Paint Drips
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: March 2, 2011
There’s no avoiding it. Even the neatest painters have to deal with drips. Here are some quick tips to help you avoid at least a few drops.
First of all try punching a few holes in the rim of the paint can. You can use a screwdriver and mallet. Then when the brush is wiped against the edge of the can, the paint will flow back into the can. When you are through the lid will cover the holes so the paint won’t dry out.
And before you get started, protect your hands and face with moisturizer. When it comes time to clean up, the paint will come off faster and the moisturizer will prevent paint from seeping into your pores.
Here are some more painting tips we found for you.
Try cleaning out old nail polish bottles and filling them with “touch up” paint for scuffmarks and scratches. You can also do this with small, glass baby food jars.
For very tiny touch ups don’t use a paintbrush, use a cotton swab!
If you have an old rubber ball, don’t throw it out, keep it with your painting supplies. The next time you need to paint a ceiling, cut the rubber ball in half and cut an opening at the center of the “half” ball. Insert your paintbrush through it and use it as a guard to keep the drips from falling on you!
While you are painting that ceiling be sure to wear eye protection to keep what paint drops that do get by the ball, from falling into your eyes. If you don’t have protective eye wear, try an old pair of swimming goggles.
Protect your work shoes from paint drips by covering them with old worn out gym socks.
You can store left over latex paint in clean plastic milk jugs. Shake the jug before using the paint again and label the jug.
If you are going to paint a stairway, paint every other step one day, and allow them to dry over night. The following day you can paint the remaining steps.
You can remove paint splatters from woodwork with very fine steel wool. Before painting, apply a coat of lemon oil to woodwork you want to protect from paint splatters. The lemon oil will make it easy to just wipe away the unwanted drops of paint.
Add a tablespoon of ammonia in a pan of water and leave it in a nearly painted room overnight. The paint odor will disappear the next day.
You can also try leaving a large onion cut in half in a pan of water in the center of the room; the onion will also absorb the paint odor.
Whether big or small we hope these quick tips will help you with your next painting project.
First of all try punching a few holes in the rim of the paint can. You can use a screwdriver and mallet. Then when the brush is wiped against the edge of the can, the paint will flow back into the can. When you are through the lid will cover the holes so the paint won’t dry out.
And before you get started, protect your hands and face with moisturizer. When it comes time to clean up, the paint will come off faster and the moisturizer will prevent paint from seeping into your pores.
Here are some more painting tips we found for you.
Try cleaning out old nail polish bottles and filling them with “touch up” paint for scuffmarks and scratches. You can also do this with small, glass baby food jars.
For very tiny touch ups don’t use a paintbrush, use a cotton swab!
If you have an old rubber ball, don’t throw it out, keep it with your painting supplies. The next time you need to paint a ceiling, cut the rubber ball in half and cut an opening at the center of the “half” ball. Insert your paintbrush through it and use it as a guard to keep the drips from falling on you!
While you are painting that ceiling be sure to wear eye protection to keep what paint drops that do get by the ball, from falling into your eyes. If you don’t have protective eye wear, try an old pair of swimming goggles.
Protect your work shoes from paint drips by covering them with old worn out gym socks.
You can store left over latex paint in clean plastic milk jugs. Shake the jug before using the paint again and label the jug.
If you are going to paint a stairway, paint every other step one day, and allow them to dry over night. The following day you can paint the remaining steps.
You can remove paint splatters from woodwork with very fine steel wool. Before painting, apply a coat of lemon oil to woodwork you want to protect from paint splatters. The lemon oil will make it easy to just wipe away the unwanted drops of paint.
Add a tablespoon of ammonia in a pan of water and leave it in a nearly painted room overnight. The paint odor will disappear the next day.
You can also try leaving a large onion cut in half in a pan of water in the center of the room; the onion will also absorb the paint odor.
Whether big or small we hope these quick tips will help you with your next painting project.
