Post-Painting Clean Up Made Simple!

No matter what paint job you’re working on - big or small - you know you have a lot of work cut out for yourself. Paint jobs can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks, and we're sure after finishing the job that cleaning up is the last thing on your mind.

So we’ve made an easy list of steps to help you follow through with your clean-up as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Paint Disposal

The first step to any good cleaning routine is to dispose of any trash you have accumulated. This means throwing away any empty paint cans and old tarps you don't plan on using anymore. Of course, how you throw these products away depends on what kind of paint you’re using. If you’re using oil-based paint your best option is to dispose of any old paint cans at your local hazardous waste facility. This is because oil paint contains harmful substances that cannot be properly removed simply by throwing them in the trash can. However, you can throw latex paint away — just make sure that it's thoroughly dried before you do so.

Cleaning Brushes 

Before you start cleaning your brushes, it’s a good idea to first pour whatever remaining paint you have back into their respective containers. After you do that, you can start to clean your brushes by washing them with warm water and soap. You can use a painter’s comb to scrape any dried paint from the paintbrush bristles. If you have oil paint, use paint thinner to dilute the paint before continuing with soap and water.

Cleaning Surfaces

If you’ve accidentally spilled paint on a surface you can remove it in a variety of ways. For starters, you can use a wet rag to clean up any wet paint, and a dull knife to scrape up any dry paint. See What to Do When You Spill Paint for more information on this subject.

Cleaning Clothes

Of course, we always recommend wearing the proper painting clothes, but if you do get paint on your day clothes there are a couple of things you can do. If you were using latex paint you can wash it out with warm water, dish soap, and detergent. If you were using oil paint you can use a paint thinner to dilute the paint. From there you can dab the paint away, before putting a turpentine solution and detergent on the stain. 

At Ameri-Pro we specialize in not only painting but cleaning up the mess afterward! If you’re ever in doubt about how to get a job done, call us at (716) 316-4759, or fill out the form below to receive a free estimate.