SEEING a freshly painted room is so satisfying but the most annoying job for any budding DIY decorator, is cleaning up afterwards.
But if you don't keep on top of blitzing your rollers and brushes, they'll be stiff and unusable next time the decorating bug hits.
How to clean paint rollers
Cleaning your painting equipment is a great way to save money and ensure that it can be used again on your next home transformation project.
How you should wash your brushes and rollers depends on the type of paint you've been using.
Thankfully, we've got all you need to know on how to clean off latex or water-based, and oil-based paints.
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Cleaning water and latex paint off rollers
The experts at Dulux gave their pro tips for getting rollers back to new after using water or latex based paints.
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They said: "First scrape the unused paint back into the tin with a putty knife and roll it on a rag to remove excess.
"Disassemble the roller, rinse with warm water, add detergent and work it into a lather to remove the rest of the paint.
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"After the final rinse, let it air dry standing upright to avoid crushing the fibres."
Clean the paint tray next, by rinsing the paint out, using our trusty bucket of soapy water, and using a stiff brush to get rid of stuck-on paint.
Finally, ensure you don't just chuck the water down a stormwater drain, and dispose of it in a sewer drain that leads to a water-treatment facility.
Cleaning oil paint off rollers
Cleaning oil paints is slightly more difficult, and as you'll be using solvents that can cause skin irritation and splash into your eyes, make sure you use protection and rubber gloves.
The experts at Family Handyman shared their secret for getting rollers good as new.
They said: "Fill a container with enough paint thinner or mineral spirits to submerge the roller cover.
"Choose the smallest container possible so that you use the minimum amount of solvent.
"In the solvent, work the cover with your hand to release the paint.
"After five to six minutes of agitation and rest in the solvent, remove the cover and work the excess out and back into the container.
"Carefully pour the used solvent into a disposable bottle. Wipe out the container with a rag or paper towel, then rinse the cover with clean solvent in the container.
"Remove the cover, allowing excess solvent to drip back into the container, then let it stand in a well-ventilated area to dry for a few minutes.
"Add the used solvent to the used-solvent bottle you started. Wash the cover in warm water and a few drops of dish detergent, and stand on end to dry."
How to clean paintbrushes
The approach for cleaning brushes is slightly different.
But it's no less important, as leaving paint to dry in the bristles of your brush could render them unusable, depriving the world of your next great masterpiece!
Here's how to look after your brushes according to Dulux's website:
1. Wrap your brushes to reuse them
If you're stopping for the night in the middle of a painting project, you needn't wash them.
Simply wrap the head of the roller and brush in cling film and seal it with masking tape.
You can then store it in a dry place for two days
2. Scrape off the excess
Next, scrape as much of the paint as you can before you give them a wash.
You can use a putty knife to do this.
3. Water-based paint? Soak it
If you've been using water-based paint, soak your brush in warm water for around two hours, before drying with a cloth, and storing it in a dry place.
4. Solvent-based paint? Use a solvent-based cleaner
If you've been using oil, put a small amount of a solvent-based cleaner in a small container or jar.
Push the brush against the side of it, so that the cleaner is worked into the base of the bristles.
Allow it to soak for a couple of hours, before drying with a cloth and storing in a dry place.
5. Dispose of your solvents properly
Solvents contain powerful chemicals, so after you've been using them to clean brushes, put a lid on the container and leave it for 24 hours.
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Once the paint has dropped to the bottom, you can pour the solvent back into the bottle to use again.
Let the paint in the jar fully dry before throwing it out. Using as small a jar as possible will be better for the environment.
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