24 Brilliant Hacks That (Almost) Take The Misery Out Of Painting

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There are certain things that are unavoidable in life: breathing, that awkward first kiss, and… (gasp) painting. If you can’t figure out breathing, you may have a problem. While it might be kind of fun showing you how to kiss, this isn’t that kind of site. However, we can help with the painting issue! Here are some awesome tips to making one of the most satisfying (but also frustrating) jobs in home renovation far smoother. You can thank us in shares.

1. Need to remove small things from the floor area of the room? Lint rollers can get those items you don’t want to vacuum up.

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musicmoon via flickr

2. It’s a great idea to remove the dust from walls before you paint them. You can use a rag, feather duster, or a swiffer to get the job done.

3. Many people use plastic sheeting or canvas cloth to protect the floor. However, you’re less likely to slip on (or tear) a plastic table cloth.

4. If you don’t have plastic, you can also use tinfoil for your paint tray.

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5. Face it. Most of us don’t care for the smell of paint. If you’re tired of involuntarily huffing paint odor, put a few drops of vanilla extract in it and mix thoroughly. Your nose will thank you.

6. If you use a W pattern to roll on paint, you’ll ensure a more even and full coverage. Here’s the DIY for a deeper look.

7. Soaking your brushes in fabric softener not only saves the pliability of the brush, but also helps with the paint smell.

8. Another great method for cleaning brushes is to soak them in vinegar. DIY instructions here.

9. If you place the ankle portion of and old gym sock on your wrist, working with a wide roll of tape is easy peasy.

10. If you don’t care to spend a lot of time painting around trim, get a stiff angle brush to minimize slip ups.

11. You can cut the crusted ends off of paint rolls to increase lifespan and precision.

12. Have some boring concrete laying around? Check out this DIY for adding some character.

13. When painting concrete, be sure to apply a coat of white vinegar to the surface before the paint. It will help the paint stick longer without cracking. See more here.

14. Having a tough time squeezing your hand and brush into tight spots? With a paint pad and stick, you can avoid having to call in Mr. Fantastic to get the job done.

15. Painting a light piece of furniture? You can elevate it with screws or nails to ensure the paint doesn’t stick the furniture to whatever is underneath.

16. Have a spot you don’t want painted? Paint vaseline over it. Then paint the whole item and wipe away the part treated with vaseline.

17. For window trim, lip balm and a cotton swab will make your life a whole lot easier. Just apply the lip balm along the glass next to the trim, and you can wipe away any paint that gets on that portion.

18. Ever want to pull your hair out because masking tape won’t come off easily after painting? Heat it up with a hair dryer so it comes off more easily.

19. You can finesse some extra smoothness to your paintjob with a brown paper bag. Just rub it over the dried paint like a light sanding job.

20. You can use a coat hanger like so, or a rubber band that is stretched around the can to wipe excess paint off of your brush. Saves a whole lot of messy buildup on the bucket, and dribbling on the floor.

21. If you want to be more eco friendly, you can avoid wasting paint by scraping it off of your roller with a putty knife.

22. You can use a paint buddy to store the last little bit of paint, and even to add easy touch ups later on.

23. We all know opening a paint can with dried paint around the lid can be like prying a winning lottery ticket out of a professional wrestler’s grip. Use a little plastic wrap to ensure easy opening the next time around.

24. If you don’t have the plastic wrap, at least use a cloth to ensure hammering the lid closed doesn’t provide a spontaneous paint job on the floor.

Via Popular Mechanics