Painting can be a daunting and messy job, fortunately you can avoid the spills and save yourself some time with these handy tips.
To make cleaning up accidental paint transfer easier, wrap a damp rag, one layer thick, around a putty knife and then carefully slide the putty knife along the excess paint to wipe it off.Prominent Paint shares some essential tips…
1. Wipe away excess paint
Not matter how careful we are, somehow we manage to transfer paint onto furniture, floors and our clothes.
To make cleaning up accidental paint transfer easier, wrap a damp rag, one layer thick, around a putty knife and then carefully slide the putty knife along the excess paint to wipe it off.
Do it immediately before the paint starts to dry. Once it's dry, you'll have to use more aggressive measures.
2. Soften stiff paintbrushes
You can soften stiff paintbrushes by placing them in a saucepan with hot water and vinegar. The vinegar helps to dissolve set-in paint and will revitalise the bristles.
Fill an old, deep saucepan with hot water and a tablespoon of vinegar, just enough to cover the bristles and allow them to ‘stew’ in the water for a few minutes.
You can soften stiff paintbrushes by placing them in a saucepan with hot water and vinegar.Once the vinegar cools, rinse the paintbrushes. The set-in paint chips should just fall right off at this point. You can then repeat the process as necessary.
3. Painting galvanised steel
Galvanised steel should be treated to prevent rust when exposed to the elements.
To properly paint galvanised steel, it must be cleaned with methylated spirits using a clean cloth beforehand. It is also recommended that you use a gloss roller (low nap) for painting metal, as this gives it a really smooth finish.
4. Clean edges
Apply painter's tape over the edge of skirting boards before painting.
Galvanised steel should be treated to prevent rust when exposed to the elements.Run a putty knife over the top to press down the tape for a good seal and to stop any paint bleeds.
Don’t be tempted to use masking tape as it tends to leave a sticky residue that's hard to clean. It also tends to come undone, lifting and letting the paint run underneath.
5. Spray wood before staining
Dry wood can aggressively suck up a water-based wood stain, making it hard to control the colour penetration. This can result in a dark, blotchy mess.
For added control, try wetting the wood with distilled water before applying your stain. The increased open time makes the colour easier to control.
To spray, use a household pump sprayer or sponge.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za.
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