Articles By Syndicated Columnist
Dan Thomas
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Improvement Inside And Out
Clean
Up
And Storage Of Paint Brushes
Clean latex paint and stain off brushes with a mixture of
household detergent and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Clean alkyd paint
and stain off brushes with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Use a specially
designed "comb" to get the thinner completely through the brush.
An empty coffee can with a plastic lid makes a perfect container for
soaking brushes. Just make two slits in the center of the plastic lid to form
and " X " pushes the brush handle through the " X " and
replaces the lid. The lid seals the can so the solvent cannot evaporate, and
the brush is suspended without the bristles resting on the bottom.
To clean a paintbrush without making a mess of your hands, pour solvent
into a strong, clear plastic bag, and inset the brush. Your hands will
stay clean as you work the solvent into the bristles through the plastic.
To reuse paint thinner, pour it into an empty coffee can. After you have
cleaned your brushes, cover the can tightly and let it stand for several days.
When paint from the brushes settle to the bottom as sediment, drain off the
" clean " thinner into another can and store it for reuse.
A past type paint remover will remove paint spots from brick.
Before capping leftover paint for storage, mark the label at the level
of the remaining paint so you will know without opening the can how
much is left inside. Label the cans by rooms so there is no question,
which paint to reorder, or us for touch ups.
Store partially used can of paint upside down to prevent " skin "
from forming on the surface of the paint. (Be sure lid is on tight.)
