Looking for a few shortcuts to get your painting project done with less mess and stress? We’ll help you out.
At Zenith Home Finishes, we always work with professional equipment and methods. But if you’re not a professional, you may not want to invest in all the specialized tools or learn all the detailed techniques that a pro uses.
Here are 5 tips for solving awkward painting problems with household objects.
1. Spray Painting Made Simple
Spray painting is efficient, but it’s also messy. If you’re painting small objects and furniture, there’s a simple way to keep the paint on your target and off the surrounding area. Just set a cardboard box upright to create a ‘spray booth’. Cut a hole in the top to let in light and dangle objects from coat hanger wires, then cover the hole with plastic wrap and start spraying!
2. No More Drips When Loading Brushes
Speaking of coat hangers, try stretching a length of coat hanger wire over the top of your paint can. Tape down the sides to keep it steady. You can now wipe your brush on the wire every time you load up more paint.
3. Making Old Tape Like New
If you’re not painting everyday like we are, you might find that the painter’s tape or masking tape from your last project has become stiff and difficult to use. Just microwave the roll for a few seconds and the adhesive will soften.
4. Removing Paint Cleanly
Now you’ve got some working tape, but how will you remove it when you’re done? Tape can tear or pull off flakes of paint and finish—but not if you use a hair dryer to heat it up and loosen it first. Just a little heat and it will pull cleanly and easily.
5. Free, Spill-proof Paint Tray
It’s great to lay down drop cloths, but paint can still fall on the cloth and get tracked through the house accidentally. Keep the risk to a minimum by putting all your painting gear—cans, brushes, tape—in a portable spill-proof tray. If you like to shop at bulk outlets like Sam’s Club, try buying a plastic-wrapped case of 24 bottles of water (or the beverage of your choice). Cut the plastic several inches from top of the box and remove the water, then fold the plastic in to create a liner around the base of the box. Congratulations, you’ve got a very handy and very inexpensive accessory for getting your job done.
As always, if you’d like the job done professionally (no hair dryers or coat hangers!) in the Denver area, give Zenith Painting a call at 800-381-4601 for a free quote!
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