You'll keep the floor neater during the next painting job if you glue a paper plate to the bottom of your paint can, instead of trying to move newspapers under the container every time you set it down.
By Ron from Cortez, CO
Borrow your kid's skateboard when you are painting baseboards and lower walls. Just sit cross-legged on a skateboard and roll along with your paintbrush and a paint can. It's much easier on your back. By Katz
A lot of the stores around here have started putting their meat in big plastic pans. Washed out these make great disposable paint pans.
When doing painting, staining, or polyurethane projects; I keep Wet Ones pop-up wipes handy to clean my hands, wipe off paint brush handles, or wipe up small accidents.
Always use blue painter's tape, not regular masking tape to mask areas when you are painting. Blue tape peels off easily, masking tape often doesn't.
After cleaning a used paintbrush, put a rubber band around the bristles of the brush to help it keep its shape while drying.
I have been painting my living room and find that, very often, I am called away from my work by a telephone call or a child needing help. I keep a large plastic garbage sack nearby and, when I am called away, I place my paint pan, with roller and brush and all, inside the bag and twist it a few times to seal.
Before painting, clean walls with white vinegar and let dry before painting. Inexpensive and easy. Also put your paint brushes in white vinegar and rinse well and dry before using.
If you like a quick painting job, paint your entire room with a Flat Latex paint, trim and all...
If you are painting and don't want to get paint on your shoes or the floor throughout the rest of your house, tie plastic grocery bags over your shoes.
Put plastic lids under each leg to help catch drips when painting. It's also good to put newspaper down, but the plastic lids will keep paint from soaking through the newspaper and staining the floor when applying paint to the legs.
Quick Paint Touch Ups. Did you already clean your paint brushes but notice you missed a spot? Don't dirty a paint brush for a small touch up.
Keeping Paint Off Hinges. It can be difficult to put masking tape on hinges to keep paint off them. Instead, cover them with petroleum jelly.
Do you ever notice how the trim next to the floor in your house collects so much dust and never seems to come clean? Try wiping all the dust, dirt, and food off the best you can.
When painting, write down the brand of paint and color of paint and any numbers on the can that identify the type of paint. Keep this info in a binder or on your computer as a good reminder if you ever have to buy more.
When we moved in to our new home, we wanted to get the painting done before moving all the furniture. We supplied the paint and the food.
When painting a room, if you find the touch-up tedious, use a tampon. This is how it works. Push a small portion from the applicator. Dip just the tip in the paint. Remove the drip. Blot on the mistake whereas your paint touched the ceiling or vise versa.
Keep a small container of your wall paint in your refrigerator for quick touch up jobs. The paint stays fresh and you don't have to drag out a heavy messy paint can for small jobs.
When you need a small amount of paint for touch-up check the craft department. Walmart has every color and they cost about $1.
I have been painting the last couple of weeks and all the rooms are different colors. To save a lot of work on clean-up I put the painting tray in a plastic grocery bag.
Apply a coat of lemon oil to woodwork if you are painting around it. If any paint spatters onto the woodwork, it will wipe off without any trouble. You are also conditioning the woodwork at the same time.
