As you probably already know, we are paint obsessed. I mean, we paint a LOT of stuff. Nothing is safe from being painted in my home. Whether it’s spray paint, latex, acrylic, chalk, etc. I will probably paint it if it lives in my home for any length of time. It’s by far the easiest way to make big changes in the home. I’ve gathered some tips that I’ve used for a long long time that are tried and true and make painting anything a heck of a lot easier. You will thank me later. 😉
 Use aluminum foil to line paint trays for easy clean up
Cut up an old t-shirt to wax furniture projects
Write paint colors on the back of light switch plates
Make your own chalk paint out of unsanded grout, water and flat paint
Use a dollar store shower curtain liner as a painter’s drop cloth!
Puncture the paint can rim to keep a clean seal
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How to clean your paintbrushes
Use tape on the insides of drawers when painting furniture (image source unknown)
Use Floetrol to eliminate brush marks
How to remove paint from hardware
Use a magnet to hold your paint brush (source unknown)
Love to spray paint? We do! Check out our spray painting FAQs and tips!
Be sure to check out our “Painting” Pinterest Board for even more tips, tricks and all things paint related!
25 Comments
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog
June 7, 2014 at 9:54 pmLadies, your timing could not be more perfect! We are getting ready to paint the main living area of our home, and these tips are so helpful! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom! Have a wonderful weekend!
~Abby =)
Patricia Krank
June 9, 2014 at 2:12 amThanks for the great tips ladies! I’ve pinned to use for future reference.
Blessings,
Patti
Teresa B
November 14, 2014 at 10:33 pmWhat is the best way to get layers of paint off of plastic l8ght switches and plates?
Thank you.
Brenda Barnes
December 28, 2014 at 10:15 pmI remove paint from light/receptacle covers by putting them in a zip-lock back of warm soapy water and vinegar. Let them soak for several hours and the paint with rub off.
gillian
December 30, 2014 at 8:10 amPainting tips are great but when comes to prep I have a time saving tip, if filling with wood filler or caulk have a damp ild sponge handy to wipe filled area as you go saved ne a lot of sanding and mess
Sylvia Norwood
February 9, 2015 at 9:05 pmI have an old oak bedroom suit and I want a new look.Thinking staining it with a walnut or mahogany.Maybe painting it white with gold hardware.What do you think?
Chris Mclemore
February 10, 2015 at 12:35 amWhen not painting put rollers and brushes in zip lock bang set in refrigerator.
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Phillius Thomas
March 9, 2015 at 3:37 pmPutting the exact color information of the room on the back of a light switch is a genius idea! I would love to have done this so whenever a hole goes in the wall, I don’t have to repaint the entire room when I fix the hole! That is, unless I get lucky and choose a good enough to blend color.
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margaret carter brown
May 29, 2015 at 12:41 pmi have copd and can’t be around paint flumes. are there any ways to get around this?
bryce
August 30, 2018 at 2:53 pmOnion in an open bowl of water it seems to work!
Jenn
July 12, 2015 at 2:45 pmGreat tips.. one thing I found instead of shower liners for drop cloth, I got some cheap floor runners, they stick to the carpet and stay down flat without having to tape, you can push them under the trim to get everything protected, when done, just roll up and store for next time. To me it was so much better than a drop cloth that keeps moving, bunching up etc.
Mallory & Savannah
July 12, 2015 at 3:23 pmGreat tips! Thanks for sharing!
Mark Sharpe
August 10, 2015 at 1:19 pmThanks for the tips! It is amazing how ideas as little as these can make your life so much easier while you paint. Putting the tape on the inside of drawers is a great idea and can be very helpful!
Michelle W
September 19, 2015 at 3:41 pmThank you for sharing these tips! We’re sitting here about to paint and decided to run out and get the dollar store curtain liners 🙂
Mary Tidswell
May 11, 2016 at 5:37 pmThe $Store in my area sells a product called “Awesome” and it is awesome. If you pour some in a pail and lay your old hardware in there, within a few hours the paint will fall right off.
Sylvieann
June 4, 2016 at 12:14 amThanks for sharing your painting information. I’m just starting to paint a bathroom. Good timing. 🙂
Wanda
September 17, 2018 at 5:51 amJust put a crockpot liner in your crockpot before putting handles in there to soak. That way easy cleanup.
Karen
November 5, 2018 at 6:51 pmGood tip, using liner in Crockpot, but I just picked one up at a thrift store or garage sale that is used for hardware only.
Eric Ainsworth
November 3, 2018 at 11:53 amSo I read a lot of painting and DIY blogs and I thought I read all the tips. However you are one of the first I’ve read that suggest using vinegar to clean paint brushes. If this works it is truly an economic solution for brush maintenance.
Barbara Duke
April 16, 2019 at 3:51 pmANY IDEAS OF UK Equivalents
Sam Campbell
May 15, 2019 at 5:27 pmUse Press-N-Seal to line your paint trays, not foil! It is cheaper and easier to use and remove!!! Also use Press-N-Seal over carpet/flooring at the base of the wall. It keeps drips off the floor and accidental brush marks away from the floor when painting baseboards.
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