If you do the painting and varnishing in and around the house yourself, you save a lot of money. Good quality rollers and brushes are not so cheap that you should simply throw them away once the job is done. Brushes also get better with use. That's why it's important to clean painting tools quickly.
Brush cleaning to be done according to the type of paint
The first thing to do when cleaning painting tools is to always brush the brush well after use with soapy water. This will save you time during the actual cleaning process. The surface on which you paint the brushes should be absorbent. An old household remedy that works well is simply newspaper. Of course, it also makes kitchen paper or other absorbent materials. It's helpful to use a blunt object or the back of a knife to help you paint and then stroke it towards the tips of the bristles. The next step in cleaning brush tools depends on the type of paint you used. If you have painted with water-based paints and varnishes such as emulsion paint and glaze, it is really easy to clean the brushes. Rinse your hand tool with lots of clean water until there is no more paint. You can do this in a bucket or wash tub and then under running water. This will save your water meter. Afterwards, it is best to press the brush into an absorbent paper towel. If there is any paint residue left in the fabric, you will need to rinse the brush again. Cleaning the brush is a little more complicated if you have worked with solvent-based paints. But don't worry, it's not art either. Fill a sufficiently large container with thinner, turpentine substitute or special brush cleaner. Now move the brush into the container and always press lightly on the bottom to get rid of the paint or varnish. If possible, do not leave the brush in the glass or container in the solvent for too long. This deforms the bristles and the brush loses its quality. Then rinse the brush well under running water. As for cleaning the brushes with water-soluble lacquers, iron them in a kitchen towel and look for any remaining paint. Brushes are often greasy after cleaning with solvents. Then wash the brush again with a little washing-up liquid and rinse with clear water. For drying, it is best to hang the brushes upside down. This allows liquids and possible paint residues to drain off and protects the bristles. Hang them in a long container or jam jar. For storage, we recommend that you keep the brushes lying down, wrapped in newspaper. Do not place the brushes in a jar as this will deform the bristles. The brush will then become unusable and will not paint well. You could have bought a new one right away.
How do I clean paint rollers properly ?
Paint rollers or paint rollers must also be cleaned quickly, otherwise they dry out and become incredibly hard. Paints and especially varnishes stick together natural fibers or expensive foam. Rescue attempts are often unsuccessful or very time-consuming. For cleaning painting tools, the differences between water-soluble and solvent-based paints and varnishes are just as valid as for cleaning brushes. Also wash paint rollers with clear water and dry them by letting them hang down. If you have worked with solvent-based paints and varnishes, prepare a sufficiently large container with the appropriate thinner or turpentine substitute. Move the roller in the liquid until there is no more paint. You may need to repeat the process several times. But especially with expensive rollers, this procedure is worthwhile. If there is no paint left, wash the paint roller again with slightly soapy water. If possible, paint rollers cleaned with thinner should be washed and dried in the open air or in a well-ventilated room. The solvents contained in the cleaners are highly flammable and contain toxic fumes. Store your completely dried paint roller in a perforated plastic bag. There are also paint roller safes available where you can safely store your expensive paint rollers. When cleaning brushes, you often work with paint thinners. They are extracted from crude oil and contain substances that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, the cleaning fluid must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way, just like paint residues. Please take all residues, even soiled cloths, to the recycling yard or to the special waste garbage can. Now that you know how to handle your painting utensils properly, so that they last a long time, you can start the next project immediately.
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