trusted Traders. All our endorsed traders go through our cess procedure to ensure you can observe one you can trust.

But if you lot've got some paintwork to tackle yourself, go the best from your brushes and rollers by post-obit our traders' tips on keeping them clean.

Trader tip: There'due south no need to make clean brushes and rollers if you're going to use them once more the adjacent day. Wrapping the bristles or roller head in clingfilm will forbid the pigment from drying out.

Nonetheless, if yous demand to give them a proper make clean, follow these straightforward steps:

1. Remove whatever excess paint

When you've finished using your paint brush, squeeze the bristles against the edge of the paint-can lip to draw out every bit much moisture as possible.

Then wipe away paint from brushes or rollers using an old cloth or some newspaper.

2. Clean water-based paint

You tin can remove h2o-based or non oil-based pigment (emulsion) with warm, soapy water.

Use rubber gloves to protect your hands. To avoid staining your kitchen or bathroom, consider containing the soapy water in a jam jar, paint tray or similar, rather than using the sink directly.

Continue cleaning, changing the water several times, until all the paint is removed.

three. Clean oil-based paint

Information technology will take more than soapy water to clean abroad oil-based pigment (gloss).

Fill up a container, such every bit an old jam jar, with white spirit and swirl the brush around in it. Wear prophylactic gloves to protect your hands. A roller will need a larger container – inquire a hardware shop for advice, as plastic containers can sometimes react with white spirit.

Refresh the solution if necessary, continuing until all the paint is removed. Proceed the used white spirit in the container - after a solar day or two the paint will settle to the bottom of the solution and you can re-utilize it for the side by side cleaning job.

If you wish to dispose of the white spirit, you must never cascade information technology down the sink. Contact your local council to notice out well-nigh suitable waste removal services in your area.

four. Rinse and dry out

Rinse brushes or rollers under a tap until the h2o runs clear. Pat them dry with a kitchen towel or clean, old textile.

Storing your equipment for future employ

Storing brushes and rollers

Once you've cleaned your brushes and rollers carefully, make sure they're fix to utilize for the adjacent project. Ever store brushes vertically, with the bristles pointing upward, to avoid damage. In one case your roller head is dry, you lot can put it in a plastic handbag to keep information technology make clean.

Storing pigment

It's a rare chore that uses every terminal chip of pigment in the tin can. It'south a good idea to go on surplus paint and then you lot tin bear on up whatsoever scrapes or damage from wear and tear.

i. Choose the right container

Storing paint effectively means preventing contact with air as much equally possible.

If your pigment can is nearly full, and so it's fine to go out the paint in there. Otherwise, transfer any remaining paint to an airtight container just big plenty to store what y'all have left. Thoroughly cleaned jam jars or plastic containers are fine.

two. Label the tin can or container

Put a dab of the paint on the outside of your container to remind yous what colour is within.

Write the proper name of the paint brand, the colour and the appointment on to the container or a label. Yous may too wish to note the room that the paint was used in.

3. Form an airtight seal

A piece of clingfilm or a cut-out circle of plastic bag placed between the tin can or container and hat will help to go on air out.

If you're using a pigment can, hammer the lid down carefully, using a rubber mallet rather than a hammer to avoid harm to the seal. If you're using another container, ensure the lid is tight.

Plough the can or container upside down to store – this prevents air from entering.

Where to store pigment

Paint should be stored in an environment that is absurd and dry – a cupboard or a shed is ideal. Don't expose the cans or containers to freezing temperatures, though, as this can impairment the paint. If you're storing the containers outside, enhance them off the ground on a shelf or wooden pallet and proceed them abroad from the shed walls, as this will assist protect them from extremes of temperature.

Using stored paint

Always check the consistency of your stored paint before yous use it. A cottage cheese-like or gritty texture ways the pigment has degraded and shouldn't be used. A thin skin on top of the paint is fine, just remove it before stirring the paint thoroughly.

Test your paint on a slice of scrap wood before use.

More on this…

  • Detect a painter and decorator using Which? Trusted Traders
  • Tips on using colour in your home
  • Advice on how to prepare and paint interior woodwork