This article was co-authored by Jeff Baldwin. Jeff Baldwin is a Residential Painter and the Owner of Baldwin Custom Painting. With two decades of painting experience, Jeff specializes in high-end residential and small commercial painting projects. Dedicated to quality craftsmanship, Jeff and Baldwin Custom Painting provide bonded/insured, licensed, and lead-safe certified services in residential painting, light commercial painting, and wood refinishing.
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When working on a home improvement project, costs can add up quickly. One easy way to save money is to reuse paint rollers, rather than use new ones each time you paint. While the roller clean up may be a bit messy, it's a cost-savings process that pays off and helps the environment, too. Use these steps to help you to recycle and reuse paint rollers.
Steps
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1Roll the excess paint from your roller onto a disposable surface. As you finish up for the day or complete your project, use up as much paint on your roller as possible. The less paint on your roller, the easier the clean-up process will be. Roll excess paint from your roller onto newspapers, cardboard or any other disposable surface.
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2Remove paint from roller. Latex paint and oil-based paints require different methods of cleaning the rollers.[1]
- Wash latex paint from your roller with soapy water. Submerge the paint roller in a bucket of soapy water, swirl the roller around and squeeze excess paint from the roller with your hand.[2] [3] Empty the water, refill the bucket and repeat the process until the roller water rinses nearly clear.
- Clean oil-based paint from rollers with paint thinner.[4] Wearing gloves to protect your hands, pour paint thinner into a clean paint tray, and roll the roller in the paint thinner several times. When mostly clean, submerge the roller in a bucket of warm, soapy water to clean it for reuse.
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3Hang the roller to dry.[5] Cut off the side of an ordinary clothes hanger. Attach the roller to the bottom part of the hanger to dry. Drying the roller this way helps to save the nap, which keeps it fluffy for the next time you wish to use the roller. A roller with smashed nap may paint unevenly.
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4Store the dried roller in a sealable plastic bag. Insert the roller into a large, food storage bag and seal it.[6] If you don't have a food storage bag large enough to fit the roller, use a plastic grocery sack and tie it closed. By sealing or tying the bag closed, you keep the roller clean and dust-free for future use.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan I wash paint rollers in the sink?Jeff BaldwinJeff Baldwin is a Residential Painter and the Owner of Baldwin Custom Painting. With two decades of painting experience, Jeff specializes in high-end residential and small commercial painting projects. Dedicated to quality craftsmanship, Jeff and Baldwin Custom Painting provide bonded/insured, licensed, and lead-safe certified services in residential painting, light commercial painting, and wood refinishing.
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QuestionAfter the roller is cleaned, does it need to be completely dry before using it again?Community AnswerYes, or the paint will run down your wall surface. It needs to be completely dried before reuse.
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QuestionHow do I remove the nap? It appears to be stuck permanently.TechdocgeekCommunity AnswerYou can try to soak it in water or paint thinner a while, then try to remove it.
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Soap
- Warm water
- Clothes hanger
- Paint thinner
- Plastic bag or grocery sack
- Gloves
- two plastic water bottles for the method numbered 1 .
References
- ↑ https://www.valsparpaint.com/en/how-to/interior/steps/tools-to-minimize-waste.html
- ↑ Jeff Baldwin. Residential Painter. Expert Interview. 26 February 2021
- ↑ https://www.purdy.com/painting-resources/painting-faqs/paint-care-and-cleanup
- ↑ https://www.purdy.com/painting-resources/painting-faqs/paint-care-and-cleanup
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-clean-paint-roller
- ↑ https://www.valsparpaint.com/en/how-to/interior/steps/tools-to-minimize-waste.html